When this happens, then there are several ways that can be taken by the owners of smartphones in an effort to find their smartphone, or at least delete all the existing personal data so it is not used by irresponsible parties. Owners can try these methods to get their favorite smartphone back.
How To Find The Lost Android Smartphone
- Google’s Android Device Manager
This feature is similar to Apple's "Find my iPhone" feature, where users can use it to track and lock their gadgets remotely. This feature has been available on the Android operating system since 2013 and can be found on various Smartphones with this operating system.
To be able to take advantage of this feature, there are several requirements that must be met are:
- The smartphone must be connected to the owner's Google account.
- Has internet access.
- Enable Android Device Manager to perform remote searches as well as to perform remote data deletion or factory reset, by setting it up in Google Settings.
To be able to take advantage of the features of Android Device Manager (ADM), then the owner needs to visit the Google website, precisely at www.Google.com/android/devicemanager and log in using their Google account. In this website, there are several things that can be done by the owner of the smartphone that is:
- Specifies the location of the lost Android smartphone on the map, complete with a place name, last time of use and last location of usage.
- Make a call. By using ADM, smartphone owners can call a number on their smartphone, and the smartphone will ring with the highest sound settings.
- Lock the smartphone so it can not be used by others.
- Delete data by doing a factory reset, where all data stored in the form of documents, photos, music and smartphone settings will return to the initial setting.
- Google Maps
Smartphone owners can also use Google Maps in an attempt to find a lost or stolen Android smartphone. Google Maps Location History or now called Timeline can help smartphone owners find their smartphone location. To be able to use this method, there are several requirements that must be met, namely:
- The smartphone must be connected to a Google account.
- Smartphone has an internet network.
- The settings for the location recording feature and the usage history or recording location must be active in the Google app Setting.
To be able to take advantage of Google Maps Location History, the steps that need to be done are:
- Visit Google Maps Location History or "Your Timeline".
- Choose a date setting and make sure the date listed is the date for today.
- Select "Timestamps" located under the calendar to see where the smartphone is from its previous location to the latest location. For the latest version that has been using Timeline, this information will be found on the Sidebar.
The accuracy of using this method is actually quite varied because the Timeline feature lists the location of a gadget based on Wi-Fi location detection data, which makes the accuracy not too high because it only gives the location roughly.
Use of Third Party Applications
Android Device Manager and Google Maps is an existing app by default on an Android smartphone so it can be sure everyone can take advantage of both applications with the note that they have activated it before the smartphone is lost or stolen. In addition to the use of both applications, smartphone owners can also use various types of applications to track the existence of their smartphones.
- Dropbox
The first application that can be used to track the existence of a lost smartphone is Dropbox. To be able to take advantage of this application, the owners of the phone already have to install it on their HP before. When this app is installed, the "Camera Upload" feature needs to be enabled, and internet access is required.
This application will be useful to help find the lost Android Smartphone if the thief used it to take pictures with the camera. Each captured image will automatically be included in the "camera uploads" folder in the Dropbox app. The owners of mobile phones can take advantage of these images to find more information about the existence of their smartphones.
- AirDroid
One other application that has features similar to Android Device Manager is AirDroid. One of the main differences between this application and ADM is its ability to transfer any documents and images contained in the lost mobile phone using AirDroid account. Smartphone owners can do this before deleting all existing data remotely, unbeknownst to the thief.
In addition, smartphone owners can also turn on the front and rear cameras from their lost phones to take pictures around them, including pictures of the thief or the location of the thief's whereabouts. This app is available in two versions, namely free version and paid version in accordance with the terms and conditions apply.
- Cerberus
Cerberus is one of the most popular anti-thief apps among Android users. This app has many unique features that distinguish it from other similar apps like:
- Microphone activation system to be able to listen to the voice of the people around him.
- Mobile phone owners can get call data made with their smartphone.
- Icons from this app can be hidden so the thief will not be aware of its existence.
- Where’s My Droid
Provide information in the form of GPS location This application has many features that can help to find the lost Android smartphone. This application can only work if the smartphone has an internet network. Some interesting features that exist in this application are: from a lost smartphone.
- Provides GPS location information from lost smartphone.
- Make the smartphone ring with the highest volume level.
- Take a picture remotely.
- Hide existing text on a smartphone.
- Lock your phone and erase all existing data by using keywords or by using a computer.
Losing a smartphone is something that no one wants. However, if this happens, then the use of the application as mentioned earlier will greatly assist in finding the lost or stolen smartphone. Smartphone owners need to take precautions as early as possible by activating existing features on their smartphones or by installing special applications from third parties, so that if there is a loss, then the search effort can be done as soon as possible.
