Finding a lost or stolen Android is easy enough these days. For Android, there are a large number of applications that can track a lost device.

The function of finding a missing phone in antivirus software is well implemented. With its help, you can not only track the location, but also remotely lock the device, erasing all personal information from it. Let's figure out what tools exist to find a lost or stolen Android phone?

What you need to search Android

To search for a gadget on Android, the user does not need to install additional programs. It is only necessary to make small adjustments in the Android Device Manager (Android Device Manager). This method will allow you to find out the location of the phone and remotely control the device from any computer (you just need to have a Google account).

Photo: determining the location of the subscriber

Important! Starting in August 2013, Android Device Manager is available for consumer accounts (previously only business account users had access).

In order for the Device Manager feature to appear on a phone or tablet, there is no need to update the OS, since it is tied to the account, and not to the version of the operating system.

Video: Looking for a gadget

Android Device Manager by Google

Android Device Manager is a Google development for gadgets based on the Android OS. With Device Manager you can:

1. determine the coordinates of the location of a stolen or lost smartphone using GPS, GPS and Wi-Fi. You can determine the coordinates of the gadget, even if another SIM card is installed on the phone;

Important! To determine the location of the gadget, it must be connected to the Internet. If the Internet has been disabled, then the location of the phone will be shown based on its last activity.

Important! Deleting data from the memory card may not occur due to the fact that the ROM (internal memory of the gadget), which simulates an SD memory card, has been removed. If a separate memory card is installed on the phone, then deletion of information from it may not occur.

Android control remotely

You can control Android remotely via the Internet from a web browser. This requires that the smartphone or tablet be linked to a Google account. Device Manager is disabled by default, so you need to enable this feature.

This will require:

1. in the Android settings, go to the "Security" tab;
2. then select "Device Administrators";

Important! If the version of the Android operating system has not been updated, then this item "Device administrators" is not available.

1. by clicking on the "Device administrators" item, the user will go to the "Remote control" tab, where you need to check the box;
2. by activating remote control, the user will see what access rights are granted to the application;
3. then at the bottom of the window you must select the item "Activate";

Important! Remember that Device Manager determines the location of your device from GSM and GPS data;

Important! If you determine the location of the device using the coordinates of the network, that is, used Wi-Fi for this, then the data will be the most accurate.

After the done manipulations in the settings, you can start remote control of the gadget through the web interface.

For remote control via a browser, you must:

The main page has an Android Device Manager panel. From this panel, you can make a call to your phone, set up a lock screen and wipe data, locate and rename your device.

To determine the location of the device, you must:

To rename a device:

Phone call

You can also make a call to the machine using Android Remote Control. This can be done through the Device Manager panel by selecting the "Call Device" tab. The call will be heard even if the beeper is set to the minimum volume.

To make a phone call:

Removing information

AndroidDeviceManager allows you not only to determine the location of the gadget and call it, but also to delete all confidential information from a smartphone or tablet. Information can be deleted through the DeviceManager panel in a web browser.

To delete all data from the device, you must:

After activating the function, there will be slight changes in the control panel, separate tabs "Lock" and "Clear" will appear;

Photo: the appearance of additional tabs

Talklog - track the device

Talklog is a program from the developer of the same name that allows you to track the location of the gadget, view SMS messages, listen to incoming and outgoing calls, and much more.

Important! The program has a trial period of 12 hours, during which time you can use the full functionality of the program for free.

Program features:

1. view incoming and outgoing SMS messages;
2. determine the location of the smartphone;
3. view data on all calls made;
4. log on and off gadget;
5. tracking the installation of any kind of applications.

Program installation:

Important! Talklog runs in stealth mode on the device and has no functional impact on other applications.

How to locate the device:

The program determines the location of the gadget using GPS and GSM. Talklog will help you determine the coordinates of your smartphone, taking into account longitude, latitude, altitude and other parameters. To determine the location you need:

This article looked at ways to locate a lost or stolen Android device.

Due to the increasing cases of mobile phone theft, many are more and more interested in how to find a lost Android phone.

In general, if you lost your phone, then there are several ways to find it.

Of course, there are banal ways, such as posting an ad that implies a reward for the found phone.

This, too, should not be neglected, but it can be returned to only in the most extreme cases.

Before that, you should use one of the methods described below.

Via standard control

Important: To find the phone using software methods, you need to do certain manipulations on it even before it was lost. Otherwise, all you have to do is call the police.

