If you lost your Android device it’s not
only about the burden of having to replace the phone. Your privacy and security
are at risk. Your phone can reveal tons of information about you and those who
are close to you.
Here we will discuss about measures we
can take to recover your lost Android device. You have three options.
- Android device manager
- Using Google Map
- Using apps like AirDroid
Like AirDroid there is a number of
phone recovery or anti-theft apps are available on the Google Play Store.
If you haven’t installed any phone recovery
app before it lost still there are a few ways to remote control and track your
phone.
If your device is running on Android
2.2 or above you can use Android Device Manager to find your device. You also
will need to be signed into your Google Account.
How to use the Android Device Manager
First of all you will have to make sure
that the Android Device Manager is enabled as a device administrator. You can
do it by going to Settings >> Security and Screen Lock >> Device
Administrators on your Android device. If your devices menus are different,
then use your user manual to find it and select the box that says “Android
Device Manager.” Well done it’s over.
Now, update the location settings of
your device. Actually, GPS is not necessary to locate your device, if enabled
it will make the readings more accurate so enable GPS services. Please don’t
worry about the battery it will drain your battery only when it’s actively
being used.
Now, select the “Google Settings” App and
select Android Device Manager from the list and select the boxes named
“Remotely locate this device” and “Allow remote lock and factory reset.” Done,
you have enabled the Android Device Manager.
Go to https://www.google.com/android/devicemanager
the
Android Device Manager has very simple and user friendly dashboard. Using it
you can:
1 Locate
your device: You can see the location of your Android device on the map with
the name of the place and also the time it was last used and located. You can
spot out the exact location by zooming in.
2 You
can ring your device: This feature will be useful when your phone is misplaced
in your own home or office. You are trying to ring your phone from another
phone to find it, but it is silent or vibrate mode this will help you. Ring your
device using Android Device Manager; it will ring for 5 minutes at the highest
volume.
3 Lock
your device: Lockup your device remotely will be helpful if you wish to lock
your Android device; therefore, no one will access your sensitive private
information. You can click on the Lock button of Android Device Manager to lock
your device. The device manager will ask you to enter a new password twice and
the device will be locked.
4 Erase
Device: Using this option you can factory reset your device. This will erase
all your content and settings from your device. After the reset you will not be
able to track your device using Android Device Manager. Erase Device may not erase
your personal data on external SD cards.
For using the above said options:
Your device must be connected with your
Google account and must have access to the internet.
How to use Google Maps to find a lost
phone:
If you want to use Google Maps to find
your phone, then location Reporting and Location History of your device should
be activated. You can do this using the Google Settings app on your device. The
Location History feature of Google Maps is not intended find out a lost device,
but you can use it to locate your phone.
Simply, go to the Google Maps Location
History and select the current date on the calendar. Then click on “Show
timestamps” and scroll down to find out the latest timestamp, then click on to
see the last available location. Google Maps location history is less accurate
since it uses cell tower IDs and Wi-Fi location detection to collect location
data.
To use this method:
Your
device should be connected with your Google account and must have access to the
internet.
Using third party apps like AirDroid,
Lookout, etc.
Using one of the third party apps is
another alternative. These apps offers features like lock, locate, wipe, sound
the alarm and take photos of whoever tries to unlock the device etc.
Unfortunately these apps are all paid
ones and you do have to pay for a premium subscription if you want to use
advanced features like remotely lock and wipe the device, take the picture of
the person who try to unlock the device etc.
Important: If you think
that your device has been stolen then the first thing you should do is to
contact police for help.