The content of the article
- How to find the phone if it is turned off
- How to find a phone by IMEI
- How to find a phone by phone number
- How to find a lost Android phone through a computer
- Search for a phone through a Google account from a computer
- How to find a phone by GPS via computer
The cell phone for many people becomes a repository of personal data, important information and just a gadget that is used every day. Sometimes, through carelessness, a person can lose it or an attacker 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 a turned off phone – contact the law enforcement authorities. 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 particular device.
- Expect the civil service to fulfill its responsibilities.
The number of mobile thefts has greatly decreased after the devices began to have a more affordable price, but there are still a lot of theft facts. The police will try to find a cell phone through an operator, but they really find them extremely rarely. It should be mentally prepared for the fact that you 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 you will return the gadget.
How to find a phone by IMEI
This code is a unique serial identifier for devices. You can find on the box of the device or under the battery of the smartphone. It consists of 15 digits, if necessary, a special team can display it on the phone screen. It is recommended that you write IMEI somewhere in a notebook or on a warranty card / check after purchase. If you contact the police, you will need this code.
Law enforcement authorities make a request to the court for permission to require the operator to find the phone by IMEI. All smartphones work on the basis of one of the operating systems (Windows Phone, Adnroid, iOS), which makes it a mini-PC. Using satellites, a telecom operator can find a stolen mobile phone using the 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 data you are asked to send SMS – this is an attempt to lure money. Databases by code are stored only by the operator, they are not in the public domain. 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, enters into an agreement and, as a rule, a SIM card in use is one from the company. Unfortunately, phone search by card number is not possible. Only a telecom operator has such technologies and capabilities, but 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, technical resources. This only makes sense when looking for smartphones from a limited edition or high cost..
On the Internet you can find resources that offer free to determine the location of a lost smartphone, if it was stolen. This is another myth, third-party sites do not have such capabilities. The exception is official resources from the manufacturers of Samsung, iPhone, which tie an account to the device and search through the satellite channel (GPS), if it is turned on.
How to find a lost Android phone through a computer
Many portable gadgets work based on the Android operating system. It is absolutely free, it is very popular, so developers are actively creating applications, programs based on this OS. Every smartphone owner can find an Android device using special utilities. The only negative is that the application should be installed in advance, but most people remember this when the cell is already stolen or lost. You should install it yourself from the official Google Play store. Here are some popular options:
- Lost Android. After turning on 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 cellular.
- Wheres My Droid. This utility will already search for the device through the special Commander website. You should also register on it, and log in to your account from a mobile.
Search for a phone through a Google account from a computer
One of the easiest options for finding a stolen phone is through Google. The Android operating system belongs to this company, so all devices based on the OS have good compatibility with the system. This does not mean that you can not find the phone through a Google account on iOS or Windows. To search for a mobile that has been stolen or lost, you need to create an account in the system.
Next, go from the settings to the “Accounts” section, click on the line under the name “Google” and log in. For all owners of devices with Android from version 5 and above, nothing more 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 have the opportunity to do the following from your Google account:
- turn on the signal at full volume to find the lost or stolen device, if it is nearby;
- you can lock the device and set a message on the screen asking you to return for a fee;
- it is possible to enable the search, the address where the cell was last found was displayed on the map;
- completely erase all data from the device online using a computer.
How to find a phone by GPS via computer
You can try to find the phone via satellite via the mobile number. The location system is capable of determining the location of an object with an accuracy of several meters through a beacon. If the tracker is enabled on the device, then the system will be able to find the phone by GPS. The main problem is the person who found the mobile can easily turn off the sensor and the cell itself. After this, this search option will not work.
To track the device, you must install a special application that will carry out tracking. Further from the computer you will have the opportunity to log into your account and track the location of the smartphone. Such applications are suitable, for example:
- Live GPS Tracker;
- TrackMe
- My world gps tracker.
Is there a way to track and locate a stolen phone on your own? I’m curious if phones have built-in features that can help in finding them after they are stolen.
Yes, there are several ways to track and locate a stolen phone on your own. Most smartphones have built-in features such as “Find My iPhone” for Apple devices and “Find My Device” for Android devices. By enabling these features and linking your phone to your respective account, you can track the device’s location, play a sound, lock it remotely, or even erase its data. Additionally, you can also install third-party tracking apps that provide similar functionalities. However, it’s important to act swiftly by reporting the theft to local authorities and providing them with the necessary information to track the device.