Use Samsung Find Mobile to locate your phone on a map

If your Samsung phone is lost, Samsung Find Mobile (also called SmartThings Find) is the fastest way to see where it is. Open a web browser on any computer or another phone, go to findmobile.samsung.com, sign in with the Samsung account linked to your lost phone, and the map will show your phone's location in real time.

This works even if your phone is off or the battery is low, because Samsung stores the last known location. If your phone is on and connected to the internet, the location updates every few seconds. The map shows the address and lets you zoom in to see exactly which building or street your phone is on.

You do not need to have set this up in advance — Samsung Find Mobile is built into every Samsung phone and turned on by default. As long as your Samsung account was set up on the phone before it went missing, you can use it right now.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to findmobile.samsung.com from any browser and sign in with your Samsung account to see your phone's location on a map.
  • If your phone is nearby, use the "Ring" button to make it play a loud sound even if it is set to silent.
  • If you cannot retrieve your phone, use "Lock" to set a new PIN and "Erase" to wipe your data before someone accesses it.
  • If your phone is turned off or out of range, Samsung stores the last location it reported, which is often accurate enough to narrow down where to search.
  • File a police report if you believe your phone was stolen, and provide the police with the location data from Samsung Find Mobile.

Make your phone ring to find it nearby

If your phone is in your home, car, or another nearby location, use the "Ring" button on Samsung Find Mobile to make it play a loud alarm sound. The phone will ring at full volume even if you set it to silent mode, vibrate only, or do not disturb.

The alarm continues for two minutes or until you stop it by pressing the volume button on the phone itself. This works whether your phone's screen is on or off, and whether it is locked or unlocked. If you hear the sound coming from under a couch cushion or behind a desk, you can follow it to the exact spot.

Lock your phone remotely if you cannot find it

If the map shows your phone is far away or in an unfamiliar location, use the "Lock" button on Samsung Find Mobile to set a new PIN code. This locks your phone when ready and prevents anyone from using it, even if they know your old password.

When you lock the phone remotely, you can also display a message on the lock screen — for example, "This phone is lost. Call me at [your number]." If someone finds your phone and sees this message, they may call you instead of keeping it.

Erase your data if you believe your phone was stolen

If you are certain your phone was stolen and you cannot retrieve it, use the "Erase" button on Samsung Find Mobile to delete all your data from the phone. This removes your photos, messages, contacts, banking apps, and any other personal information stored on the device.

Erasing is permanent and cannot be undone, so use this only as a last resort. Once you erase the phone, you will not be able to locate it on the map anymore. However, erasing protects your privacy and prevents a thief from accessing your accounts, even if they crack the lock screen.

Report the loss to your phone carrier and police

Contact your phone carrier (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or another provider) and tell them your phone is lost or stolen. They can disable your phone on their network so no one can make calls or use data under your account. This stops thieves from running up charges or using your phone number to reset passwords on other accounts.

If you believe your phone was stolen, file a police report and provide the officers with the location data from Samsung Find Mobile. Include the address where your phone last reported its location, the date and time, and screenshots of the map. Police can use this information to investigate and may recover your phone.

Check if Find Mobile was turned off before your phone went missing

Samsung Find Mobile is turned on by default, but it can be disabled in Settings. If you cannot see your phone on the map, it may be because the previous owner or someone else turned off location services or Find Mobile itself.

If Find Mobile was off, you have other options. Contact your carrier to see if they offer a location service (many do). Check your Google account at myaccount.google.com — if your phone was signed into Google, you may be able to locate it through Google Find My Mobile. If your phone is connected to a Samsung SmartThings hub or another Samsung device, SmartThings Find may still show its location.

Prevent future loss by setting up Find Mobile now

To make sure you can find your phone if it goes missing again, confirm that Samsung Find Mobile is turned on. Open Settings, search for "Find Mobile," and make sure the toggle is switched on. Confirm that your Samsung account is signed in on the phone — go to Settings, tap Accounts, and look for your Samsung account in the list.

Consider turning on location services as well, even though Find Mobile works without it. Location services help other apps (maps, weather, camera) work better, and they improve the accuracy of Find Mobile's location data. Go to Settings, tap Location, and turn it on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find my Samsung phone if it is turned off?

Yes. Samsung stores the last location your phone reported before it shut down. If your phone was on for at least a few minutes before dying, the map will show where it was. The location may be a few minutes old, but it is often accurate enough to narrow down a search area.

What if my phone is not showing up on the map at all?

Your phone may not be connected to the internet, or Find Mobile may have been turned off. Try signing out and signing back into your Samsung account on findmobile.samsung.com. If that does not work, contact Samsung support or your phone carrier — they may have other ways to locate your device.

Can someone else use Samsung Find Mobile to locate my phone without my permission?

No. They would need to sign in with your Samsung account, which requires your password. If you are worried someone has your password, change it when ready at account.samsung.com. After you change your password, anyone signed in with the old password will be logged out.

Does Samsung Find Mobile work if my phone is in airplane mode?

No. Airplane mode turns off all wireless connections, so your phone cannot send its location to Samsung. If your phone is in airplane mode, the map will show the last location it reported before airplane mode was turned on.

Will Samsung Find Mobile work if I switch to a different phone?

Yes. As long as your lost phone is still signed into your Samsung account, you can sign into that same account on your new phone and use Find Mobile to locate the old one. You can also use findmobile.samsung.com on a computer.