Any mobile phone can get lost or stolen. More recently, users did not hope that the device could be returned. Today there are special search functions that significantly increase the chance of returning the loss. It's time to get acquainted with the main ways to find a phone using a Google account.
General information
It's very easy to find out which devices are connected to your Google account. The user just needs to open a browser and go to the official Google website. Then you will need to open the page of recently used devices and find the phone using your Google account.
In order to search, the following conditions must be met:
- mobile phone must be activated;
- device linked to Google account;
- "Remote control" option is activated on the machine
- gadget is defined in Google Play;
- on the devicegeodata transfer and network access activated.
If the user has disabled the function of transferring geodata, then it will be impossible to find the phone using a Google account. In order to activate this option, just open the "Settings" section and click on the "Settings" button. In the menu that opens, you need to touch the line "Location services" and activate the checkbox on the search "By network coordinates".
Activation of remote control of the device
The user will need to go to the "Settings" menu and find the "Security" item. Then you need to select the line "Device administrators" in the right pane. Check the box next to "Android Remote Control" and open this section. After that, just click on the "Enable" button in the "Activate device administrators" box.
How to find a phone on Google Play
To do this, go to the official website of Google Play and open the "Settings" section. All linked devices will be presented to the attention of users in the list. Finding a phone using a Google account is not difficult, but the device must be turned on. Otherwise, the user can only find out information about the last access to the Internet.
How to find a gadget using a PC
Before you start searching, you need to log in to Google. The user will need to click on the "Google Apps" icon. Scroll down the page that appears andclick on the "Search phone" tab. If several gadgets are linked to one account, you need to select the one you are interested in. After confirming the system, you can choose a method that will allow you to find your phone using your Google account from your computer.
The system offers two main options: search on the map or call in real time. The latter method works perfectly if the mobile device is lost in the car, at home or in the office. Activating this function will cause the mobile device to ring for 5 minutes, attracting the attention of others. The specified sequence of actions will help not only find the phone using a Google account, but also find out the full history of movements.
Search with another smartphone
In order to simplify the search for a stolen or lost device, you can use special mobile applications. These programs are provided completely free of charge. The Find My Device application allows you to quickly find your phone using your Google account. In order to enter the program that is installed on someone else's device, you should click on the "Log in as a guest" button. After that, you will need to go through the authorization procedure and prove that the account really belongs to the user. The system should then be allowed to provide location data. The program allows the user to log out of the account and remotely wipe the data.
There is a convenient weban interface with which you can find your phone through your Google account. To do this, just go to the official website of the company and click on the search page adapted for mobile devices. The user will need to go through the authorization procedure, and then repeat the actions taken with the computer.
What do you need for successful tracking?
Users need to pay attention to certain conditions before proceeding to the search procedure. The mobile device must be connected to the Device Manager service and must have a GPS module. The standard Device Manager application is installed on all Android phones. In this application, you need to activate the slider Remotely Locate Device and enable remote memory wipe.
Account settings
User will need to enable localization services. This can be done like this:
- go to settings;
- find the "Location determination" tab and check the box next to the maps item;
- open the "Location Access" tab and activate the option to regularly receive data about the location of the device.
This sequence of steps will help users answer the question of how to find a phone using a Google account.
Specialists report that this feature is available only for mobile devices with firmware version 2.2 and higher. Devices with an older operating systemare displayed in the account, but cannot be connected to.
Third Party Applications
The owner of the device can use not only standard services from Google, but also the convenient Find My Mobile program. The service binds to the account data and creates an account. At the stage of linking the page, these actions are performed automatically. The application works exactly the same as other analogues from Google. Using this program, you can find the phone by Google account.
For the correct operation of the application, you must go through the authorization procedure using your Google login and password. Then you need to find your gadget and click on Locate My Phone. You will need to wait for the map to load and click on the Locate mobile section, and then on Start Tracking. After that, the user will be presented with a mark on the map about the proposed location.
Main functions of the service
The user can not only find the phone by Google account, but also send messages to the mobile device and activate the sound signal on the gadget. Also, the owner of the device can clear the data on the smartphone. Thus, the attacker will not use records, photos and other personal data. In addition, the user can set the access key to the mobile device at a remote distance. The capabilities of the extended service allow you to track even the movement of the gadget.
Summary
Specialists say that the search procedure should be started as soon as possiblebefore. This will increase the likelihood of finding the phone with a Google account and picking it up when you get to a certain place. Some error of maps on the terrain of the CIS countries should also be taken into account. In fact, the gadget can be within 10 meters of the indicated mark on the map.
Users who are worried about whether it is possible to find a phone with a Google account should not worry, since the chances of returning the device are quite high. The service provides good opportunities to ensure that users' gadgets are safe and sound. It must be remembered that deactivating the option to transfer geodata cuts off the ability to find the phone using a Google account.