how to find a lost phone

You know the feeling. That, "I think I lost my phone" feeling. That panicked, pat down of your pockets, thinking about your lonely Pixel 4 somewhere out in the world. You start retracing your steps that led you to this phone-less moment and all you can ask yourself is, "How do I find my lost phone?"

At Asurion, we love our phones too and rely on them for everything, so we understand that losing them is not ideal. Luckily for Android users, our experts are sharing steps you can take to help you easily locate your phone in case it goes missing.

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First things first, preparation is key. No one ever plans to lose their phone, but it happens. According to our data, nearly 2,000 phones are lost or stolen every single hour. So it's important to turn on the ability to track your phone, just in case.

How to turn on Find My Device on your Google Pixel

1. Make sure that Find My Device is turned on:

Open the Settings app.
Tap Security & location.
TapFind My Device. Turn it on.

2. Turn Location on:

Open theSettings app.
HitSecurity & location, then tapLocation.
Next, turn onLocation.

How to turn on Find My Mobile on your Samsung

Open theSettings.
TapBiometrics & Security.
TapFind My Mobile and turn it on.

To improve location accuracy:

Open your phone'sSettings.
TapBiometrics & Security.
Scroll down toLocation.
TapImprove Location Accuracy.

How to add alternate contact information to your phone's lock screen

Another helpful step is to set up a lock screen message with alternate contact info. Through our studies, we've found that phones with those messages were 3 times more likely to be returned to their owners if misplaced. It's super simple to set up:

First, open your device'sSettings.
TapLock Screen.
Then click onContact Information.
Enter your message. Then tapSave.

Alright, so you've taken all the precautions in case you lose your phone. Now, let's talk about what to do if you can't find your phone anywhere. Our experts created these 3 easy ways to help you track it down.

3 ways to find your lost Android

1. Track your phone's location using Google Maps.

Go to Android.com/find.
Sign in with your Gmail account and password.
On the map, you'll see your phone's approximate location. If the device cannot be found, it'll show you the last known location (if available).

From the map page, you have 3 options – find, lock or erase your Android device:

Make it ring.Even if it's on silent or vibrate, it'll still make the noise.
Lock your device.You can do this with your current pin or create a new one.
Erase your phone.You can do this remotely to protect your personal info.

If you're trying to locate your phone through "Find My Mobile" or "Find My Phone" and it's not working — it's likely because your phone isn't connected to Wi-Fi or an available network.

The important thing is to keep trying. As soon as the phone connects to a network, it'll pop up on the map.

2. Find your phone with your smart home speaker.

If you've misplaced your phone and you know it's somewhere in your house, your smart speaker might be able to help. Make sure your device and smart speaker are signed in to the same account and it'll help find your phone in no time.

If you have a Google Home, you can say something like, "Okay Google, find my phone." Your smart speaker will then confirm the device your asking about and make it ring. The best part? Even if your phone is on silent or vibrate, it'll still make the noise.

3. Find your phone with a Bluetooth tracker.

Do you often forget where you placed your phone? No worries, you're not alone. For an extra layer of backup, invest in Bluetooth trackers. There are several currently available, like the Tile. All you have to do is sync your phone to the tracker so when your phone gets temporarily misplaced behind a couch cushion, the tracker will set off an alarm on your phone to help you find it quicker.

Protect your phone

For more than 25 years, Asurion has helped 300 million customers protect, connect, and enjoy the tech they love most. And smartphones are no exception. Your life is on your device, make sure it's protected. Learn more about Asurion phone insurance plans today.

*The Asurion® trademarks and logos are the property of Asurion, LLC. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Asurion is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any of the respective owners of the other trademarks appearing herein.*

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