And this means that almost anyone can use the standard tool for managing and searching for an Android phone.

But, again, to search for a device through Google on it, the following steps must be done before the loss:

1. First you need to go to the settings of your phone and select the “Security” item there (in Figure No. 1.a it is shown with a red frame).
2. Then go to "Device Administrators" (Figure 1.b).
3. After that, check the box next to the “Android Remote Control” item as shown in Figure No. 1.c.

Such a sequence of actions will allow in the future to find out the location of a mobile phone via the Internet.

Actually, to search for a device, you need to do the following:

• Go to the link for remote control of mobile phones - https://www.google.com/android/devicemanager.
• Log in there, that is, enter your username and password, and then click on the "Login" button. By the way, if you are not a user of Google services, it is better to register.

• Then everything will happen automatically. The user will see a window with approximately the same content as shown in Figure 3.

As you can see, here you can lock your phone directly through the computer by pressing the appropriate button in the field highlighted in blue in Figure 3.

There are also buttons "Ring" (the phone will receive a call from the robot) and "Clear" (remove all data from the device's memory).

You can also see that you can find out where the phone is now, that is, the location on the map, and when it was connected to the Internet (all this field is shown with a red frame).

Finally, the device model itself is written above (highlighted with a green frame).

Important: On the latest versions of Android, no settings need to be made, all this is created automatically. Therefore, even if you did not enable remote access on your phone as described above, but were authorized in Google services, it is quite possible that the phone will be found!

Through additional programs

In addition to the standard remote access tool, there are many other programs with similar functionality. Surely the best of them should be recognized as Lost Android.

You can install it just like any other program - go to Google Play, enter "Lost Android" there and click the "Install" button.

But the most interesting thing is that after installation, this program is displayed not as Lost Android, but as Personal Notes with a notebook icon.

This is done so that the thieves do not have any suspicions - very reasonable!

In general, Lost Android needs to be installed and run. After that, the program must be given administrator rights.

To do this, at the first start, you need to press the appropriate button (it is highlighted in Figure No. 4 with a red frame).

After that, you should go to the official website of this application - http://www.androidlost.com/. There you should log in again, and again through Google.

To do this, there is a corresponding button in the upper right corner, shown in Figure 5 in red.

After authorization, which occurs in exactly the same way as described above - entering a login, password and clicking on the "Login" button, you must allow the program to use this account by clicking the appropriate button (it is highlighted in Figure No. 6 with arrows).

After that, the user will see such a message, which is highlighted in red in Figure 7. It indicates that everything went well.

Now you can go to the "Management" menu (highlighted in green).

After going to the "Management" menu, the user will see the entire list of commands. In particular, to find out the location of the phone, you must click the "Send location" button.

Note: The two methods described above make it possible to find even a turned off phone due to the fact that the meansGooglefix the moment when the phone was last connected to the Internet and thus can find out where it was then.

Other features include turning on a siren, sending an SMS message, viewing files, and much more. In general, this is a much more functional program than the standard Google tool.

But this method is only suitable if the user has previously installed Lost Android.

What if there is no such program?

The last way

If the two methods described above are not relevant in your case, there is only one thing left - to contact the police with a statement about the theft.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to find the device by phone number.

But you, as the victim, along with the application, can attach evidence that this is really your device. This evidence could be the following:

• warranty card;
• check from the store;
• phone box;
• IMEI code.

Everything is clear on the first three points, but questions may arise with the last.

In general, the IMEI code is actually the identification number of the mobile phone - it is unique for each device.

Unfortunately, it is simply impossible to find a device by IMEI code.

But when providing such, law enforcement agencies will know exactly who is the owner of the device.

In addition, having an IMEI code, you can try to add the phone to the database of lost devices - sndeep.info.

This will enable law enforcement officers of the area where the phone is located to find it and return it to the owner.

In addition, an ordinary person who could simply find the device can also find information about its loss on this site and return it for a fee.

The interface of this site is as follows.

Tip for those who have not yet lost their phone: Be sure to know yourIMEIcode and write it down somewhere. The easiest way to do this is by typing the key combination *#06# .

Good luck with your search and take care of your phones before they are stolen or lost!

The interface of another convenient program for finding a phone in case of its loss is shown in the video below.

How to find a lost phone - program for android

In this video, I'll show you how to find your phone on the map if you don't know where you left it. How are phones found?

