We often lose our phones, sometimes just at home and we can’t remember where we last put them, and unfortunately sometimes they get stolen or misplaced when we’re out and about. In the former case, our Android phone can be easily found using the Find My Phone function on a paired smartwatch, or simply ask the other person to call it. But if it’s lost outside our home, then we’re going to need some extra help. Luckily, there’s an easy way to remotely find and locate your Android phone, lock it, and even delete all data if needed.
Google has provided a simple process where users can find, lock, and delete all data on their Android phone if you lose it. The Find My Device feature allows Android users to locate their phone and remotely set a PIN, password or pattern to lock it to prevent prying eyes. Users can even display a message on the lock screen asking the finder to call as soon as they get their hands on your phone. The feature also allows users to wipe all data on an Android phone so that discoverers cannot access it, and also triggers device protection, making the phone unusable by anyone but the owner.
How to find a lost Android smartphone and delete data remotely
In order to find, lock or wipe an Android phone, there are some prerequisites that need to be met. The phone must be turned on, the user must be signed in with a Google account, the user must be connected to mobile data or Wi-Fi, they must be visible on Google Play, their location settings must be turned on, and the Find My Device setting must also be turned on. If all these prerequisites are met, the user must follow the following steps:
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Go to android.com/find and log in to your Google account, similar to the one you use on your phone. Once logged in, you will see your phone in the upper left corner. If you have multiple phones with the same account, select the missing one. It will show you details about your battery life and when you were last online.
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Google will also display the phone’s approximate location on a map. If your phone is not found, you will see its last known location (if available).
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If your phone is nearby and you know the location, you can go to the location and select the “Play Sound” option to have your phone ring non-stop for five minutes, even if it’s set to silent.
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Readers are advised not to try to recover an Android phone on their own if it is located in an unknown area, but to contact law enforcement – they may ask for the serial number or IMEI code. Here’s how to find your phone’s serial number.
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If you want to lock the screen, select the “Secure Device” option. This will lock your phone and log you out of your Google account. You can even display a message and phone number on your lock screen so finders can contact you if your phone has been discovered before. If you don’t have a lock, you can even set one with this option.
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You can also choose the third option – Wipe device. It permanently deletes all data on your phone and Find My Device will not work on your phone after erasing it. If your phone is offline, erasing will begin the next time it comes online. This will prevent criminals from accessing any data on your phone.
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