In smartphones of the current generation, security systems and search for “lost” are pre-installed “out of the box”. If you find that your gadget is lost, you need to put aside the panic and follow a series of simple steps that will help you find the device. First, let's talk about the features of the search for Android devices.

Android smartphones

You can locate your Android smartphone directly from your Google account. To do this, go to your account, click on the "Security" tab and select "Your devices". It displays all the devices on which the account is logged in. We select the desired one and voila - the “Find device” button appears before our eyes.

The "Find device" button is placed in the very center of the window with the selected device.

An alternative way to find a lost Android smartphone is to follow the direct link here https://www.google.com/android/find. You will see a map with the last location of the device, on which the wanted device is marked with a circle:

In the search service for Android devices, the functions of dialing, blocking and erasing the memory of a smartphone are available.

The top left shows the name of the device, the time it was last connected to the network and the battery charge. And just below are the points of dialing, blocking and cleaning the device. They need to be considered in more detail:

  • By clicking on the "Call" tab on the lost phone, you can call for 5 minutes. This will keep the ringtone volume at its maximum, even if the device is set to silent mode.
  • The next item allows you to "Lock device" using a password or pattern. You can also display a message about the loss on the smartphone’s display (for example, “The phone is lost. Please return it to the owner”).
  • The last item on the list of the programme is the most radical. When selected , all data from the device is deleted. You may not be afraid of disclosing personal information, but after erasing the memory, it will no longer be possible to determine the location of the smartphone.

When accessing the regular search service, the smartphone receives notifications “Device found” and “Someone is looking for your device”.

Important! The above functions only work when the location service is enabled - the options for finding a location and discovering a device must be activated in the smartphone settings.

The above is true for the included mobile phones. If the device is offline, the last geolocation of the device can be determined in Google maps in the "History" tab. To do this, in the gadget settings, you must activate the "Location History" and "Sending Geodata" functions.

Keeping a chronology of locations helps out in a situation where the lost smartphone is offline.
Popular Android Smartphones

Search for iOS devices

In "apple" devices, the regular application "Locator" is used for search. It finds iPhones, iPads, iPods, Apple Watches, AirPods, and MacBooks.

The Locator service must be granted access to the Find My iPhone and Geolocation functions in the gadget settings. Also activate the last location detection when the battery is low - it will help you find a smartphone with a dead battery. After that, in case of loss of the device, go to the site https://www.icloud.com/find/ and drive in the account information:

This is how the start page of the service for finding lost "apples" looks like.

The location of the "apple" device will be displayed on the map with a green circle. In the drop-down menu at the top right, the user has access to options for playing sound on the device, enabling lost mode and erasing data:

The last location of the iPhone is displayed on the map with a green circle.

In "Lost Mode" the device is blocked. At the same time, it is impossible to make payments in the Apple Pay system from the “loss”, and you can send a message to the device screen with your contact information for communication. If the phone is turned off, the mode is activated the first time you turn on the handset.

Apple Smartphones

Third party search apps

If there is no full trust in regular search services, tracker applications come to the rescue in detecting the loss. Let's take a quick look at the most popular ones:

Find My Device

The programme is designed with an eye on Android devices. In the interface of the application, a map is drawn with the current location of the smartphone, the functions of ringing the device, blocking it and remotely erasing data are available. Of the minuses - there are built-in ads.

Find My Device is a popular application for finding missing Android devices.

Where's My Droid

Another programme for Android devices. It offers a detailed analysis of location coordinates to make it easier to find and recover your mobile phone. The application allows you to remotely lock the device and make it unusable. And if necessary, it also makes it possible to completely erase data from a distance. In addition, the programme sends a notification about changing the SIM card or phone number on the lost device.

The Wheres My Droid application analyzes the coordinates of smartphone locations.

The paid version of the application has additional features to take pictures using the smartphone's camera, block the removal of the programme and hide its shortcut out of sight.

Find My iPhone

The application finds i-devices - iPhone smartphones and iPad tablets. To use it, you need to sign in to your iCloud account. After logging in, you can easily locate your lost device, lock it remotely, play a sound to find it at home, and display a message on the screen. If necessary, all data from the smartphone is erased in one sitting.

You can find a forgotten or lost iPhone somewhere using the Find My iPhone mobile application.

A notable additional option in the app is the phone's location history, which automatically tracks the locations where the "lost" device has been.

In general, there are a lot of such programs. Just type in the phrase "Find my phone" in the search bar of the store and choose the appropriate application to your taste.

Interesting fact. Often the phone is lost at home. Comic applications in the manner of searching by clapping or whistling will help you quickly find it.

Search for a lost smartphone by IMEI

International Mobile Equipment Identity is assigned to all smartphones. The IMEI number of the phone is indicated in the form of 15 digits on the box from under the device and in the warranty card. With the documentation for the device, you must go to the police and write a statement about the loss of the device. Law enforcement agencies will send a request to the mobile operator, who will be able to track the phone by IMEI.

You can find out the IMEI code of a smartphone by entering a simple combination * # 06 #.

Knowing the slowness of the domestic law enforcement system, no one will give a guarantee to see your device again. But if a miracle happens, the operator will detect the smartphone by IMEI code even after changing the SIM card to another one. And the chances of him returning to you will increase significantly.


Let's summarize. In order to find a lost or stolen smartphone as soon as possible, take care of this issue in advance. Enable discovery services on the device, download and configure tracker applications, keep the box from the device along with the accompanying documentation. And then the search for "loss" will bear fruit.