As practice shows, most often a phone is stolen with the help of a primitive robbery in a dark alley, a quiet park, an underpass. Such actions are usually directed at people who cannot defend themselves and repel intruders. Young women, teenagers are the victims of criminals most often. Inconspicuous theft is committed mainly in a crowded place, where, in the midst of the rush and crush, it is difficult to notice how the thief sneaked into his pocket or bag.

Theft or loss of a mobile phone always brings a lot of worries to its owner. The difficulty of returning the found phone is due to the peculiarities of the Russian mentality. People, having found a phone, do not want to return it and appropriate it for themselves. One of the most effective ways is to search for a mobile phone by IMEI.

What is IMEI?

IMEI is a 15-digit code (International Mobile Equipment Identity). It is unique for each device and assigned to the phone by the manufacturer. This code is issued to each cellular device operating in GSM, IDEN, WCDMA networks. The IMEI is stored in the factory firmware of the phone. Its main task is to authorize and identify in the cellular network. Therefore, searching for a cell phone by IMEI can be effective if it is stolen or lost.

When a smartphone is stolen, the owner submits an official application and blacklists IMEI. In the countries of the European Union and the USA, such a phone will not work on any cellular network, since it is subject to a barring of calls, with the exception of emergency services, and when you try to register, a signal is sent to the service, which allows you to transfer to the police the relevant information about the place and time of exit to the network. Therefore, in foreign countries, thanks to such a system of work, it is possible to successfully track the phone by IMEI and counteract theft, since when it is blacklisted, it becomes a useless thing. In Russia, unfortunately, such a mechanism for combating intruders has not yet been developed.

How to find out the IMEI of the phone?

First of all, in order to answer the question of how to find a phone by IMEI, it is important to find this code. In order to find out IMEI, just dial a simple command * # 06 # - and a 15-digit code will be displayed on the screen. Also, the information is placed under the battery in the table along with the serial number, on the original packaging or sticker and in the warranty card. Thus, this code is a kind of “fingerprint”, since every time you register in the GSM network, the cellular operator sees the location by the IMEI of the phone.

Can IMEI be changed?

On some phone models, a way to change IMEI has been found, as a rule, these are Chinese devices. This feature is not available on newer mobile devices. Since manufacturers are interested in providing their users with the maximum level of protection and security, they are constantly looking for solutions to resist theft. However, along with manufacturers, scammers are also looking for ways and loopholes to hack device software and resell a stolen phone. It should be noted that in some countries, for example, in Kazakhstan, there is an article for unauthorized access to protected information, which threatens with imprisonment for up to 3 years. In Russia, for the change of IMEI, articles 273, 272 of the UKRF are provided. And in judicial practice, cases of imprisonment under these articles for a period of 3 years are known.

How to find a phone by IMEI

In Russia, mobile operators have access to information about the location of phones. However, they are not entitled to disclose this information to ordinary citizens and provide it only at the request of law enforcement agencies.

To search for a phone by IMEI, you need to contact the police with a free-form application, indicating your last name, first name and patronymic, passport details and the IMEI of the stolen phone. It is also necessary to provide copies of documents confirming the ownership of the device. After that, the police officers make a request to a cellular communication company in Russia, who check whether the subscriber with the specified IMEI is registered on the network, and give an official response to law enforcement agencies. The special services, in turn, having learned the location of the intruder, search for him and take appropriate measures.

However, in practice, due to the bureaucratic structure of our state, requests to the police are processed quite slowly, and by the time the case is under way, the attacker will have time to resell the phone on the secondary market or change the IMEI. And cellular operators, in turn, do not turn off the cell phone until it is proved that it is really stolen. Therefore, a revision of the legislative framework is required to simplify the system for dealing with theft of mobile devices.

Is it possible to return a stolen phone by independently calculating it by IMEI

Despite the fact that there are a number of web services on the Internet that offer to search for a phone by IMEI code, they do not give any guarantee about the accuracy of the information. Since only cellular operators officially have information, they are not entitled to give information to anyone, with the exception of law enforcement agencies. Therefore, these methods are questioned, and it is worth remaining vigilant when referring to them. It will be possible to calculate the stolen phone only if it is not turned off, and any actions will be performed from it - calls, checking the balance, sending messages.

How intelligence agencies find the location of a stolen phone

A mobile phone can only be detected using the GSM cellular standard. The signal from the mobile device is analyzed by the software, which allows you to determine the sector and the nearest station base in which the subscriber is registered. Such a search system allows you to find a phone by IMEI and find out its location with an accuracy of 100-200 meters, which is sufficient for an attacker to be caught by law enforcement officers.

