Losing an Android phone gets stressful fast when you need its location, a loud ring, or a remote lock right now. Google's current version of Find My Device is called Find Hub, and it works from a browser, another Android device, and supported Wear OS watches. Start with the fastest recovery options, then tighten the settings that protect the phone next time.
Find your Android phone from a browser
Use this method when you have a computer, borrowed phone, or tablet nearby and need the quickest route into Google's lost-device tools.
Go to android.com/find and sign in with the same Google Account used on the lost Android device. If that device has more than one user profile, sign in with the Google Account on its main profile.
Select the missing phone or tablet. Enter the Android device PIN when prompted on Android 9 or later. On Android 8 or earlier, enter your Google password when asked.
Check the map location. If the phone may be nearby, choose Play sound. Choose Get directions if you need to travel to the shown location. Use Find nearby when that option appears.
Choose Mark as lost to protect the device. If you need to erase the device, use Settings, then Factory reset.
Use the Find Hub app on another Android device
Open Google's Find Hub app on another Android phone or tablet. Sign in with your Google Account. Tap Continue as your name when the missing device is yours. If you are helping someone else, tap Sign in as guest.
Select the missing device from the list. Enter the Android device PIN when prompted on Android 9 or later. Use the Google password for Android 8 or earlier. Then choose Play sound, Get directions, Find nearby, Mark as lost, or Factory reset.
Tip: install or update the official Google Find Hub app from Google Play before you need it, so a spare Android device is ready.
Turn on Find Hub before the phone goes missing
Set this up now, because Find Hub works best when location access is already enabled.
- 1.Open Settings on the Android phone or tablet.
- 2.Tap Google, then All services when tabs are shown.
- 3.Go to Personal and device safety, then Find Hub.
- 4.Turn on Allow device to be located.
- 5.Open Find your offline devices and choose Off, Without network, With network in busy places only, or With network everywhere.
When Find Hub cannot locate the phone
The most common cause is a lost device that lacks power, internet, Google Account sign-in, Find Hub access, or Google Play visibility. For live online actions such as locating, locking, or erasing, the phone needs to be powered on, connected to the internet, signed in to a Google Account, visible on Google Play, and have Find Hub turned on.
Offline finding works differently. The broader Find Hub network works on selected Android 9 or later devices in supported countries and regions for age-eligible users. Keep Location and Bluetooth turned on, keep cell service or an internet connection available, and set a PIN, pattern, or password, because crowdsourced help finding the device depends on a screen lock.
Android 8.0 or earlier devices cannot join the broader crowdsourced Find Hub network. On those devices, use Settings, Google, All services, Personal and device safety, Find Hub, then Store recent location.
Lock your phone without signing in
This fixes the panic moment when a supported Android phone needs a quick remote lock and you do not want to sign in first.
Set it up while the phone is still with you by opening Settings. Then tap Google, tap All services, and open Personal and device safety. Open Theft protection and tap Remote Lock.
Turn on Remote Lock. Tap Verify number when needed, then turn on Automatically verify phone numbers.
To use it later, go to android.com/lock. Enter the phone number and complete the reCAPTCHA challenge. Then ask for the device to be locked.
Remote Lock needs a supported Android phone with a screen lock, active SIM, verified phone number, Find Hub turned on, and an internet connection. It does not work on Android Go devices, tablets, or wearables, and it can lock a phone twice in 24 hours.
Add stronger theft protection settings
These settings protect the phone while you are trying to recover it.
- 1.Go to Settings, Google, All services, then Theft protection.
- 2.Turn on Theft Detection Lock on supported Android 10 or later phones to lock when theft-like motion is detected.
- 3.Turn on Offline Device Lock on supported Android 10 or later phones to lock after an unlocked phone goes offline for a short period.
- 4.Open Remote Lock, then Security question, and verify with PIN or biometric authentication.
- 5.Select a security question, enter the answer, and tap Set.
Find a Samsung Galaxy phone
Galaxy phones and tablets can use Samsung's own lost-device service alongside Google's tools. Go to smartthingsfind.samsung.com or samsungfind.samsung.com, sign in with your Samsung account, select the Galaxy phone or tablet, and view its location.
For live updates, choose Track location, then Start. To make the device ring, choose Ring, then Start.
To lock it, choose Lock, tap Next, create a PIN twice, optionally add an emergency contact or message, then tap Lock. To erase it, choose Erase data, verify the Samsung account when prompted, then tap Erase.
For Samsung offline finding, open Settings, Security and privacy, Lost device protection, Offline finding, then turn on the switch at the top. Samsung live actions need the device to be on and connected; when it is powered off, only the last known location may be available.
Ring your phone from a watch
This fixes the everyday version of the problem: the phone is nearby, but you cannot see it.
On a Wear OS watch paired to the phone by Bluetooth, wake the watch and swipe down from the watch face. Tap Find my phone, then tap the Check mark to make the phone ring. Or open the All Apps menu, tap Find my phone, then tap the Check mark.
The phone must be powered on, connected to the watch by Bluetooth, and close enough to hear. It rings even when the phone volume is off or set to vibrate.
Old Find My Device advice to ignore
The most common confusion comes from old Android guides that still use the Android Device Manager path or the Find My Device name.
Do not use Settings, Google, Security, Android Device Manager, Remotely locate this device, or Allow remote lock and erase as current setup advice. Instead, use Settings, Google, All services, Personal and device safety, Find Hub, then Allow device to be located.
Google's current consumer wording is Find Hub, although older pages and search labels may still say Find My Device. The Android web tool remains android.com/find.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Find My Device if my Android phone is offline?
Yes, on supported Android 9 and later devices in supported countries and regions. Android 8.0 or earlier devices cannot join the broader crowdsourced Find Hub network, but they can store a recent encrypted location.
Can I erase a lost Android phone from Find Hub?
Yes. Open Find Hub on the web or in the app, select the device, and use the factory reset option when recovery is no longer the priority.
Can I find a Samsung phone without Google's Find Hub?
Yes. Galaxy phones and tablets can also use Samsung Find or SmartThings Find when a Samsung account and the required lost-device settings are already set up.
Can my carrier help if the phone is stolen?
Your carrier may help you report the phone lost or stolen, suspend service, or block the IMEI. Find the IMEI in Find Hub for Android devices that have one.