How to Track Lost Android Phone and Tablet

Your Android gadgets are the most important things in your life. It contains all your important contacts and information. If you lose your equipment, you will be losing all those sweet memories with the photos and video. But there is some good news to android phone/tablet users, you can now easily find or at least know where your missing phone is with or without using android application.

Let’s first look at the way of finding your lost phone which doesn’t contain any app installed on it.

Use the IMEI Number

Every android phone carries a unique IMEI number (International Mobile Equipment Identity Number). It will be printed at the back of your device. If you are unable to find the number, you have to launch your phone app and dial the number *#06#. This will give you the IMEI number of your phone. Store this number in a safe place so that it helps you in locating your phone when it is lost.

When you file a complaint, this number has to be added in the report. Your service provider uses this number to track your phone and tell you where it is. No matter if the person using the phone is using a different SIM card or has switched off the phone. Once the device is traced, you can request your service provider to block it from using.

This is one of the easy ways of locating your lost Android phone or tablet.

Plan B

Another way of tracking your lost Android gadget in no time is through Plan B app. This app does not require you to install any recovery software previously but still helps in finding your lost phone. All you need to do is log on to your Google play account. Lookout mobile security offers free software called Plan B. Download the software from play store to your phone. This will be possible only if your phone is within the Internet coverage area. Wait for some time and then send the keyword “locate” without the quotes through SMS to your phone. And a map showing where your equipment is will be sent to your Gmail account. This app is very much useful in situations where you don’t have IMEI number.

If you have installed and configured any of these below android software previously, there is good chance of finding it.

You can log on to Google Play store > My Android Apps, on your computer and check if you have installed any of the following apps previously.

Lookout Security and Antivirus

Lookout is the best android app for security and antivirus. So far, it has received millions of downloads. Just recall if you have installed this on your phone.

If you have activated the option “Missing Device” in this app, it is easy to find your device. If you have also enabled “Signal Flare” option, you can trace the last known location of your android device. This is helpful in case your phone battery is dead or tablet is switched off.

Now sign in Lookout to locate your device. The map shows the location of your phone. If you are at a short distance from the tablet, you can choose Scream option to make a loud noise to find it.

Android Device Manager

Google has recently released a new locator feature for Android gadgets called Android Device manager, which helps its users locate their lost or stolen phones and tablets. It functions in the same way as Lookout and Samsung’s “Find My Mobile”. Here’s how to use Android Device Manager.

Go to the Google Settings app, then select Android device manager. By default the locator feature is activated but to activate remove data wipe, select the box next to “Allow remote factory reset”, then select “activate”.

To use this feature, open the site https://www.google.com/android/devicemanager and sign in to your Google account. You may be prompted for permission to allow Android Device Manager to use location data. Select the Accept tab to continue.

Now you will be provided with a map that shows the location of your device along with other details such as the name of the place, when it was last used and more. The location data doesn’t help you if your phone is misplaced somewhere in your home. Instead of making a call to your phone using other’s phone, you can call your phone directly from Android Device Manager. This will make your device to ring with high volume for 5 minutes, even if it’s in silent or vibrate mode.

One feature that is missing in Android Device Manager is remote locking, which can be useful in preventing a stranger from accessing your data, while you’re tracking its location.

Apart from these, there are other apps such as Android Lost, Where do My Droid and GadgetTrak that help you in finding your lost Android phone/Tablet.