What to do if your phone is stolen?

For those who want by IMEI, just follow the next steps.

1. To search for a stolen phone, do not immediately block the SIM card. If calls are made from it, it is possible to locate the intruder, which will help the police in investigating the case. It is advisable to block only if there is a large amount of money on the account and a tariff with a postpaid payment system is used, since all calls on the attacker's cell phone will have to be paid by the owner.
2. Get IMEI. In the event that the IMEI is unknown, it can be found on the original packaging in which the device was sold. By identifier, it is possible to find a stolen phone even if the SIM card is replaced by another mobile operator. However, the factory code of the phone does not always match the code indicated on the package, so you should check it at the stage of buying the phone.
3. Contact your operator's mobile phone store to get a printout of calls from the date the phone was lost.
4. With a passport, documents for the purchase of a phone that confirm ownership (warranty card, check, box), a printout of calls, you must contact the police with a statement about the loss of a mobile device. The application must indicate your contact details, as well as the IMEI number, and insist that law enforcement officers contact the mobile operator to search for the loss by identification number.
5. You can add your phone to one of the databases of stolen phones on such Internet resources as imeis.ru, trackerplus.ru, tech-touch.ru and others. If you enter your data, you can protect buyers from acquiring a stolen phone. And also in the event that an attacker tries to sell the phone on the secondary market, other participants in this service will inform you about it.

Techniques for finding a stolen phone

Android Device Manager is a service provided for Android-based mobile devices. When registering in the service, it becomes possible to use the service "Search for a phone by IMEI-satellite". Also, the option offers to make a free call to a lost phone at maximum volume, which allows you to find the phone if it was not stolen, but lost on the street or at home.

How to find a phone by IMEI manufactured by Apple

iPhones are popular all over the world and most often they become a tasty prey for intruders. These devices are characterized by high demand, price and good liquidity. Apple product manufacturers have taken care of the safety of their users by providing the ability to track the location of the device thanks to the geolocation system. To do this, you need to use the iCloud option, in which you can turn on the Find My iPhone function. If your device goes missing, just go to icloud.com and enter your password and Apple ID. In the event that this function was not activated before the theft, the system will not track the phone, and it will not be possible to find it in this way. In this case, the only right decision is to file an appropriate application with law enforcement agencies.

Alternative options for finding a stolen phone

1. It is recommended to create a business card on the phone about the owner with contact details in case the phone is not stolen, but lost, and people who find it want to return the loss to the rightful owner.
2. Many manufacturers of mobile devices offer various services that involve sending SMS messages when changing the SIM card to the number specified during registration.
3. You can use the LoSToleN service, which is a database of stolen phones and allows you to place information about the IMEI of the missing gadget for a reward if it is found.

Internet Data Search

With the development of information technology, many services on the Internet offer a phone search program by IMEI. However, it is worth remembering that in most cases, such offices are fraudulent, which work illegally. They ask to send a paid SMS message to gain access to the service, which ultimately does not provide any information. Therefore, in search of a solution to the problem of how to find a phone by IMEI, you should not resort to methods of searching for information on the global network.

In order to find a phone, you must have access to the equipment and software of all cellular operators in the country. Therefore, such a service cannot be provided by ordinary web offices. Access to information is only available to law enforcement agencies, which receive information upon request from any mobile operator. Therefore, an independent search for a stolen phone is a hopeless task that takes a lot of time and effort. The only right decision that can help is contacting the special services.

How to prevent yourself from buying a stolen phone

When buying a phone in the secondary market, it is worth checking it in the database of stolen phones in order to avoid trouble in the future. Since in the event that the owner has already filed a statement with the police, it will be quite difficult to prove that it was not you who stole the phone, and the device will have to be returned to the copyright holder. However, not all stolen mobile devices are entered into the database. You should not buy a mobile phone without documents from a private person, and if such a device is offered, this should immediately alert you. Also, when buying a device, it is recommended to check the IMEI of the phone with the one indicated on the package.

Theft or loss of a phone is a problem familiar to many, albeit from the stories of friends. Just a couple of years ago, there was no way to track the location of the device, but modern technology makes it possible to find even a stolen smartphone. There is a certain procedure for finding a lost phone.

