How to find a lost phone on the map. How to find a lost android phone by imei. Apps to track your Android phone in case of theft or loss

Content

Mobile devices are often lost when left in crowded places. Often, cell phones fall out of bags, pockets, or are simply stolen by intruders. How to find android? Using the functions of the system, you can locate the smartphone, lock the device, delete personal information.

How to find a lost Android phone through a computer

Modern communications make it easier to find an Android phone, make it possible to control a mobile phone from a distance. If the device disappeared in the mountains, where there is no cellular communication, discharged and turned off, the ability to access the gadget is reduced to zero. How to find an Android phone? The device is more likely to be detected quickly if it:

• is on;
• has access to the Internet;
• equipped with a geolocation function.

How to find a turned off Android phone through a computer

The ability to find a lost device is significantly limited if the cell phone is not working. How to find a turned off Android phone through a computer? This will help the service offered by Google - Android Device Manager. A prerequisite for using the service is constant access to the Internet or GPS navigation. It also requires a Google account.

Google search for android phone

Gadget owners usually create a Google account. Using an account, you can download games, updates, register on sites, install useful applications. One of the functions of a Google account is to determine the location of a stolen or lost smartphone, even if it is turned off. The system is equipped with a device manager. Enabling this feature makes it easier to locate the device if it is stolen or lost in the future. Versions 5.0 and higher do not require this activation. This setting is enabled by default.

In order to find your Android phone by Google account in the future, you need to activate the device manager. Your actions:

1. Go to settings.
2. Select the "Security" menu (in some versions, this is the "Protection" section).
3. Click on Device Administrators.
4. Check the box next to Device Manager.
5. Agree with the message that appears by clicking "activate". The notice talks about the capabilities of the "Device Manager".

How to find a phone on android? To do this, follow the link www.google.com/android/devicemanager, activate account if it hasn't been done before. Then the system itself will find the smartphone registered to this account. A control panel will appear in front of the user with suggestions for further actions regarding the cellular - a test call, blocking, deleting personal data. In addition, the owner of the smartphone will see a map indicating the location of the gadget.

Android phone tracking software

There are special programs that make it possible to remotely search for android. They work in the same way as the device manager from Google, while they have features in terms of performing functions, interface, and other nuances. Tracking an Android phone in this way is possible with:

• Lost Android - the program is notable for the fact that after installation it appears in the list as Personal Notes, has a shortcut to an ordinary notepad. If a hacker steals a cell phone, they most likely will not guess that this application is on it.
• Lookout Security & Antivirus - in addition to tracking the location of the device, it provides full protection for the gadget from unwanted access, viruses, spyware. It is possible to recover lost data.
• Where's My Droid - controls the smartphone, makes it call itself, sends its coordinates to a given number. Pro version allows you to take hidden pictures. The person who holds the stolen gadget in his hands will not know that he is being photographed. The resulting snapshots are then sent to the specified address.

Find out more ways

Today mobile phone is not only a means of communication, but also an excellent assistant to pass the time at the right time. Everyone knows that with the help of a mobile phone you can listen to music, watch movies, take pictures of your loved ones, beautiful places and even "surf" on the Internet. Therefore, for many, he becomes, if not a good friend, then an excellent assistant for sure. But what if a person has lost his phone? How to find it? And is it even worth looking for?

What is the value

In addition to the fact that the communication device itself is already a valuable thing (some models are quite expensive), very often the information that is stored on it is more important than the telephone itself. So, a saved list of contacts or photos that were contained on a memory card may be quite necessary.

Method 1

If a person is looking for an opportunity to find a lost phone, the first thing to do is to seek help from law enforcement agencies and file a loss report. The police, of course, will accept him, but they are unlikely to immediately rush to search - such statements are received in huge numbers, and it is not known when it will be your turn.

Method 2

Directly related to the first. How to find a lost phone with the help of the police? To do this, the thief must at least once make a call from the newly stolen device. Law enforcement agencies have the right to request from the mobile operator the details of calls made from the phone, and then - a matter of technique for operational officers.

Method 3

Another way to find a lost phone with the help of the police. To do this, you need to use a service such as GSM-positioning. This information is given by the telephone company at the request of the police, and the location of the phone is determined within a radius of 150-200 meters. There you need to look for the culprit.

Method 4

How to find a lost phone? To do this, you need to know the unique number of your mobile - IMEI. You can find absolutely any phone using it, even if the new owner decided to change the SIM card. The rest is a matter of technique. The only "but" is that you need to have rather expensive equipment, which is not available in all police departments. This method of searching, by the way, works great.

