How to locate a lost cell phone

If you have lost your phone, you will find in this guide some tips to locate it.

We’ve all experienced the existential panic of losing our smartphone. First, you check your purse or work bag. You look under your bed and between the couch cushions. You even check to see if it’s still plugged into the charger! But no, your smartphone is nowhere to be found.

Not knowing what to do, you start to retrace your steps. Your smartphone is neither in the bathroom nor in the kitchen. Then you even look inside your refrigerator in case you accidentally put it there when you started to prepare dinner. If this scenario sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

In fact, the feeling of dread goes far beyond the loss of a wallet or your house keys. In addition to the monetary value of your phone, it collects a lot of personal information.

With thousands of queries per month, “how do I find my smartphone” is one of the most common problems people face in everyday life. Fortunately, there are many ways to locate your lost or misplaced phone. Read this guide to learn more.

Locate your lost phone with your Google Account

The easiest way to locate a lost phone is to use a Google account. However, it should be noted that this method is only for those who have an Android device. In addition, the smartphone must be turned on and is connected to your Google account. This will automatically activate the “Locate my device” setting.

In fact, you should know that Google is the owner of Android. Therefore, smartphones that use this operating system come with certain Google applications pre-installed, including Google Maps, Gmail and the Google Play Store.

How do I do it?

To locate your smartphone, access your Google account via your computer’s web browser. Then, type “Locate my device”. This displays a map with the last known location of your device.

If you’ve misplaced your phone in your house

If your smartphone is somewhere in your house but you can’t remember where you put it, you can turn on your device’s ringer, even if it’s set to silent. This way, your smartphone will ring for five minutes while you look for it.

If you have lost your phone somewhere else

If your smartphone isn’t at home and you need to go somewhere to retrieve it, you can secure it to ensure that no one can access your personal data. First, set a password that only you can unlock. Then, send a message to anyone who finds your smartphone. This could be a phone number or a public place to retrieve it.

If your smartphone has been stolen

If you have no chance of recovering your smartphone or it has been stolen, you can erase all the data inside. However, use this option only as a last resort. In fact, once the phone is deleted, you will never be able to locate it again. Also, keep in mind that if you have an SD card, deleting the data from your smartphone will not delete the card’s contents.

Locate your smartphone via the features offered by the manufacturer

If you don’t have a Google account, there are still other options for locating your phone. In fact, most devices come with a tracking app.

Case of Samsung

Let’s take Samsung devices as an example, they have a setting called Mobile Tracking, which works in the same way as Google’s Locate My Device. Therefore, if the setting is enabled, you can track your smartphone through the app or online via the website.

Make sure that this setting is always enabled. This way, you can find the last known location of your smartphone. In fact, it has the same capabilities as Google, with the addition of some handy features. With Mobile Tracking, you can retrieve messages and phone calls, and even extend the battery life.

In the case of an iPhone

Apple has a proprietary application called Locate. In fact, it is pre-installed on every iOS device. To locate an iPhone, the only requirement is that you need to use another iOS smartphone, tablet or computer with the Locate app. Here’s how to do it:

Tap Settings > Your Apple ID (name) > Locate .

Then tap the “Enable Offline Search” and “Send Last Location” switches. This helps you determine where you last left your smartphone in case Internet services are currently disabled.

Once you’ve set all these controls, go back to Settings > Apple ID and scroll down to see all your devices. Then tap on the iPhone you lost. This will show you a map that shows you its exact location and directions to it.

As with Android devices, the service also gives you the option of playing a sound on your smartphone, marking it as lost. You can also send a message to your smartphone in lost mode. In addition, you have the option to delete the data in your device, in case it falls into the wrong hands.

Locate your lost phone with a third-party application

Although using Google’s built-in device tracker is the easiest way to locate your phone, you can also use a third-party application to find it.

With these apps, you can not only track your smartphone using GPS, but you can also read text messages, forward your calls, lock the smartphone, etc. In addition, you can erase the data in your device and SD card in case of theft.

Some apps like Where’s My Droid even allow you to use your smartphone’s camera remotely. In fact, this feature is incredibly handy if someone steals your smartphone, as you can take a picture of the thief and hand it over to the authorities.

Locate your phone using the IMEI number

If you want to locate your smartphone with the IMEI number, you need to download a third-party IMEI tracking app, like IMEI Tracker-Find My Device for example. However, it is best to use this method as a last resort.

Basically, the IMEI number is a 15-digit combination that is unique to your smartphone. You can find it in the “About” section of your smartphone’s settings. It is also located behind the battery of your device. Whenever you buy a new smartphone, always write down the IMEI and keep it in a safe place.

In fact, if your smartphone has been stolen, you can report the IMEI number to the authorities. In addition, you can also block the number so that no one else can register the smartphone in the future.

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