Always be ready to find a lost Android device

Be ready to find a lost Android device

To be prepared in case you lose your Android phone, tablet, or Wear watch, you can check that Find My Device can find it.

If your device is already lost, learn how to find, lock, or erase it.

Make sure your device can be found

After you sign in to a Google Account on an Android device, Find My Device is on by default.

To use Find My Device, a lost Android device must be:

• Turned on
• Signed in to a Google Account
• Connected to mobile data or Wi-Fi
• Visible on Google Play
• Location turned on
• Find My Device turned on

Lost Android Wear devices must also be running Android Wear 2.0 and up.

Step 1: Check that Find My Device is on

If you turned off Find My Device:

1. Find Google Settings in one of these places (depending on your device):
   • In your device's Settings app , tap Google.
   • Open a separate app called Google Settings .
2. Tap Security.
3. Under "Find My Device" or “Android Device Manager,” turn on:
   • Remotely locate this device 
   • Allow remote lock and erase 

If you have a tablet that multiple people use, only the tablet’s owner can change these settings.

Step 2: Check that Location is on

1. Find Google Settings in one of these places (depending on your device):
   • In your device's Settings app , tap Google.
   • Open a separate app called Google Settings .
2. Tap Location.
3. Turn on Location.

Step 3: Check that Google Play visibility is on

If you hide a device on Google Play, it won't show in Find My Device. To show a device:

1. Open play.google.com/settings.
2. Under "Visibility,” pick the device.

Step 4: Check that you can find your device

1. Open android.com/find and sign in to your Google Account.
2. If you have more than one device, click this device at the top of the screen.
    

Install the app

To be prepared to use one Android phone or tablet to find another, install the Find My Device app .