Method 5

The last way to find a stolen phone. You can use it exclusively on your own, without the help of law enforcement agencies. It is suitable for smartphones with Android OS, as well as iPhones. To do this, you must first install the Find Your Phone program on your mobile phone and use this application to search. It is worth noting that the option will only work if the phone is turned on and the program is open. If you close it on a stolen smartphone, the search will not be possible. This method is great if you need to determine the location, for example, of a friend, child or wife, but in finding a phone it will not always help ...

Mobile phone for modern man is more than just a means of communication. As a rule, it stores contacts, correspondence, passwords and account data of various Internet services, banking applications, personal photos and much more. That is why the loss or theft of a mobile phone is a real disaster for any owner. At the same time, there are not many opportunities to find a phone, and there are even fewer effective ways. One of them is to search for a phone by IMEI. In this article I want to talk about how to independently find a phone by IMEI for free using the Google service. True, this method will only work if you have an Android gadget.

What is IMEI

In the previous article, I already told you how to recognize it, so I will not dwell on this in detail. Let me just remind you that IMEI is a unique 15-digit identifier for mobile devices. It allows you to determine the location of the gadget, as well as remotely block its operation, but only if the device is turned on and connected to the operator's network.

You can view the IMEI by dialing the combination ✶ # 06 # on your phone, in the settings of the gadget itself, as well as on the box from under it, or the iTunes application for PC (for Apple devices).

We are looking for a phone by IMEI using Google

It's no secret that Google has been monitoring all Internet users for a long time. This can be treated in different ways, but in the case when the phone is stolen or lost, we can use this fact to our advantage and use the Google service to find the device, and absolutely free of charge.

It's about service. "Remote android control» , with which you can locate your phone or tablet, lock it and delete all data by resetting it to factory settings. Remote control of Android is carried out through the IMEI of the device. But do not rush to be upset if you do not know him - he has long been well known to Google. So let's get started!

We use the "Android Remote Control" service

Description of the main functions of the "Android Remote Control" service

• "Call"- the phone will play the ringtone at maximum volume for 5 minutes. This will help you find your phone lost indoors or outdoors.
• "Block"- allows you to set a password on the main screen and thus block an attacker from accessing the functions of the phone and all the data stored in it.

  In addition, here you can also leave a message that will be displayed on the main screen of the device, as well as specify a contact phone number to contact you. For example, you can write: “If you find this phone, please contact its owner at the number…”. Such treatment will greatly increase the likelihood that the person who found or stole your phone will return it back, because not only will he not be able to use or sell it, but he will also know how to contact you.

  Be extremely careful when setting a lock password through "Android Remote Control". It cannot be changed or disabled through this service. Therefore, enter a combination that you remember well, and even better - write it down somewhere.

  After the phone is returned to you, the set password can be disabled through the device menu: "Settings" → "Security" → "Screen lock".

• "Clear"- resets the phone to factory settings. Use this feature only as a last resort, as the wipe will remove all of your apps, photos, music, and other information from your device. After that, the Android remote control function will no longer work, and you will no longer be able to locate the phone or block it. It is also important to know that the data wipe feature only applies to files stored in the phone's memory, and does not delete information from the SD card.

Is it possible to find a phone by IMEI via satellite?

Every now and then the question “How to find a phone by its IMEI via satellite?” pops up on the Internet. But you need to understand that the IMEI numbers of mobile devices and space technologies, in particular, satellite communications, are in no way connected with each other. Information about the IMEI of the phone is transmitted through the operator's mobile network and nothing else.

Perhaps someday, finding phones using satellites will become a reality, but today such technology does not exist. That's why it is impossible to find a phone by IMEI via satellite.

How to find a phone by IMEI via the Internet?

At the beginning of this article, I told you about the Google Android Remote Control service, which allows you to independently locate the phone and block it. Apple has a similar service called Find My iPhone. In both services, the search for a device by IMEI and its management is carried out via the Internet, and this service is provided free of charge.

All other sites that offer to find a lost device for a fee by IMEI, serial number or SIM card number online or install a phone search program on a PC are nothing more than a “scam” of users for money.

Be vigilant and don't lose your phones! And if this happened, in no case do not transfer money to unknown persons who promise to find the phone by IMEI. You can easily find this information yourself and for free using Google and Apple services!

