Find a phone using a phone number. How to return a lost or stolen smartphone

All Cell phones have one unpleasant property - to get lost. In addition, they are sometimes stolen. And, unfortunately, there's nothing you can do about it. Until recently, “sowing” an Android device outside the home meant parting with it forever without the hope of a return, because, unlike iOS, there were no search functions on Android. Today they are, which means that the chances of returning the loss are no longer zero. And it's time for us to get to know them.

Let's talk how to find lost phone on Android via Google and using third party applications and services.

In case of loss of a mobile gadget, the functions of modern android versions allow not only to determine its location by cell towers and satellites, but also to block it remotely. And if there is no hope for a return (stolen) - erase the personal data of the owner.

For this, the following conditions must be met:

The device must be turned on (it is not necessary that your SIM card be in it).
It must be linked to your Google account.
The "Remote control" function should work on it.
It must have geodata transfer enabled and Internet access enabled.
The phone must be defined in Google Play.

If you turn off the location setting (location sharing) feature to save battery power, you will not have a chance to find your lost or stolen phone. Search via satellite does consume a lot of energy, but in the city it is not necessary to use it. Turn on cell tower location of the device - this option is more economical.

How to enable location sharing on Android:

Launch the Settings app (Settings).
In the "Personal" menu, tap the "Location Services" line.
Check the box for the search method "By network coordinates".

How to see which devices are connected to your Google account:

Open any browser (it doesn't matter on a PC or mobile device), go to Google.com and log in with your account.
Open the Recently Used Devices page. This list should contain the phone you are looking for.

How to enable remote device control on Android:

Launch "Options" (Settings).
Tap "Protection" (Security) in the "Personal" menu.
In the right pane, select Device Administrators.

Check the box next to "Android Remote Control" and open it.

In the box "Activate device administrator?" click Enable.

How to find your phone on Google Play:

Go to the Google Play website through any browser, open the "Settings" section (the button with the gear icon).
Look at the My Devices list. All Android phones, tablets, watches, etc. linked to your account must be on this list.

How to Locate a Lost Android Gadget

The steps below are performed through a computer or other mobile device connected to the Internet.

Open a browser and log in with your Google account.
Go to the main page of your account and in the "Search for a phone" section, click "Proceed".

Select your lost device from the list and re-enter your password to log into your account. Once in the search section, click on the "Search" button.

The location of your device will be displayed on the map.

Other available features:

Phone call. When activated, the device will ring for 5 minutes (even at zero volume), attracting the attention of people. However, this helps more if you don't remember where you put it, but if the dialer is lost or stolen, it can worsen the situation. Also, not all devices support it.
Blocking. Return to the previous page and open the "Lock your phone" section. Modify the default message if desired. Click Block.

Call the phone using the Google Hangouts messenger. To jump, click on the highlighted word.

Sign out of your account on the device. To exit, press the corresponding button.

Delete user data from internal memory gadget (excluding memory card). Select this option if you are sure that the phone has fallen into the wrong hands and an attacker can use the information on it to harm someone. For example, it will start sending malware to your contacts or gain access to electronic wallets. If you agree to the deletion, click the "Yes, delete" button, but the search on the map, blocking and dialing after that will not be available.

Services like Google's Phone Finder are also being developed by manufacturers mobile devices. The principle of operation and the set of capabilities they have is the same or slightly larger. For example, Samsung offers the following to its smartphone users:

Location determination on the map.
Remote blocking.
Erasing confidential data.
Ringing (loud playback of a call melody for 1 minute to attract the attention of others).
Access to the call log.
Notification about the removal of the owner's SIM card.
Remote transfer of the device to "emergency mode" - reducing the brightness of the screen with disabling most functions and applications to save battery power. To keep the lost phone in sight as long as possible.

Find my device by Google is a mobile application for finding lost devices

To simplify the search for lost or stolen Android gadgets, you can also use mobile app available for free download from Google Play. It has the same set of functions as Google's Find My Phone service. Namely:

Allows you to locate the gadget on the map.
Rings it (makes it ring at maximum volume for 5 minutes).
Blocks usage.
Allows the owner to log out of an Android account and remotely wipe user data.

Find my device is intended to be installed on the device that will be used for searching, not the one you want to protect from loss.

The conditions for the availability of application functions are the same as for Find My Phone through the Google browser service.

Phone search services by mobile subscriber number and IMEI

PLNET (Phone-Location.net)

The Russian-language PLNET web service allows you to locate a lost gadget both by phone number and by IMEI (an international mobile device identification code that is assigned to each device at the factory). The search is performed on satellites and cell towers and works in the following networks of Russian, Ukrainian and Kazakh mobile operators:

Beeline.
Megaphone.
Kyivstar.
Kcell.
Vodafone.
Altel.
TELE2.
Velcom.

