Use Samsung Find Mobile to locate your device
Samsung devices come with Find Mobile, a built-in service that lets you see where your phone or tablet is on a map, make it ring at full volume, lock it remotely, or erase it. You do not need to install anything — it is already there. You reach it through your Samsung account, which you set up when you first turned on your device.
To use Find Mobile, go to findmobile.samsung.com in a web browser on any computer or phone. Sign in with the same Samsung account you use on your lost device. If you do not remember your Samsung account password, you can reset it on that same page before you sign in.
Once you are signed in, you will see a map showing your device's location (if location services are turned on). From there you can ring the device, lock it with a new PIN, or wipe all the data on it. The location updates every few minutes when the device is powered on and connected to the internet.
Key Takeaways
- Find Mobile works through findmobile.samsung.com and shows your device on a map if location services are enabled.
- You need your Samsung account password to sign in, and you can reset it on the Find Mobile page if you do not remember it.
- You can ring your device at full volume, lock it with a new PIN, or erase all data on it from Find Mobile.
- If your device is powered off or has no internet connection, Find Mobile will show you its last known location.
- Google Find My Mobile also works on Samsung devices and may show a location when Samsung's service cannot.
What you need before you start
You will need access to a computer or another phone with a web browser. You will also need to know the email address and password for the Samsung account linked to your lost device. If you set up your Samsung device with a Google account instead of a Samsung account, Find Mobile will not work — use Google Find My Mobile instead (see below).
Find Mobile only shows your device's location if location services were turned on before it was lost. If you turned location services off, the map will show the last place where it was connected to the internet, which may be hours or days old. This is why turning location services on ahead of time matters — you cannot turn it on remotely once the device is lost.
Step-by-step: Finding your device on the map
Open a web browser on any computer or phone and go to findmobile.samsung.com. You will see a sign-in page. Enter the email address for your Samsung account and your password, then click Sign In.
After you sign in, the page will show a map with your device marked on it. The map updates every few minutes as long as your device is powered on and has an internet connection (either Wi-Fi or mobile data). If your device is offline, the map shows the last location where it was connected. Zoom in and out on the map to see the exact address or neighborhood.
If you have more than one Samsung device linked to your account, a list will appear on the left side of the page. Click the name of the device you are looking for, and the map will jump to that device's location.
Ring, lock, or erase your device remotely
Once you have found your device on the map, three buttons appear at the top of the page: Ring, Lock, and Erase. The Ring button makes your device play a loud alarm for two minutes, even if it is set to silent. This works if someone has found your phone and you want to get their attention, or if your device is nearby and you need to hear where it is.
The Lock button lets you set a new PIN on your device without knowing the old one. When you click Lock, you will be asked to create a new PIN and add a message that will appear on the lock screen (like "Please call me at 555-1234"). This locks anyone out of your device until they enter the new PIN you just created.
The Erase button deletes all data on your device — contacts, photos, messages, apps, everything. This is permanent and cannot be undone. Only use Erase if you are certain your device is lost for good and you do not want anyone to access your personal information. Once you click Erase, the device will be wiped the next time it connects to the internet.
What to do if Find Mobile does not show a location
If the map is blank or shows "Location not available," it usually means your device is powered off, has no internet connection, or location services were turned off before it was lost. In this case, Find Mobile will still let you lock or erase the device, but you will not see where it is.
Try the Lock option first — set a new PIN and add a message asking whoever finds your device to call you. Many people will call if they see a message on the lock screen. If no one contacts you within a few hours, you can use Erase to protect your data.
If your device was set up with a Google account instead of a Samsung account, try Google Find My Mobile at google.com/android/find. Sign in with your Google account and you may see a location even if Samsung's service does not.
Using Google Find My Mobile as a backup
Most Samsung devices are also linked to a Google account. If Find Mobile is not working or you cannot remember your Samsung account password, you can use Google Find My Mobile instead. Go to google.com/android/find in a web browser and sign in with the Google account on your lost device.
Google Find My Mobile shows your device on a map, lets you ring it, lock it, or erase it — much like Samsung's service. The main difference is that Google's version may show a location even when Samsung's does not, because it uses different location data. If one service is not working, the other one often is.
You can use both services at the same time. If your device is lost, try Find Mobile first (since it is made by Samsung and may be faster), and if that does not work, try Google Find My Mobile as a backup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find my Samsung device if location services are off?
Find Mobile will show the last location where your device was connected to the internet, but it will not update in real time. If location services were off for days before your device was lost, that last known location could be very old and not helpful. This is why turning location services on before you lose your device matters.
What if I do not remember my Samsung account password?
On the Find Mobile sign-in page, click Forgot password? You will be asked to verify your identity using your phone number or recovery email address. Samsung will send you a link to reset your password. Once you reset it, you can sign in to Find Mobile.
Will Find Mobile work if my device is turned off?
No. Find Mobile only works when your device is powered on and has an internet connection. If your device is off, the map will show the last place it was connected. You can still use the Lock or Erase buttons, and they will take effect the next time your device powers on and connects to the internet.
Can I find someone else's Samsung device?
No. You can only find a device linked to your own Samsung account. If you are trying to find a family member's device, they need to sign in to Find Mobile with their own account. Some Samsung devices let you set up a secondary account for family members, but that is a separate feature from Find Mobile.
What happens after I erase my device?
Erase removes all data from your device — apps, photos, contacts, messages, everything. The device itself is not destroyed; it just becomes a blank slate. If someone finds it after you erase it, they will see the Samsung setup screen, and they cannot access your personal information. Erase is permanent and cannot be reversed.