The mobile phone is a major nuisance. There are at least two reasons for frustration in this case. First, the device itself often costs a lot of money. And secondly, his memory contains information that is extremely necessary for the owner and not intended for prying eyes. This can be both personal correspondence, photos and videos, as well as secret data, for example, passwords from payment services or working documents. How can I find my phone in case of loss or theft? This article describes effective ways to find mobile devices even when they are turned off.

If the phone is lost at home

How to find a mobile phone if it is known for sure that it was lost in a house or apartment? by the most in a simple way search will, of course, call your number from another device. In this case, the gadget must be in the on state.

If the battery of the phone is discharged, then it remains to hope for your own memory and attentiveness. In this case, it is recommended to try to remember to the smallest detail the events that preceded the loss of the mobile device. You should go along this route, scrupulously examining everything around. After all, the gadget could, for example, fall behind the sofa, or it quietly lies on a shelf, covered by another thing. It could even end up in the refrigerator or trash can.

If an alarm is set on the phone, this can greatly facilitate the search, because the alarm almost always works even when the device is turned off. Be quiet when your cell phone is about to ring, and listen carefully while walking towards the sound.

If the phone is lost on the street

Obviously, the chances of finding mobile device lost on the street or in a public place is significantly lower than in the previous case. But don't give up. How to find phones under such circumstances?

First of all, you should call your number. A mobile device could be picked up by a person who, free of charge or for a certain fee, would gladly return the gadget to its rightful owner.

If this action did not bring results, you need to strain your memory and try to determine the place where the mobile phone was lost. You should remember where the gadget was last used and thus try to narrow the search area. It is worth posting ads about the loss of the device along the entire route of movement with a request to return the mobile for a fee. It can also be an effective way to post a note in the relevant groups of social networks.

And if the device is turned off, how to find the phone? By the IMEI number, which is unique for each mobile and does not change when you change the SIM card, you can search for a gadget even when it is not working. This process will be described in detail below.

If the phone is stolen

In the case when it is known for sure that the phone was stolen, you should offer a reward for returning the gadget. After all, this thing was stolen precisely for the purpose of profit. You need to send a message to your number from a mobile device that belongs, for example, to your friend, indicating the amount that you are willing to pay the thief for the phone.

You should also check with family members and close people if any of them use applications that determine your location by mobile. If this is the case, then you need to report the available coordinates of the phone to the police so that its employees can find and return the gadget to the owner.

How to find phones that are stolen if the above methods turned out to be ineffective in your case? To do this, you need to collect evidence that will confirm that the device belongs to you. That is, find the package of documents received upon purchase. Next, you need to go directly to the police and write a statement. After you need to report the theft of the device to the operator mobile communications. After providing the necessary package of documents confirming that the phone is really stolen and you are its legal owner, permission will be issued to access information about this device. The operator will have to notify you if anyone uses the device.

Are there other ways to find the phone? By the IMEI number, you can also try to find the device. To do this, add this unique mobile code to the worldwide database. And if someone finds your phone, they can contact you using the specified coordinates.

Depending on the operating system, which controls the mobile device, there are several ways to find the phone. Android, iOS and Windows Phone support various applications that have similar working principles. Below follows more detailed description such search methods.

Finding an iOS Phone

How to find phones if they have iOS installed? It will be quite easy. After all, the iPhone initially has a function to determine the location of the device. The main thing is that it be activated before the gadget is lost or stolen.

In order to find such a phone, the owner should sign in to iCloud using their account and click "Find iPhone". After that, a list of your devices managed by iOS will be displayed on the screen. If the find gadget function is active and the phone itself is turned on, the service will determine the location of the iPhone.

If you select the "Information" icon on the location panel, you can send an SMS, play the selected melody, lock the device or delete all available data from it.

After determining the location of the phone, you need to analyze the information received. If the specified area is not familiar to the owner, his friends and acquaintances do not live there, then the device is in the hands of a thief. You need to immediately block the gadget until the ill-wisher has time to use your personal information or turn off the Find My iPhone function.

The indicated coordinates of the location of the device must be reported to the police so that its employees can find it and return the phone to its rightful owner.

Finding a phone with Windows Phone operating system

If my lost device is managed by Windows Phone, how do I find my phone? A special application from Microsoft Corporation should be launched through the computer, which allows you to determine the location of the mobile device.

Also in this program there are other useful features. If you press the "Call" button, the phone will emit until the corresponding key on the device is pressed.

When you press the "Lock" button, a blocking message will appear on the device screen, which can be removed by entering a password known only to the owner.

