Use Google Find My Mobile to locate your phone on a map
If you have a Google account linked to your Android phone, you can find it using Google's built-in service at google.com/android/find. Sign in with the same Google account you use on your phone. The service will show your phone's location on a map in real time — if location services are on and your phone has power and an internet connection.
The map will pinpoint your phone's location within a few meters in most cases. If your phone is nearby but you cannot see it, use the "Play sound" button to make it ring at full volume for five minutes, even if it is set to silent mode. This works as long as your phone has battery and is powered on.
If your phone is lost in a place you cannot reach or you believe it has been stolen, you can remotely lock it or erase all data from the same screen. Locking prevents anyone from using it without your PIN or password. Erasing removes all photos, messages, contacts, and apps — use this only if you are certain you cannot recover the phone, because the data cannot be restored afterward.
Key Takeaways
- Google Find My Mobile works at google.com/android/find and shows your phone's location on a map if it is powered on and connected to the internet.
- The "Play sound" feature makes your phone ring at maximum volume for five minutes, even if it is on silent, to help you locate it nearby.
- You can remotely lock your phone to prevent unauthorized access or erase all data if you believe it has been stolen and cannot be recovered.
- Samsung phones have their own Find Mobile service at findmobile.samsung.com, which works the same way as Google's service.
- If your phone is off or has no battery, location services cannot work — you will need to wait until it powers back on or contact your carrier for other options.
What to do if your phone is powered off or out of battery
Google Find My Mobile and Samsung Find Mobile only work if your phone is powered on and has an active internet connection. If your phone is off or the battery is dead, the map will show the last known location — the place where your phone was last connected to the internet. This can still be useful if your phone was lost recently and the battery died in that location.
Check the timestamp on the map to see when your phone last reported its location. If several hours have passed, your phone may have moved. Some carriers offer their own location services through your account — contact your phone company to ask whether they can provide the last known location or help you contact the phone if it powers back on.
Using Samsung Find Mobile if you have a Samsung phone
Samsung phones have their own location service separate from Google's. Go to findmobile.samsung.com and sign in with your Samsung account. If you do not have a Samsung account, you can create one for free on the same page. The service works identically to Google Find My Mobile — it shows your phone on a map, lets you play a sound, and allows you to lock or erase your phone remotely.
Some Samsung phones are set up with both Google and Samsung location services. If one service does not show your phone, try the other. Samsung's service sometimes has faster updates than Google's, particularly if your phone is on a Samsung-specific network or using Samsung's cloud backup.
Contacting your carrier if the phone cannot be located
If your phone does not appear on any map or you cannot reach it by sound, contact your mobile carrier — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, or your regional provider. Tell them your phone is lost and provide your account number and the phone's number. The carrier can disable the phone's ability to make calls and send messages, which prevents someone from running up charges on your account.
Ask your carrier whether they can provide the last known location based on cell tower data. This is less precise than GPS but can narrow down the search area. The carrier can also flag your account so that if someone tries to use your phone on their own account, you are notified. Some carriers offer their own phone-finding apps or services — ask what is available on your plan.
Protecting your accounts after losing your phone
While you are searching for your phone, change the passwords on accounts that were logged in on it — particularly email, banking, and social media. Use a computer or a different phone to change these passwords. This prevents someone with access to your phone from logging into your accounts elsewhere.
Check your Google account's security settings at myaccount.google.com/security to see what devices are currently signed in. You can remotely sign out of your lost phone from this page. Do the same for any other accounts you use regularly — most email providers, banks, and social platforms have a "sign out of all devices" or "active sessions" option in their security settings.
Filing a report and monitoring for fraud
If you believe your phone was stolen rather than lost, file a report with local police. You do not need to recover the phone to file — the report creates a record and may help if the phone is used fraudulently. Provide the police with your phone's number and IMEI number, which you can find on your original receipt or by calling your carrier.
Monitor your bank and credit card statements for unauthorized charges. If your phone had payment apps like Google Pay or Samsung Pay, check whether any transactions were made after you lost it. Contact your bank when ready if you see charges you did not make. Consider placing a fraud alert with the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to make it harder for someone to open accounts in your name.
Preventing future loss with location settings
After you recover your phone or replace it, turn on location services and keep them on. This is the only way Google Find My Mobile and Samsung Find Mobile can locate your phone if it is lost again. Location services use GPS, cell towers, and Wi-Fi networks to pinpoint your location — they do drain battery faster than having them off, but the trade-off is worth it for the ability to find your phone.
Set up a Google account or Samsung account on your new phone and make sure it is linked to your phone's settings. Test the location service by going to google.com/android/find or findmobile.samsung.com and confirming that your phone appears on the map. Some people also use third-party apps like Tile or AirTag if they have compatible devices, though these require separate hardware and subscriptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find my Android phone if location services are turned off?
No. Google Find My Mobile requires location services to be on to show your phone's current location. If location services are off, the map will show only the last known location from before they were disabled. You can still use the "Play sound" feature if your phone is nearby and powered on, because that does not require location services.
What if someone else is using my lost phone?
If you see your phone on the map in a location you did not go to, use the lock feature when ready to prevent the person from accessing your data. You can also erase the phone remotely, though this destroys all your photos and files. Contact local police with the phone's location and your IMEI number — do not attempt to retrieve it yourself if you believe it is in an unsafe area.
Can I find my phone if it is on airplane mode?
No. Airplane mode disables all wireless connections, including GPS and cellular data. Your phone cannot send its location to Google or Samsung's servers if airplane mode is on. The map will show only the last location before airplane mode was activated.
How long does it take for the map to update my phone's location?
Google Find My Mobile and Samsung Find Mobile usually update within a few seconds to a few minutes. If your phone is moving, the map may lag slightly behind its actual position. If the map has not updated in more than 15 minutes, your phone may have lost its internet connection or run out of battery.
Will finding my phone work if it is connected to Wi-Fi instead of cellular data?
Yes. As long as your phone is connected to Wi-Fi and has location services on, Google Find My Mobile and Samsung Find Mobile can locate it. The location may be slightly less precise than with cellular data, but the service will still work.