Use Google Find My Mobile to locate your Android phone
If your Android phone is lost or stolen, Google Find My Mobile is the fastest way to find it. This service works on any Android phone linked to a Google account, and you can use it from any web browser or another device — you do not need the lost phone itself.
Go to google.com/android/find in any browser and sign in with the Google account connected to your lost phone. The map will show your phone's last known location. If the phone is still on and connected to the internet, the location updates in real time. You can also make your phone ring at full volume for five minutes, even if it is set to silent — this helps if the phone is nearby but hidden under a couch or in a bag.
From the same screen, you can lock your phone remotely or erase all data on it if you believe it has been stolen and you want to protect your personal information. Once you erase the phone, you cannot locate it anymore, so use this only when you are certain recovery is not possible.
Key Takeaways
- Google Find My Mobile works from any browser at google.com/android/find and shows your phone's location in real time if it is powered on and connected to the internet.
- You can make your phone ring at full volume for five minutes even if it is silenced, which helps locate it in nearby locations.
- Your phone must be linked to a Google account and have location services turned on for Find My Mobile to work.
- You can lock or erase your phone remotely if it has been stolen, but erasing it prevents you from locating it afterward.
- If Find My Mobile shows no location, your phone is either powered off, out of battery, or not connected to the internet.
Check that your phone meets the requirements for Find My Mobile
Find My Mobile only works if three things are true: your phone is linked to a Google account, location services are turned on, and the phone is powered on with an active internet connection. If any of these is missing, the service cannot locate your phone.
Most Android phones are set up with a Google account during initial setup, so this is usually not the problem. Location services, however, are often turned off by users who want to save battery or limit tracking. If you turned off location services before your phone went missing, Find My Mobile will not work — it will show the last location recorded before you disabled it, which may be hours or days old.
If your phone is completely powered off or the battery has died, Find My Mobile will not show a current location. Some phones can be located for a short time after they power down if they have enough battery to send one final location ping, but this is not may provide.
Use Samsung Find Mobile if you have a Samsung phone
Samsung phones have their own location service called Samsung Find Mobile, which works similarly to Google Find My Mobile but is designed specifically for Samsung devices. Go to findmobile.samsung.com and sign in with your Samsung account.
Samsung Find Mobile shows your phone's location on a map, lets you ring your phone, lock it, or erase it remotely. The service works the same way as Google's version — your phone must be powered on, connected to the internet, and have location services enabled. If you have both a Google account and a Samsung account linked to your phone, you can use either service to locate it.
Some Samsung phones also have a feature called SmartThings Find, which can locate your phone even when it is offline by using nearby Samsung devices as a network. This feature must be turned on before your phone goes missing, and it requires a Samsung account.
Contact your mobile carrier if the phone is stolen
If you believe your phone has been stolen rather than lost, contact your mobile carrier — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or another provider — as soon as possible. Your carrier can disable the phone on their network, which prevents a thief from using it to make calls or use data on your account.
When you call your carrier, have your account number or phone number ready. Tell them the phone is stolen and ask them to suspend service. This stops the thief from running up charges on your account. Your carrier may also be able to tell you the last location where your phone connected to their network, though this information is usually less precise than what Google Find My Mobile provides.
After you suspend service, you can reactivate it once you recover the phone, or your carrier can help you switch service to a replacement phone. Keep in mind that suspending service also means you cannot use Find My Mobile to locate the phone anymore, since it needs an active internet connection.
File a police report if your phone was stolen
If your phone was stolen and you have information about who took it or where it might be, file a report with your local police department. You can file in person at a police station or online through your city or county's police website — many departments now accept theft reports online.
When you file the report, provide the phone's model, color, and serial number (found on the original box or receipt). Include any information about where and when it was stolen. The police report creates an official record and may help if you need to file a claim with your insurance company or if the phone is recovered later.
Police departments do not typically use Find My Mobile to locate stolen phones themselves, but having a report on file protects you if the phone is used for fraud or other crimes. It also documents the theft for your insurance claim.
Check your phone's backup and account security after recovery
Once you find your phone or get a replacement, check that your Google account and any other accounts linked to the phone are still find. Change your passwords for email, banking, and other sensitive accounts, especially if the phone was stolen and you could not erase it when ready.
Check your Google account activity at myaccount.google.com/security to see if anyone else has signed in. Look at your phone bill from your carrier to make sure no unauthorized charges were made while the phone was missing. If you see suspicious activity, contact your carrier and your bank right away.
Turn on two-factor authentication for your Google account and any other important accounts. This adds a second security step when someone tries to sign in, making it much harder for a thief to access your accounts even if they have your password.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I never turned on location services before my phone went missing?
Find My Mobile will not show a current location, but it may show the last location recorded before location services were disabled. This location could be hours or days old and may not help you find the phone. If location services were always off, the service cannot help you locate it.
Can I find my Android phone if it is turned off?
No, Find My Mobile requires the phone to be powered on and connected to the internet. If your phone is off or out of battery, the service will not show a current location. Some phones send a final location ping when they power down, but this is not reliable.
Will Find My Mobile work if my phone is in airplane mode?
No, airplane mode disables all wireless connections, including the internet connection that Find My Mobile needs to work. The phone will not be able to send its location to Google's servers.
Can I find someone else's Android phone using Find My Mobile?
No, you can only locate a phone if you have access to the Google account linked to it. You cannot find a phone belonging to another person unless they give you permission and their account credentials. Attempting to locate someone's phone without permission is illegal in most places.
What should I do if Find My Mobile shows my phone in a location I cannot reach?
If the location is in a public place like a store or restaurant, contact the business and ask if they have found a phone matching your description. If the location is a private home or business, contact local police and provide them with the address and your Find My Mobile screenshots. Do not attempt to enter private property to retrieve the phone yourself.