Question

Google Find my Device - this is how it works

Answer 1

Set up Google Find My Device
1st step:
2nd step:
3rd step:
4th step:
5th step:
6th step:
Find devices with Find My Device
1st step:
2nd step:
3rd step:
4th step:
5th step:
6th step:
7th step:
1st step:
2nd step:
Quick guide: Set up Find My Device
Brief instructions: Using Find My Device on your smartphone

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With Google's Find My Device, you can remotely track, lock and erase the data of a lost or stolen phone..

When the smartphone is suddenly gone, the shock is great. Whether you've forgotten it somewhere or it's stolen from you, if you have an Android phone, you can use Google's Find My Device feature to find it. And not only that: you can also manage it and even lock it.

• Set up Google Find My Device
• Find devices with Find My Device

Set up Google Find My Device

You can set up Google Find My Device on any of your Android devices and then use it to locate your device from your computer or another Android device using the Find My Device application.

There are several requirements for Find My Device to locate your device. The device must:

• to be on.
• be signed in to your Google account.
• be connected to WiFi or mobile data.
• be visible on Google Play.
• Have location services turned on.
• have activated the "Find My Device" function.

So make sure you have all these features enabled on your smartphone so that in case of loss it can be found.

Attention: "Find My Device" has to be set up BEFORE the smartphone disappears, as the function has to be activated on the corresponding device.

To activate "Find My Device", follow our step-by-step instructions or take a look at the brief instructions .

1st step:

First, check your internet connection . To do this, pull the menu down from the top of your home screen. There you can then see whether the WLAN or mobile data is connected. If not, tap the appropriate option and make sure your device connects.

2nd step:

With your device connected to the internet, open Settings . Here you scroll down to the menu item " Security " or, as in our example, " Biometric data and security ".

3rd step:

Here you will find the option " Find My Mobile " or " Find My Device ". Activate it so that the switch next to it appears blue.

4th step:

Navigate back to the previous page and select the " Location " entry .

5th step:

Again, make sure that the option is activated so that the location of your device can be tracked. If necessary, you must also grant the appropriate authorizations . Make sure that location services for Google are all turned on.

6th step:

Now all you have to do is make sure that your smartphone is visible on Google Play . You can easily do this via the following link: https://play.google.com/settings . Sign in there with your Google account. At the bottom you will see the devices on which you are also logged in with your account. Make sure that the option " Show in menus " is ticked.

Find devices with Find My Device

• Smartphone
• Desktop

Smartphone
Follow our step-by-step instructions or take a look at the brief instructions ..

1st step:

Open the Google app on your smartphone and tap your profile picture in the top right corner .

2nd step:

Now select the option " Manage Google Account ".

3rd step:

Then switch to the " Security " category .

4th step:

Here you can now see the " My Devices " section. There tap on the button " Find a lost device ".

5th step:

You will now see all the devices connected to your Google account. You can then select the device you want from the list.

6th step:

The application will now try to contact your device and determine its location. If that worked, you can then let your smartphone ring , lock it or delete the data . If you only misplaced your phone at home, the first option is to find it quickly. If it is out of range, you can lock it. If it has been stolen, deleting your data is important to protect your privacy.

7th step:

Every time you use the Find My Device feature , you will receive an alert on the device you are tracking. If you have received this notification and have not yet used the feature, you should change your password and enable two-step verification for your Google Account if you have not already done so.

Desktop

1st step:

First open the following link in a browser of your choice: https://www.google.com/android/find?u=0 . Then log in there with your Google account. On the left side of the screen there are now tabs for each device that you have connected to your Google account. Under each tab, you can find the model name of your device, the time it was last located, the network it is connected to, and the remaining battery life. The " Find my device " function will now try to find your smartphone, smartwatch or tablet. If the location services are activated, Google shows you the location of the device, which is shown on the map with a Pin is marked.

2nd step:

Once your device is found, you can do one of three things: Make the doorbell ring : Let your Android device play a tone even if it is on mute. Lock device : You can remotely lock your device if you think it has been lost or stolen. Optionally, you can add a message and phone number to the lock screen in case someone finds it and wants to return the device. Erase data from device : If you think you won't get your device back, you can erase the data so that no one can access it. Deleting it will reset your device to factory settings. However, if your phone is offline, you won't be able to delete it until it reconnects.

Quick guide: Set up Find My Device

1. First, make sure your smartphone is connected to the internet . You can see this very quickly by dragging the menu on the start screen down from the top and checking whether WiFi or mobile data is switched on.
2. Then open the settings and select " Security ".
3. Now activate the option " Find My Mobile " or " Find My Device ".
4. Navigate back to the previous page and select " Location ".
5. Here, too, activate the option so that the location of your device can be located. Also, make sure that location services for Google are all turned on.
6. Then open the following link: https://play.google.com/settings . Sign in there with your Google account.
7. You can now see your devices below. Check here whether the check mark is set for the option " Show in menus ".

Brief instructions: Using Find My Device on your smartphone

1. Open the settings in the Google app on your smartphone by tapping your profile picture in the upper right corner .
2. Then select the " Manage Google Account " option and open the " Security " category .
3. Here, under " My Devices ", tap the " Find a lost device " button .
4. You will now see all the devices connected to your Google account. Select the device you want here .
5. Find My Device will now try to find your device and determine its location .
6. You can then let your smartphone ring , lock it or delete the data on it .

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