It is possible that suddenly you realize that your smartphone is not in your pocket, and then the state of shock and panic is replaced by a convulsive thought process aimed at finding a device. To begin with, it is recommended to find a way and call it. It happens that it is left in some other place, and the owner begins to panic, believing that a theft has occurred. If the device really fell out somewhere, then it could be picked up. With the help of a call, it is quite realistic to count on a quick return.

You can send an SMS message with a request to return the smartphone for a fee. Naturally, no one wants to pay for their own gadget, but often this is the only option to return the valuable information that is in it. If the device is inexpensive, used mainly for calls, you can restore the SIM card, and then purchase a new one. There are others who are able to find a lost phone that are worth knowing about. Everything here is tied to the operating system used.

Lost iPhone iOS

Smartphones from Apple are very popular with cybercriminals, as they are very expensive, and even when they are sold for spare parts, the profit is quite significant. However, the company showed concern for its customers by creating a special service aimed at finding the device or blocking it so that an outsider could not do anything with it.

It will be possible only after activating the corresponding option in it. It is recommended to be puzzled by this in advance by enabling this function. Of course, you need to create an iCloud account and link your iPhone to it. This is done in the smartphone settings.

The device turns on Find My iPhone. If your iPhone is already linked to an iCloud account, then outsiders will not be able to do anything with it even after flashing, as they will need your email address and password. In this case, you can return the gadget if you send a message with the promise of a reward.

To remotely control your iPhone, go to iClod.com and then go to the Find My iPhone app. It displays all the Apple devices associated with the account. An app with the same name also comes with a similar set of features.

If you entered the program, and in the interface you see that the gadget is online, then there are several options. You can see the current location of the device. If he is at home, then the site starts playing a melody in order to quickly find him. Otherwise, lost mode is activated, which restricts access to data for unauthorized persons, and all movements of the device will be displayed on the map.

Realizing that it is impossible to return the smartphone, you should use the "Erase iPhone (all data)" functions on it so that they do not end up in the hands of third parties.

In iOS 7 and above, it is not possible to bypass Activation Lock. It is recommended that you update your device as soon as possible so that attackers cannot do anything with it except sell it for spare parts or return it to the owner for a fee.

If your Android phone is lost

The Android system for a long time lacked the ability to track the gadget at all. Now the OS itself is equipped with a convenient search option - this is Android Device Manager, which makes it possible to control remotely when connected to a Google account. It was implemented with the help of a website.

This system makes it possible to search for a gadget on a map, block it or delete all data stored on it, even from a memory card. In addition, the user can make a call to him in the case of using a different SIM card. All this requires that the device has an Internet connection, and your account must be used in the system. The operation of the service is possible only when the desired function is activated in the settings. To do this, go to Settings - Security - Administrators and activate "Android Device Manager" (Android Remote Control). Without doing this, you will receive absolutely no help from the service.

Compared to iOS, Android is a less secure system. An attacker has the ability to reflash the device, after which Android Device Manager becomes useless. This option will be necessary if you realized that your phone was lost somewhere at home, or you dropped it in the city, but someone found it. There is not only a web version, but also an application of the same name that works exclusively on Android.

New flagship devices from leading companies come with a new data and device protection system that allows you to block the device before charging is complete, that is, the phone becomes a brick and prevents an attacker from turning off or reflashing the smartphone

If your phone is lost on Windows Phone (Windows 10 Mobile)

Gadgets running Windows Phone also have their own system that allows you to find the device. Its functioning is possible only if you have been signed in to your Microsoft account. By default, the option is disabled to save battery power, so you need to enable it. It can be found in the system settings, for this the “Search for phone” item opens, and then both options available there are activated.

There are several points, each of which is responsible for certain actions.

The first provides faster connection to services. This is necessary so that the system communicates with the device not using SMS messages, but using push notifications.

The second option allows you to save the location with a certain frequency. In this case, you will be able to track the movement of the gadget, if it has been sold. In addition, if it is not in the access zone, or the battery runs out, it will be possible to find out the location of the gadget at the last moment of saving. It is possible that he is still there.

If you need to find a lost phone, you need to visit a special site, where, after choosing a device, a map with its approximate location is shown. Windows Phone also has remote control features that are identical to those on other systems. The device can be blocked, make a call to it, or erase all data.