The main functions of the service are paid. Free, unlike Google, it allows you to find out only the country, region and city in which the device you are looking for is located. More accurate coordinates - for 500 rubles and after registration. In addition, by paid subscription real-time tracking of the device, the history of its movements and search by IMEI are available. In the latter case, along with IMEI, you should also indicate the number of the SIM card that the owner used before the phone was lost. If you did not have time to write it down while you had the phone, look at the stickers on the box.

The service has similar functions for locating devices, with the exception of searching by IMEI. For paid subscribers, printouts of the movement history are also available. The service of a one-time determination of the exact coordinates by phone number costs 900 rubles.

The service works in the networks of the following mobile operators:

Beeline.
Megaphone.
Kyivstar.
Kcell.
TELE2.
Velcom.

And PLNET, and OM-TEL, and other similar resources are still more suitable for spying on loved ones (children, spouse, etc.). In the search for stolen smartphones, they are of little use, because the attacker, if he is not devoid of reason, will immediately replace the owner's SIM card with his own. In this case, the service will show the place last registration your SIM card in the operator's network. Or show nothing.

- verification service serial numbers and IMEI of various mobile devices to see if they are in the lost and stolen database. Supports all models and brands of phones.

The SNDeepInfo user can add the IMEI or the serial number of the lost or found device to the service database, leaving his email for communication. Optionally, here you can specify the amount of remuneration for the return. Registration or payment is not required for this.

The service works similarly to the previous one, but only IMEI database is kept. With it, you can, for example, find out if a hand-bought phone was stolen from the previous owner. And also add the code of your device to the database.

The author also considers phone search services by IMEI to be of little use, because with their help it is impossible to find out either the location of the device or who is currently using it. They are designed for honest people, which, in the event of finding a device lost by someone, will themselves begin to search for its owner. Law enforcement agencies do not use such databases either - they have the opportunity to obtain the necessary information directly from mobile operators.

Applications to counter the theft of smartphones

CM Security: protection and antivirus

In addition to antivirus, firewall and system optimization tools, the anti-theft module is included. It includes:

- a program for protecting the device from theft with an extended set of features. Among them:

Remote monitoring of the movement of the phone through the application site.
Remote blocking.
Calling.
Sending messages to a lost phone.
Removed screenshots.
Taking photos and videos of the intruder's face. Recording sound through a microphone.
Erase user data from internal memory and SD card.
Remote control of the device through the console interface using commands.
Automatically enable geodata transfer if it is disabled.
Power off lock to prevent a thief from turning off the machine and thereby interfering with its search.
Creation own rules user, etc.

The bulk of Cerberus functions only work in the paid version. Even more of them are available by obtaining root rights.

Consider how to find a phone through a Google account in a few minutes.

For such cases, the company created the Find My Phone service, with which you can quickly find out about the location of the smartphone.

Let's take a closer look at what you need to work with the site and how.

Content:

Today, the theft or even a short-term loss of a gadget has serious consequences. Many store all their personal data, phone numbers, passwords, important correspondence and photos in it.

In addition, an outsider who has Android in his hands will be able to quickly reset the lock password.

Using the resource, users can track all smartphones linked to their account, view their position on the map, and even influence their work.

What is required for successful tracking?

Before proceeding to the search procedure, you should pay attention to what conditions must be met.

First of all, in order to remotely detect a smartphone, a number of functions must be activated on it:

Connecting to the Device Manager service;
GPS module;
Internet connection (2G, 3G or Wi-Fi networks).

There is no need to install third-party applications, but it is necessary to check the correctness.

Follow the instructions to connect Device Manager:

Go to the main menu;
Now click on the "Google Settings" item - do not confuse with the usual settings. The application is standard and installed on all Androids;

In the window that opens, select the "Services" tab, and then click on Android Device Manager. This way you can allow the remote resource to access information for blocking or deletion;
Activate the "Remotely Locate Device" slider. Also, enable remote memory wipe.

For the site to work, you will also need to activate localization services. You can do this in the following way:

Go to settings;
Opens a tab "Location" and in the window that opens, check the box next to the card operation item;
Open a tab "Location Access" and turn on the function of regularly receiving information about the location of the device. To do this, simply activate the corresponding slider.

You only need to follow the above steps once to use Find My Device seamlessly anywhere in the world.

