A mobile device for most people is a repository of personal data, personal information and an indispensable device for solving everyday problems. Sometimes, due to forgetfulness and inattention, the phone is lost or falls into the hands of intruders. In such cases, it is often not so much the lost device that is regretted, but the files that it contains. If you take appropriate measures and know how to act in this situation, you can find a stolen smartphone by IMEI or in another way in the shortest possible time.
Looking for a switched off phone
Not always the person who found the phone seeks to return it to its owner. If the gadget was stolen, then the attacker immediately removes the SIM card and turns off the smartphone. This significantly reduces the ability to search for a mobile device.
People often ask, can you find a smartphone if it is stolen and turned off? If the cell phone is not active, then it is better to immediately contact the relevant authorities andfile a complaint about theft. This will require some data. It is necessary to take a check from the store and a box from the device, if they are preserved, as well as a passport. At the police station, tell about the trouble and write a statement indicating identification data, more precisely, the IMEI code, which is unique for each device.
In the past few years, the number of phone thefts has declined significantly, due to the affordable price of smartphones, as a rule, thefts affect expensive gadgets to a greater extent. Police officers will take measures to find the device, but the statistics are such that they are rarely found. If the device is dead or turned off, but the SIM card remains inside, the provider determines the location of the smartphone and returns it to the owner.
By IMEI
The personal serial identification number of the device is called IMEI. It is indicated on the box of the mobile device, as well as under the phone battery. It consists of 15 numbers, to find out it, you can display the numbers on the display with a special command.
After buying a phone, it is recommended to rewrite the IMEI in a notebook or on a warranty card. If you lose your smartphone, you will need this code to find it. All mobile devices run on one of the three operating systems that make it a PC:
- Windows Phone.
- Android.
- iOS.
Law enforcement officers submit a request to the court for permission to oblige the operator to find the stolen phone on their ownby IMEI. With the help of satellites, a mobile operator can find a stolen device by identifier, this opportunity is exclusively with the provider. This requires a mandatory court order.
Often on the Internet there are sites offering to find a stolen phone on their own by IMEI, but third-party resources do not have such opportunities. If, after sending a request, a third-party resource asks to make a payment, this is a common money luring. Information bases by code are stored exclusively by the mobile operator, they cannot be freely available. Entering the IMEI of a lost phone lets other users know if they are buying a stolen phone.
By number
According to the local legislation of the Russian Federation, when buying a SIM card, a contract is necessarily concluded, usually one number from a mobile operator is used. Often people are interested in whether it is possible to find a stolen smartphone if it is turned off by the SIM card number. Unfortunately, it is impossible to find a smartphone by the SIM card number. Such opportunities and technological equipment are available exclusively to the mobile operator, but, having made such a request, the company's employees will refuse. It's not the human factor, but the high cost of the procedure, currently it is not included in the standard and requires technical resources and time. Searching for a device only makes sense if it was released in limited quantities and is expensive.
On the World Wide Webthere are resources with offers to find a lost device for free if it was stolen. You should not fall for such offers - this is another myth, not a single site has such capabilities. As an exception, there are official websites from manufacturers of Samsung and Apple devices, which link a personal account to the device and search through their satellite channel (geolocation), if it is activated.
Looking for "Android" through the computer
Some portable devices operate on the basis of the Android operating system. There is no charge for it and the OS is in incredible demand. Therefore, developers from different companies strive to create utilities and programs based on this OS. Any owner of a modern mobile phone model can find an "Android" device using a special application. The main nuance is to install such a utility in advance, preferably immediately after the purchase, because after the loss or theft of a smartphone, it will be too late to think about it. Installation is carried out independently from the official source (Play Market). Below are the most requested ones.
Lost Android. After downloading and installing the application will ask you to provide administrative rights. To search through this utility, you must have a Google account that is linked to the device.
Utility functions:
- search for gadget with location on the map;
- the ability to lock or unlock your smartphone remotely;
- availability to the user of copying, viewing data (for example, contacts, photos or messages);
- screen control, the ability to turn on the signal or vibration mode;
- receive a notification when a SIM card is replaced on a smartphone.
Where`s My Droid. This app searches through the specially designed Commander website. It will be necessary to register on it, and then authorize the account through a mobile device.
Next, the user will have the opportunity to select the necessary elements:
- determining the location of the device by GPS;
- receive location notification when battery is low;
- the ability to send a command from the application to the gadget, after which the phone will ring or start vibrating;
- setting a special code to protect personal data;
- receiving a notification about changing a SIM card;
- enable ste alth mode, which hides incoming messages on the gadget.
Also "Samsung" on "Android" can be found using the site findmymobile.samsung.com. To search, the user needs to log in with a Samsung account and perform the actions indicated on the screen.
Find "Android" through Android Device Manager
Android Device Manager is designed to search for a mobile device througha computer. It is worth noting right away that if the gadget was turned off or all settings were reset to the factory settings, then the capabilities of the service are less functional. In any case, it is worth a try if your smartphone is stolen. You can find its location in this way by following the step-by-step instructions:
- Go to remote use link www.google.com/android/devicemanager.
- Register or enter your username and password. Then log into your personal account. After registration, you need to authorize your account through your smartphone.