If you press the "Erase" key, all data contained in the phone will be deleted. Please note that even the location function cannot be used after this.

After establishing the coordinates of the location of the device, you need to report them to the police, declaring the theft.

Finding an Android Phone

If this operating system is installed on the missing device, how can I find the phone? "Android" supports an application such as PlanB. This program compares favorably with analogues in that it can be installed on a phone that has already disappeared.

To do this, sign in to the Android Market using your account. After you need to install the specified program on the missing device and run it. An email will be sent to the owner's email box indicating the location of the gadget. Then it remains only to report the received coordinates to the police, and they will help return the phone to the owner.

Phone search by sim card

You can try to find the device by contacting the mobile operator directly. This is another effective way to find a phone. By the name of the owner and the number of the SIM card, the mobile communication company is able to determine the location of the device using its own channels. The main condition for this search method is that the phone must be turned on.

Search phone by satellite

How to find phones via satellite? To do this, one of the special applications must first be installed on the mobile device. Programs can notify about the current location of the gadget and the replacement of the SIM card, allow you to control the camera of the missing mobile, block or delete the information contained on it. There are a number of such applications, each supported by a particular operating system.

If the mobile device is equipped with a GPS receiver, then certain programs also exist to search for it. In order to see the location of such a phone, you need to register on a special site, and after that you can determine the necessary coordinates at any time.

And how to find the switched off phone? It is impossible to do this by satellite, because a prerequisite for searching for a device in this way is that the mobile must be turned on.

Phone search by IMEI code

This is the only way that can help find a missing phone that is turned off. The IMEI code consists of 15 digits. It is individual for each device and does not depend on the SIM card used.

How to find a phone via IMEI? First, you need to write a statement to the police indicating the code. And secondly, you need to register the IMEI number in the global database. If someone finds your mobile device, he will be able to contact you using the coordinates left on the site.

If you managed to determine the location of the stolen phone, it is not recommended to try to return your mobile phone on your own. You should contact the police.

All documents confirming that you are the legal owner of the device must be kept in a safe place during the entire time of using the phone.

If the gadget still could not be found, block the account and restore the SIM card by contacting the mobile operator. The IMEI code of the stolen phone must be blacklisted. After such actions, an attacker will not be able to use the device, even using another SIM card. These are the last resort to use if you are certain that the phone will not be found.

The owner of the gadget should install the necessary applications to determine the location of the device in advance, without waiting for loss or theft.

Conclusion

There are several ways to find a missing phone. They vary depending on the place where the device was lost or stolen, on the operating system installed on the gadget, and other factors. The owner of the mobile phone should install special applications in advance that will help determine the location of the phone in case of loss, protect the device with a password, use not a smartphone memory card to save data, but act quickly after revealing the fact of loss, because time plays a key role here, and delaying the situation only at the hands of attackers.

Theft or loss of a phone is a problem familiar to many, albeit from the stories of friends. Just a couple of years ago, there was no way to track the location of the device, but modern technology makes it possible to find even a stolen smartphone. There is a certain procedure for finding a lost phone.

It is possible that suddenly you realize that your smartphone is not in your pocket, and then the state of shock and panic is replaced by a convulsive thought process aimed at finding a device. To begin with, it is recommended to find a way and call it. It happens that it is left in some other place, and the owner begins to panic, believing that a theft has occurred. If the device really fell out somewhere, then it could be picked up. With the help of a call, it is quite realistic to count on a quick return.

You can send an SMS message with a request to return the smartphone for a fee. Naturally, no one wants to pay for their own gadget, but often this is the only option to return the valuable information that is in it. If the device is inexpensive, used mainly for calls, you can restore the SIM card, and then purchase a new one. There are others who are able to find a lost phone that are worth knowing about. Everything here is tied to the operating system used.

Lost iPhone iOS

Smartphones from Apple are very popular with cybercriminals, as they are very expensive, and even when they are sold for spare parts, the profit is quite significant. However, the company showed concern for its customers by creating a special service aimed at finding the device or blocking it so that an outsider could not do anything with it.

It will be possible only after activating the corresponding option in it. It is recommended to be puzzled by this in advance by including this function. Of course, you need to create an iCloud account and link your iPhone to it. This is done in the smartphone settings.

The device turns on Find My iPhone. If your iPhone is already linked to an iCloud account, then outsiders will not be able to do anything with it even after flashing, as they will need your email address and password. In this case, you can return the gadget if you send a message with the promise of a reward.