Note that the ability to find a device is available only for gadgets with firmware version 2.2 and higher. Gadgets with more old android will be displayed in the account, but you will not be able to connect to them.

Tracking

Your efforts will be successful if all the above requirements and settings are met. To search for a smartphone go to link and do the following:

Log in using your original account;
View the list of available devices (upper left of the window) and click on the desired name;
Wait for the transition to the Find page of the gadget and click on the arrow to update the information;
The service will automatically determine and indicate the point on the map.

You can call the smartphone - the gadget will start to publish sound signal 5 minutes. During this time, you will be able to determine his location if the map indicates that he is somewhere nearby.

Allows you to restrict access to its content. This will keep your data safe from potential intruders.

Function "Erase data" allows you to get rid of all content. Use it if you can't find your phone but don't want your files to fall into the hands of strangers.

How to findSamsung

If you are a user of the line, in addition to the standard Google search service, you can also use the third-party Find My Mobile service.

This resource is also linked to account information, thus creating an account in the Samsung system. This action is performed automatically at the stage of linking the page.

In fact, it works in exactly the same way as its counterpart from Google, only it is a more advanced version of the online assistant. Location data is first read from Google.

Also, users can block it.

With this feature, you can increase the chances of returning the gadget, because the person who found it will not be able to unlock it, and by calling him from a trusted phone, you can agree on the return of the item.

To do this, follow the instructions:

Go to the site and log in with your Google username and password. If you changed your login on the network at the stage of linking your account, enter other inputs;
After successful authorization, a window for tracking all devices will appear. To select a gadget, click on it at the top left of the web page;
Now in the main menu, click on the item "Locate My Phone";
Wait for the map to load and above it click on "Locate mobile" and on "Start Tracking";
After a few seconds, a mark about the estimated location of the device will appear on the map.

Other service features:

Sending a message or a call;
Locating by sound. If you lost your phone at home, click on the button "Ring My Phone"so that the gadget starts beeping;
Data cleansing- using this function, you can quickly clear your smartphone of all user information. No one will be able to use your correspondence, photos, records and other information;
blocking– installation of an access key to a smartphone at a remote distance.

A feature of the extended service from Samsung is not only working with all data, but also the ability to track the movement of the gadget in real time (information is automatically updated every 15 minutes).

Remember! You can find your Samsung device using Google's standard method, so don't be discouraged if for some reason the service cannot detect your gadget.

Even if you are one hundred percent sure that the phone is stolen, it will still help you. Perhaps it just lies somewhere nearby, maybe your phone was found by a kind stranger and wants to return it, or maybe you just left it in a store or cafe.

Also find out if any of your loved ones are using apps that track your movements. For example, or the second half. Many programs allow you to specify exact coordinates. Finding the phone in this case is much easier.

Collect all the information that will help prove that this is your phone. This may be a warranty card and other documentation issued to you.

Report the theft to the police. All you need to do is make an application. Well, if you already have approximate coordinates and you know the IMEI code.

If you can't find your stolen phone, contact your mobile operator to block the account and restore the SIM card. Remember that the lock will prevent the operator from contacting the phone.

iPhone owners

Owners of iPhones and Android smartphones (Samsung, HTC, etc.) are lucky, because they are much easier to find. In some models, you can’t even replace the SIM card

If you have an iPhone, sign in to your iCloud account using a computer or other Apple devices. Press the "Find My iPhone" button (for owners of English version: "Find My iPhone") with a radar image.

Then, in the window that appears, click on the information icon. It is located on the black location bar. After that, you will have the opportunity to block the phone, erase data from it, send a message or just play a melody.

If you managed to find the coordinates yourself, do not attempt to pick up the phone yourself. So you can avoid hassles and unnecessary litigation.

If you were able to find your phone, and it is in an unknown place, then it is better to block it completely. This fact completely eliminates the chance that your iPhone was picked up or by relatives. If the phone is not blocked, then the thief can simply turn off the location function.

Android owners

Android owners have only one advantage over the owners of ordinary mobile phones - a package of special applications. Such programs are designed specifically to ensure that in case of theft.

The advantage is that by owning the data from the account, you can install the application from another device. Go to Play market, go to yours and select the required application. Then allow access and click the install button. If you manage to do everything right, Gmail will receive the necessary coordinates.

A cell phone for many people becomes a repository of personal data, important information and just a gadget that is used every day. Sometimes, due to inattention, a person can lose it or an attacker can steal it. In such cases, you should know how to find your phone, what you need to do in advance with your device.