What to do if you can't find your phone yourself

If you did not manage to find the lost phone using the indicated methods, then there is only one way - contacting the police. You should collect evidence that this is your smartphone. The box and documents from it will come in handy. When making a purchase with a card, you can restore documents proving ownership by contacting the seller. All the information that helps to identify the device will come in handy. You can save location data if you can get it. If you yourself could not find the device from friends, or in a cafe, then all this information will be very useful to law enforcement agencies.

The police file a complaint about the theft. You should get a paper indicating that the application has been accepted, and you should also keep copies of all documents submitted to the authorities.

You should block the SIM card, this is done at the operator's office. An active number is an opportunity for an attacker to call anywhere, and you will pay for such costs. The operator is also able to track the location of the smartphone, but only the investigation has the right to submit a request for this. A private person will be denied such a request.

Find lost phone by IMEI

IMEI is a unique identification number. It includes 15 digits, which do not change in any way when another phone number is connected. IMEI is entered into the device's memory, and it is not possible to change it. It is tied to the device itself, and in the cellular network it is used as one of the equipment identifiers. If the device has support for two SIM cards, then there will be two IMEI. It is designed to track the device and lock it remotely in case it is stolen or lost.

The process of searching for a smartphone by IMEI is implemented in several stages. After submitting a request to the police with the provision of a package of documents for a smartphone, they form a request to mobile operators, including IMEI. Representatives of the company look for it in their databases, and also find out the current owner of the SIM card that is currently used in it. All data is sent to law enforcement agencies, where the investigation takes place.

Police officers are looking for the owner of the currently used SIM card in order to find the user of the device at the current moment. The police use this method only in exceptional cases, when finding the phone is very important.

Read what to do in a hopeless situation, how to find a lost phone if it is turned off. Is it possible? And how to protect yourself from an unpleasant situation.

Often, having lost a smartphone, we part with gigabytes of various kinds of files that can carry personal information, logins and passwords. A mobile phone is no longer just a means of communication, but a very multifunctional device.

But in this article we will not talk about the capabilities of a smartphone, but about how to find a lost phone if it is turned off. Now there are many services that are developed specifically for determining the location of Android devices, but none of them can work with the device turned off. What to do in such an unpleasant situation?

Lost phone - how to find it if it is turned off: search your pockets

It often happens that users, noticing that the smartphone is not in the right place, start to panic from scratch. For example, put the phone in one pocket, and check in another, more familiar one. Has it happened? Not very pleasant thoughts immediately come to mind. So, the first tip, if you think you have lost your smartphone:

Check carefully all the places where you usually put your gadget. It will not be superfluous to make sure that he has not collapsed where. In general, we carefully examine each probable place of his stay.

As verified personally, in most cases the phone is simply not where it usually is. That's all - the case of the loss solved. Another very simple advice is to call the lost phone. So at least make sure it's enabled or not. Finally, remember where you were lately, when you last took out your smartphone. This will at least reduce the search area.

How to find a lost phone at home. The alarm clock will help!

From banal advice to search pockets, which you probably guessed yourself, we are moving on to more effective means. As we noted at the beginning, finding a turned off phone is complicated by the fact that most of the tools developed for this purpose simply do not work when the device is not turned off. Interestingly, the alarm does not stop this.

Smartphone manufacturers and software developers thought, why don't smartphones turn off on their own at night, and wake up in the morning with the first rays of the sun and wake up the owner.

The opportunity turned out to be really useful: the smartphone does not receive notifications at night that would force the user to wake up, and does not run out of battery, but turns on on its own in the morning. This feature is implemented in many phones. It is she who can help find the switched off smartphone.

It is clear that automatic inclusion must be activated on the device. As a rule, you can find the option in the advanced settings of the smartphone. You set the time at which the smartphone will turn off and on. Set an alarm.

Users of the function can simply wait for the set switch-on time.

Cellular operators and the police will help you find your lost phone

Oftentimes, if a smartphone is lost while turned off, all the user can do is search the location. Sadly, there is nothing more we can do on our own, unless you use the auto-on feature or some GPS tracking fobs. But a police department or a cell phone shop can help solve the problem.

You should immediately pay attention that employees of structures and employees of communication salons are reluctant to do this.

The first, as criminal chronicles show, is not always possible to catch maniacs and murderers, and you will come to them with a statement about the missing, and most importantly, turned off, smartphone. Of course, if the statement indicates not the loss, but the theft of the device, then this will oblige the investigators to accept it.

However, as statistics again show, it is not particularly worth hoping for success. Every day, hundreds, if not thousands, of users unwillingly part with their gadgets, which then find a new owner. The police simply will not search for missing and stolen phones.