- Then the process takes place in automatic mode, the following information will appear in the window that appears: location data, last connection to the network and the ability to call, block, clear.
Thus, you can not only determine the location of the device, but also remotely control it, for example, block it by pressing one button. You can also clear the smartphone memory with all personal data or call the finder or the thief.
Search for iPhone
Apple brand smartphones are equipped with the function of encrypting personal information and the operating system. From which it follows that hacking or reinstalling the OS will be extremely difficult. Therefore, if an expensive iPhone has been lost, the probability of returning it is quite high, provided that appropriate measures are taken in advance.
It will be easier to find it than an Android device. When buying an Apple-branded smartphone, the user always activates the iCloud function. After registration, by default, all available options are enabled. If the owner of the iPhone has not deactivated them, in case of loss or theft, finding a mobile device will be easier than ever.
When this situation occurs:
- it will be enough to go to the official website iCloud.com, fill in the fields for identification and open the control panel;
- after that, press the "Find iPhone" key and wait a few seconds until the map loads in the browser.
- then it will show the location of the smartphone if it is turned on.
If an iPhone user has installed the fingerprint recognition function, then people who find or steal the gadget will not be able to use it for their own purposes. Therefore, there will be only two options for action: throw away an expensive device or return it to the owner. In the same way as in the situation with Android, an iOS-based phone is controlled remotely, this can be done using the iCloud service.
Search for Windows phone
There are also search options for phones based on the Windows operating system. The principle of operation here is the same as in the already described OS. Microsoft has developed a search function for a lost or stolen smartphone in its system. You can find a mobile device on Windows OS using the "Find my phone" function, or Find my phone.
The condition for its use, as in all previous cases, is the creation of an account in live.com. It is important to note that Microsoft, in order toPower Saver may disable this feature, which means that if you disable it, you will not be able to find your mobile device.
To determine the location of the device, you need to go to the official website of the developer and select the option to search for a smartphone. A map will appear on the monitor with an approximate indication of the gadget's location on it. If we talk about the remote control functionality of Windows Phone, then it is no different from other similar operating systems. In the same way, you can call a mobile, block it or erase all personal information.
If all the necessary options are enabled, go to the step-by-step instructions:
- go to the windowsphone.com developer site and log in;
- next in the control panel you need to find the line "find a phone" and select it;
- on the map that opens, the last location of the smartphone will be marked;
- the program will offer you a choice: block the device, send a message to it or delete all data.
All these features are provided only if the phone is connected to the network.
Via Google account
One of the most accessible options for finding a mobile device is using the Google service. As you know, the Android operating system is the property of this company, so all smartphones based on it are combined with the Google system. Moreover, using your Google account, you can find devices based on iOS or Windows. Again, the main condition ishaving an account in the system.
In the settings menu, go to the "Accounts" tab, select the "Google" line, and then log in. For all users of devices based on Android fifth generation and above, no further action is required. The system will automatically direct you to the remote control page. Other devices will need to go to the "Administrators" tab and enable access to the smartphone through the computer. After that, it will be possible to carry out the following actions from your Google account:
- turn on the alarm at full volume, announcing the location of the lost device, if it is in close proximity;
- lock the phone and display a message with contact information and a request to return the device for a fee;
- activate search with a mark on the map announcing the last location of the device;
- completely clear the memory of the smartphone in real time from the computer.
By GPS via computer
Alternatively, you can try to find a stolen Android smartphone via satellite by phone number. The geolocation system allows you to locate an object with maximum accuracy through a beacon. With an active tracker, the system can easily find a smartphone using GPS. The main problem is that the finder can just as easily disable this function and the device itself, as a result of which it will be impossible to track the device.
To search for a phone, you need to download a special program that will track the locationdevice. After that, you log into your account from the computer and track the location of the device. Most common tracking apps:
- Live GPS Tracker.
- TrackMe.
- My World GOS Tracker.
Using Avast for protection
So that in the future, after buying an expensive device, not to wonder how to find a stolen Android smartphone from Samsung, suppose you should think about protecting personal data. This is necessary, because the phone, as a rule, stores passwords for bank cards, accounts, personal accounts, etc. Only locking the screen is clearly not enough here. One of the most popular gadget protection programs is Avast. You need to download Avast Mobile Security antivirus from the official source and install it.
Next steps:
- Next, the "Settings" tab opens and the item "Pin code protection" is checked, and then "Protection from deletion". If an unauthorized user finds this program and wants to remove it, he will not be able to do anything until the correct password is entered.
- After that, you need to create an Avast account.
- Next, you go to the official page of the antivirus developers and select Create Account Now, enter your email address and password.
Then, in the advanced settings tab, the necessary protection options are selected in case the gadget is lost. It can be remotely locked, limitaccess to personal information, make loud noises, be tracked by GPS, display the specified message text. After completing the settings, you can be sure that your mobile device is protected.
In the article, we reviewed programs that will help detect the device if it is stolen. How to find a smartphone and what to do in such a situation, we hope, is clear. In conclusion, it would be useful to note that locking the device with a password, pattern or fingerprint will greatly complicate the access of intruders to personal data, so you should not abuse this elementary type of security. Another important point is access to the Internet. It's good if this function is always activated.
