Your smartphone is no longer in the place where you thought you left it. And bad luck, it stopped by itself for lack of battery. Impossible therefore to call it to make it ring remotely. Let's see together how to locate a switched off smartphone..
Is there a solution to locate a switched off phone?
Losing your phone or losing it when you thought it was in your pocket has become commonplace today. This may have already happened to you. Fortunately, there are many ways to find a lost phone.
Most commercially available Android smartphones have a default theft and loss protection system. And contrary to what we can read on the right or on the left, these devices are installed automatically when the phone is first started..
The Find My Device tool (formerly Android Device Manager) offered by Google does not require any special settings or even a registration to a location service. You just need an Android smartphone and a Google account.
If you meet these two conditions (which is the case for 99% of owners of Android terminals), then the Find My Device application is already running in the background on your mobile without you knowing it. This is a default configuration set up to locate and find lost phones..
Activate the Find my device function
Unlike most localization applications, the Google tool does not have to be installed beforehand. All you have to do is make sure that the function has been activated. As you probably know, a well-informed man is worth two. Here is the procedure to know if the Find my device tool has been correctly configured.
- Open your smartphone settings
- Click on Security and location
- Tap the Device management apps option. If necessary open the advanced options tab
- Make sure the Find my device box is checked
- Then return to the Security and location menu found in the Android settings menu
- Make sure the Use my location switch is on
- Select the Mode section
- Press the High precision option
- Click Google Location History
- Activate the History of places option
The localization tool integrated into Android is now fully operational. Obviously, this verification must be carried out before losing or having your smartphone stolen. We must not wait for a drama before acting.
How to use Find My Device
To use it, simply go to the Locate my device website by clicking on the link opposite from your computer or another phone. Then sign in to your Google Account using your Gmail address and password.
The service allows, among other things, to block the device using a secret code to make it completely unusable. You can also remotely erase all data stored on the device to be sure that nobody can get hold of your personal information (photos, videos, contacts, messages, documents and other little secrets).
The Find My Device tool also offers various functions to help you find your smartphone. Among them we find a device to display on a map the last location recorded by the GPS chip but also a tool to ring and vibrate your device remotely.
This option is particularly practical so as not to waste hours in your apartment rummaging between the cushions on your sofa. No need to rejoice too quickly. Locating my device works perfectly provided your phone is connected to the internet.
Retrieve the last location of a switched off phone
On the Play Store, there are dozens of applications to find a lost or worse stolen phone. Unfortunately most of them can only be used if the phone has been left on with GPS on. These functions are therefore totally dependent on the battery of your mobile.
You will understand by yourself, if your smartphone is turned off or running out of battery, they will not be of any help to you. But rest assured, nothing is lost. The Google location tool has a function allowing to keep the last GPS position of your device as well as the date and time when it was last located.
This will allow you to know the exact location of your smartphone before it turns off. With any luck, he is still there and awaits you kindly. Connect to the Locate my device site and select the lost phone from the list.
If the device you are looking for is turned off or the battery is empty, the Google tool will display its last known position. Remember that the rental is approximate. The quality of the GPS signal varies depending on location and climatic conditions.
Find a lost smartphone in a store
The Find My Device feature works great wherever you are except inside buildings. Satellite waves fail to pass through the walls of buildings and stone or concrete buildings. This means that if you have lost your mobile in a shopping center, Google's location tool will tell you that it is in the building and not its exact location.
To address this problem, Google’s mapping division has started to map maps of large public buildings, airports, shopping malls and even stadiums. That way when you lose your phone, you will have a clearer idea of where it is.
Obviously this indoor GPS is not accessible from all buildings. Google only lists buildings whose owners have agreed to provide them with interior plans. Not all buildings are affected by this new feature. Support for Google Maps varies by city and country. But it costs nothing to try your luck.