How to find the phone if it is turned off

This is the most unpleasant situation that can happen if the mobile was stolen. Attackers immediately remove the SIM card, turn off the device. This greatly reduces the list of ways to return the mobile. If you managed to turn off your cell phone, then you have only one way to find the turned off phone - contact law enforcement agencies. For this you need:

Find a box from the device, a check from the store, take a passport.
Come to the police station with your passport, write a statement.
To identify the phone, write the IMEI code, which is unique for each specific device.
Wait for the civil service to fulfill its duties.

The number of mobile phone thefts has been greatly reduced after the devices have become more affordable price, but there are still a lot of theft facts. The police will try to find a cell phone through the operator, but they really find them extremely rarely. You should mentally prepare for the fact that you will have to purchase a new cell phone. The situation is completely different if you lost your phone, it sat down and turned off, but the card remained inside. The provider will be able to determine the location of the device and the gadget will be returned to you.

How to find a phone by IMEI

This code is the unique serial identifier of the devices. You can find it on the box of the device or under the battery of the smartphone. It consists of 15 digits, if necessary, it can be displayed on the phone screen with a special command. It is recommended after purchase to write down IMEI somewhere in a notebook or on a warranty card / receipt. You will need this code if you contact the police.

Law enforcement agencies are asking the court for permission to require the operator to find the phone by IMEI. All smartphones run on one of the operating systems ( Windows phone, Adnroid, iOS), which makes it a mini PC. With the help of satellites, a telecom operator can find a stolen cell phone by IMEI code, only a provider can do this. To do this, there must be a court order requesting this operation.

There are sites on the network that offer to track your device using the IMEI code. Third-party resources do not have such an opportunity, if after entering the data you are asked to send SMS - this is an attempt to lure money out. Code databases are kept only by the operator, they are not publicly available. You can only enter the IMEI of your stolen smartphone, other users can then check if they are offered to buy a stolen phone.

How to find a phone by phone number

Each person in Russia, when buying a package from a company, concludes an agreement and, as a rule, one SIM card is used from the company. Unfortunately, it is not possible to search for a phone by card number. Only the telecom operator has such technologies and capabilities, but they will not do this at your personal request. The point is not laziness, but the high cost of the procedure, it is not standard and requires human and technical resources. This only makes sense when looking for limited edition smartphones or high cost.

On the Internet, you can find resources that offer to determine the location of a lost smartphone for free if it is stolen. This is another myth, third-party sites do not have such opportunities. The exception is the official resources from the manufacturers of Samsung, iPhone, which link an account to the device and search through the satellite channel (GPS), if it is enabled.

How to find a lost Android phone through a computer

Many portable gadgets are based on the Android operating system. It is absolutely free, it is very popular, so developers are actively creating applications and programs based on this OS. Each smartphone owner can find an Android device using special utilities. The only negative is that applications should be installed in advance, but most remember this when the cell has already been stolen or lost. You should install it yourself from the official Google Play store. Here are some popular options:

Lost Android. After enabling the utility, it needs to be granted administrative rights. To search through the application, you must have a Google account that is tied to a cell phone.
Where's My Droid. This utility will already search for the device through a special site "Commander". You should also register on it, and log in to your account from your mobile.

Search for a phone through a Google account from a computer

One of the easiest ways to find a stolen phone is through Google. Operating system Android belongs to this company, so all OS-based devices have good compatibility with the system. This does not mean that you cannot find the phone through a Google account on iOS or Windows. To search for a mobile that was stolen or lost, you need to create an account in the system.

Next, you need to go from the settings to the "Accounts" section, click on the line called "Google" there and log in. For all owners of devices with Android version 5 and above, nothing else needs to be done. The system will automatically open access for remote control. All other devices need to go to the "Administrators" section and activate the ability to access the device through a computer. After that, you will be able to do the following from your Google account:

turn on the signal at full volume to find a lost or stolen device, if it is nearby;
you can block the device and install a message on the screen asking you to return it for a fee;
it is possible to turn on the search, the address where the cell was last detected will be displayed on the map;
completely erase all data from the device online using a computer.

How to find a phone by GPS using a computer

You can try to find the phone via satellite through the mobile number. The geopositioning system is capable of determining the location of an object through a beacon with an accuracy of several meters. If the tracker is enabled on the device, the system will be able to find the phone by GPS. The main problem is that the person who found the mobile can easily turn off the sensor and the cell itself. After that, this search option will not work.

To track the device, you need to install a special application that will carry out tracking. Next, from the computer, you will have the opportunity to log into your account and track the location of the smartphone. For example, the following applications are suitable:

Live GPS Tracker;
trackme;
My World GPS Tracker.