Will mobile operators help to find a lost phone?

Especially, the operators are not eager to try their luck in finding your switched off smartphone. Although, it is quite doable.

Mobile operators today have tools that can find a lost phone, and even a disconnected one. By sending a signal to the SIM card, they can determine the approximate location of the gadget. But, again, the police can force the operator to perform this kind of operation, they are not obliged to help the ordinary user.

Let's say you are one of the people who are 100% confident in their abilities. You know that either the police or the employees of the mobile phone store will help you find the switched off smartphone. What is needed for this:

1. IMEI (a unique number assigned to each phone, as a rule, is indicated under the battery of the device, you can find out by typing the command * # 06 #, IMEI is also indicated on the box in which the gadget was supplied);
2. the passport;
3. the contract that you entered into at the time of purchasing the SIM card.

With this we go to the police station or a cell phone salon. Naturally, we issue an application, according to which an attempt will be made to find your switched off smartphone. As a rule, the search process takes some time: both the police and mobile phone shops send a request to the operator, who is already trying to track the phone.

We also note that if your smartphone is found in the apartment, there is a high risk of getting a fine. Yet the police have spent time and resources looking for your phone.

Anticipate! What will help you find a switched off smartphone?

Providing the phone in advance with a tool that will help you find it in the future is the most correct solution. However, who will think about it before losing the gadget?! So, firstly, an excellent device that will allow you not only to find, but also not to lose, are.

Yes, yes, the very ones with which the market is littered today. We are interested in two functions in them - the search for a smartphone and a warning about a disconnection. In the first case, we can activate a loud sound notification on the phone from the clock, which will “squeal” until you press the button.

Naturally, the option only works when the smartphone is turned on and is within the range of the Smart Watch.

A more interesting feature of smartwatches for users who often forget their smartphone in a cafe or at a party will be a disconnection warning. That is, at a distance of about 15-20 meters from the smartphone, the watch and the phone itself will begin to vibrate and make a sound.

Smart watches with these functions are inexpensive, and, in addition, they are endowed with other useful options, for example, receiving notifications, remote control of a smartphone, and others. With them, you do not have to look for a switched off smartphone - you will be protected from losing your electronic friend.

GPS trackers will help you find

Do you prefer Smart Watch to regular watches? Then we will attach a tracking device to your phone. We are talking about various kinds, the location of which can be tracked by satellite, for example, from a computer. Such devices are inexpensive, presented in various designs, work for a long time on one charge (or battery) and will definitely help you find your lost phone, even if it is turned off.

You can find a GPS keychain with an interesting shape that will not arouse suspicion if your smartphone is stolen. Agree, not everyone will think that a dangling thing can send information about its location. We've talked about it before, check it out if you're interested.

Protect your data

Like it or not, finding a lost phone outside the home, which is also turned off, is very difficult to find. And sometimes it's not really necessary. Now, who wants to run from office to office at the police station, seeking to submit an application to find a phone for 3,000 rubles?

Just a waste of time and nerves. Today, the market allows you to purchase a sophisticated smartphone for a relatively small amount, and users often do not care about the gadget itself, but about what it stores in the depths of memory.

To prevent the finder from gaining access to your files and passwords, you need to worry about security in advance:

• First, passwords are our best friend. Set the PIN code that the phone will ask for when it is turned on. It is unlikely that you reboot the device every day, so you will not have to enter it often. A simple action, but access to the device is very difficult. We also recommend using a screen lock password, which will protect your smartphone from unauthorized access.

A lot of modern smartphones have a fingerprint scanner, although many users do not use it. We advise you to use it - it is unlikely that someone will be able to guess the password without your fingerprint.

• Secondly, synchronization. A very, very useful feature that is neglected by many. Android smartphones, as a rule, use Google services for synchronization, combining a lot of data in a single account. In case of theft or loss of the gadget, this very account will help to block or delete all data from the smartphone. By the way, services can help you find your Android phone, if it's really not turned off. Read more about the issue of synchronization and remote monitoring of a smartphone through Google services.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are not so many ways today to find a lost phone that is also turned off. If the device is lost outside the home, then the chance to find it tends to zero.

However, there are quite a lot of means that will prevent loss and help in the search, if you take care of them in advance. A small keychain or smart watch will save your nerves and wallet. And passwords and synchronization will secure personal information.