Find, lock or erase lost Android phone via Google account, Find My Device app, smartwatch

We store all of our crucial information, including bank details, on our smartphones. If we lose the phone, it may not only cause us financial loss, but our information including personal information, contacts, pictures, etc. may also be used by fraudsters for evil deeds. But do you know that you can find, lock or erase your Android device if you have added a Google account to your device? Yes, your Google account can find your phone!

“If you lose an Android phone or tablet, or a Wear OS watch, you can find, lock, or erase it. If you’ve added a Google account to your device, Find My Device is automatically enabled,” said the Google support page. . However, it should be noted that to find, lock or erase an Android phone, that phone must be turned on, signed in to a Google account, connected to mobile data or Wi-Fi, visible on Google Play, enable location , turn on Find My Device.

Also, if you used your lost phone for 2-Step Verification, you must have a backup phone or a backup code. Here is all you need to do:

How to Remotely Find, Lock or Wipe Your Android Device

1. Go to android.com/find and sign in to your Google account.

2. If you have more than one phone, click on the lost phone at the top of the screen.

3. If your lost phone has more than one user profile, sign in with a Google account that is on the main profile.

4. The lost phone receives a notification.

5. On the map, you will get information about the location of the phone. It may be noted that the location is approximate and may not be exact. If your phone cannot be found, you will see its last known location, if available.

6. Choose what you want to do. If necessary, first click Enable lock and erase.

Ring: Rings your phone at full volume for 5 minutes, even if it is set to silent or vibrate.

Secure device: Locks your phone with your PIN, pattern, or password. If you don’t have a lock, you can set one. To help someone get your phone back to you, you can add a message or phone number to the lock screen.

Erase device: Permanently deletes all data on your phone (but may not delete SD cards). After erasing, Find My Device will not work on the phone.

7. If you find your phone after erasing, you will probably need your Google account password to use it again. Also, if you’ve linked your phone to Google, you can find or ring it by searching find my phone on google.com

How to find your Android device with the Find My Device app

1. On another Android phone or tablet, open the Find My Device app.

2. If the other device does not have the app yet, download it from Google Play.

3. Log in. If your own device is lost, tap Continue as [your name]. Whereas, if you’re helping a friend, tap Connect as Guest and let your friend connect.

4. You can then follow the same steps as given above to find your phone remotely.

How to find your Android phone using your smartwatch

Note that to use your watch to find your phone, your phone must be on, connected to your watch via Bluetooth, close enough for you to hear it.

Your phone rings even if the volume is off and your phone is set to vibrate.