To locate a lost or stolen phone, use the device’s built-in tracking service (such as ‘Find My iPhone’ for iOS or ‘Find My Device’ for Android) or contact your carrier to block the line and report the incident to local authorities. Acting quickly is crucial in these cases. In this article, we’ll break down step-by-step how to use these tools.
Losing your mobile phone or having it stolen can be a scary experience. However, we now have tools that help us track and recover our lost devices. This is possible to do with both Android and iPhone.
How to locate an Android mobile
If you have an Android device and it gets lost, you can locate it using Google’s “find my device” tool. Here are the steps to do so:
Step 1: Activate the “find my device” function on your mobile.
Most Android phones have a built-in feature called “find my device.” This tool is very useful when you need to track your phone . Follow these steps to activate it:
- Open the “Settings” app on your Android device.
- Scroll down and select “security & location” .
- Look for the “find my device” option and turn it on. You may need to enter your Google password to confirm.
Step 2: Go to “Find My Device” from your computer or other device.
Once you have enabled this feature, you will be able to track your phone from any web browser. Here is how to do it:
- Open your web browser and type find my device.
- Sign in with the same Google account you used on your Android.
- Google will show you the approximate location of your phone on a map. You will also have options to ring your device, lock it or erase the data if necessary.
How to locate an iPhone
If you have an iPhone, Apple has also developed a tool called “find my iPhone.” Follow these steps:
Step 1: Make sure “Find My iPhone” is turned on.
- Sign in to iCloud: Sign in to iCloud using your Apple ID.
- Locate your device: After signing in, you can see the current location of your iPhone on a map and share it with your family or friends who also have iOS.
Step 2: Go to “Find My iPhone” from another device.
If you lose your iPhone, you can use another Apple device or access iCloud.com from a computer to track it:
- Open the Find My iPhone app on another Apple device and sign in with the same Apple account.
- You’ll see a map with your iPhone’s location . From here, you can play a sound on your lost device, put it into lost mode, or remotely erase its data.
Other apps to locate a mobile phone
If for some reason you are unable to use the tools mentioned above, there are other third-party applications that can help you locate your lost or stolen phone. Some of the most popular ones are:
- Prey Anti Theft: This app is available for both Android and iPhone and offers advanced tracking and security features.
- Cerberus: It is an Android application that allows you to track your mobile phone, take remote photos and record audio from the web.
- Find My Friends: If you have friends or family who trust you, you can use this Apple app to share your location and help locate lost devices.
Make sure you have password, PIN or facial recognition lock options enabled on your device. Write down your phone’s IMEI number and keep it somewhere safe. This will make it easier to report it if it’s stolen. In addition to tracking apps, consider installing security software that protects your device from malware and cyberattacks.