For remote control With your iPhone, go to iClod.com and then go to the Find My iPhone app. It displays all the Apple devices associated with the account. An app with the same name also comes with a similar set of features.

If you entered the program, and in the interface you see that the gadget is online, then there are several options. You can see the current location of the device. If he is at home, then the site starts playing a melody in order to quickly find him. Otherwise, lost mode is activated, which restricts access to data for unauthorized persons, and all movements of the device will be displayed on the map.

Realizing that it is impossible to return the smartphone, you should use the "Erase iPhone (all data)" functions on it so that they do not end up in the hands of third parties.

In iOS 7 and above, it is not possible to bypass Activation Lock. It is recommended that you update your device as soon as possible so that attackers cannot do anything with it except sell it for spare parts or return it to the owner for a fee.

If your Android phone is lost

The Android system for a long time lacked the ability to track the gadget at all. Now the OS itself is equipped with a convenient search option - this is Android Device Manager, which makes it possible to control remotely when connected to a Google account. It was implemented with the help of a website.

This system makes it possible to search for a gadget on a map, block it or delete all data stored on it, even from a memory card. In addition, the user can make a call to him in the case of using a different SIM card. All this requires that the device has an Internet connection, and your account must be used in the system. The operation of the service is possible only when the desired function is activated in the settings. To do this, go to Settings - Security - Administrators and activate "Android Device Manager" (Android Remote Control). Without doing this, you will receive absolutely no help from the service.

Compared to iOS, Android is a less secure system. An attacker has the ability to reflash the device, after which Android Device Manager becomes useless. This option will be necessary if you realized that your phone was lost somewhere at home, or you dropped it in the city, but someone found it. There is not only a web version, but also an application of the same name that works exclusively on Android.

New flagship devices from leading companies come with a new data and device protection system, which allows you to block the device before the end of charging, that is, the phone becomes a brick and does not allow an attacker to turn off or reflash the smartphone

If your phone is lost on Windows Phone (Windows 10 Mobile)

Gadgets running Windows Phone also have their own system that allows you to find the device. Its functioning is possible only if you have been signed in to your Microsoft account. By default, the option is disabled to save battery power, so you need to enable it. It can be found in the system settings, for this the “Search for phone” item opens, and then both options available there are activated.

There are several points, each of which is responsible for certain actions.

The first provides faster connection to services. This is necessary so that the system communicates with the device not using SMS messages, but using push notifications.

The second option allows you to save the location with a certain frequency. In this case, you will be able to track the movement of the gadget, if it has been sold. In addition, if it is not in the access zone, or the battery runs out, it will be possible to find out the location of the gadget at the last moment of saving. It is possible that he is still there.

If you need to find a lost phone, you need to visit a special site where, after selecting a device, a map with its approximate location is shown. Windows Phone also has remote control features that are identical to those on other systems. The device can be blocked, make a call to it, or erase all data.

What to do if you can't find your phone yourself

If you did not manage to find the lost phone using the indicated methods, then there is only one way - contacting the police. You should collect evidence that this is your smartphone. The box and documents from it will come in handy. When making a purchase with a card, you can restore documents proving ownership by contacting the seller. All the information that helps to identify the device will come in handy. You can save location data if you can get it. If you yourself could not find the device from friends, or in a cafe, then all this information will be very useful to law enforcement agencies.

The police file a complaint about the theft. You should get a paper indicating that the application has been accepted, and you should also keep copies of all documents submitted to the authorities.

You should block the SIM card, this is done at the operator's office. An active number is an opportunity for an attacker to call anywhere, and you will pay for such costs. The operator is also able to track the location of the smartphone, but only the investigation has the right to submit a request for this. A private person will be denied such a request.

Find lost phone by IMEI

IMEI is a unique identification number. It includes 15 digits, which do not change in any way when another phone number is connected. IMEI is entered into the device's memory, and it is not possible to change it. It is tied to the device itself, and in cellular network it is used as one of the hardware identifiers. If the device has support for two SIM cards, then there will be two IMEI. It is designed to track the device and lock it remotely in case it is stolen or lost.

The process of searching for a smartphone by IMEI is implemented in several stages. After submitting a request to the police with the provision of a package of documents on a smartphone, they form a request mobile operators, including IMEI. Representatives of the company look for it in their databases, and also find out the current owner of the SIM card that is currently used in it. All data is sent to law enforcement agencies, where the investigation takes place.

Police officers are looking for the owner of the currently used SIM card in order to find the user of the device at the current moment. The police use this method only in exceptional cases, when finding the phone is very important.