Use Samsung Find Mobile to locate your phone on a map

Samsung phones come with a built-in service called Samsung Find Mobile (sometimes labeled "Find My Mobile" in older models) that shows your phone's location on a map in real time. If your phone is turned on and connected to the internet, you can see exactly where it is from any web browser or another device.

To use this service, you need to have set it up before your phone goes missing. If you haven't done that yet, you can still set it up now — but you'll need access to your phone first. The setup takes about five minutes and is worth doing today in case you need it later.

Key Takeaways

  • Samsung Find Mobile works through Samsung's website or the SmartThings Find app and shows your phone's location on a map if it's powered on and connected to the internet.
  • You must create a Samsung account and register your phone before it goes missing — you cannot set this up remotely once the phone is lost.
  • If Samsung Find Mobile doesn't work, Google Find My Mobile (built into Android) is a backup option that works on any Android phone without prior setup.
  • Your phone must have location services turned on for either service to work, so check that setting now while you still have the phone.
  • If your phone is off or has no internet connection, neither service will show its location, but you can still use them to lock or wipe the phone remotely.

Set up Samsung Find Mobile before you need it

Open the Settings app on your Samsung phone and go to Accounts and backup (the exact name varies slightly by model). Tap Accounts, then Samsung account. If you don't have a Samsung account, create one now — it's free and takes two minutes.

Once you're signed in, go back to Settings and search for "Find Mobile" or "Find My Mobile". Tap it and turn the toggle on. Your phone is now registered to your Samsung account. Write down your Samsung account email and password somewhere safe — you'll need both to locate your phone later.

Locate your phone through the Samsung website

Go to findmymobile.samsung.com from any computer or another phone. Sign in with the Samsung account email and password you registered your phone with. Your phone's location will appear on a map within a few seconds if it's powered on and has an internet connection.

The map shows your phone's current location and updates every time it moves. If your phone is in a building, the location may be accurate to within a few meters. If it's outdoors, accuracy is usually within 10 to 20 meters depending on GPS signal strength.

Use the SmartThings Find app as an alternative

If you have the SmartThings app already installed on another Samsung device, you can also locate your phone through that app. Open SmartThings, tap the Devices tab at the bottom, and look for your missing phone in the list. Tap it to see its location on a map.

The SmartThings app works the same way as the website — your phone must be powered on and connected to the internet. If you don't have another Samsung device, the website method works just as well.

Try Google Find My Mobile if Samsung's service doesn't work

Every Android phone, including Samsung models, has a built-in Google location service that works without any setup. Go to google.com/android/find from any browser and sign in with the Google account that's linked to your Samsung phone.

Google Find My Mobile shows your phone's location on a map and works even if you never set up Samsung Find Mobile beforehand. The location is usually accurate to within 20 to 50 meters. This is a good backup if Samsung's service isn't working or if you didn't set it up in advance.

Lock or wipe your phone remotely if you can't recover it

Both Samsung Find Mobile and Google Find My Mobile let you lock your phone or erase all data from it remotely — even if you can't see its location. On the Samsung website, click Lock my mobile to set a new PIN that only you know, or Unlock my mobile if you want to regain access yourself.

If you believe your phone has been stolen and you want to erase all your personal data, click Erase my mobile. This deletes everything on the phone and cannot be undone. Google Find My Mobile has the same options under slightly different names — look for "Lock device" and "Erase device" in the menu.

What to do if your phone is off or has no internet

If your phone is powered off or doesn't have a data connection, neither Samsung Find Mobile nor Google Find My Mobile will show its location. The services can only track your phone when it's on and connected to the internet.

You can still use these services to lock or wipe your phone remotely, and the lock or wipe will take effect the moment your phone powers back on and connects to the internet. If your phone was stolen, locking it when ready prevents someone from accessing your accounts and data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need location services turned on for Samsung Find Mobile to work?

Yes. Go to Settings, search for "Location", and make sure the toggle is on. Samsung Find Mobile uses GPS, cell tower data, and Wi-Fi networks to pinpoint your phone, so location services must be enabled. Check this setting now while you have your phone.

Can I locate my Samsung phone if I never set up Samsung Find Mobile?

You can use Google Find My Mobile instead, which requires no setup. Go to google.com/android/find and sign in with the Google account linked to your phone. It works on any Android phone, including Samsung models, without any prior registration.

How accurate is the location shown on the map?

Accuracy depends on your phone's GPS signal and whether it's indoors or outdoors. Outdoors with a clear sky, location is usually accurate to within 10 to 20 meters. Indoors or in dense urban areas, accuracy may be 20 to 50 meters or less. The map updates every few seconds as your phone moves.

What happens if someone turns off my phone's location services after it's stolen?

You won't be able to see the phone's location anymore. However, you can still use Samsung Find Mobile or Google Find My Mobile to lock the phone with a new PIN or erase all data remotely. The lock or wipe takes effect the next time the phone powers on and connects to the internet.

Can I locate my phone if it's connected to Wi-Fi but not cellular data?

Yes. Both Samsung Find Mobile and Google Find My Mobile work over Wi-Fi. As long as your phone is powered on and connected to any internet source — Wi-Fi or cellular — the location services will work.