Nobody wants to lose a phone for whatever reason, but we may find ourselves in the unfortunate situation of phone theft, whether as a result of negligence or robbery, depending on the circumstances. However, in most circumstances, the loss of a phone is not the primary concern; rather, the issue here is the loss of personal information embedded in the lost phone, such as contacts, papers, pictures, videos, and so on. Here, we’ll learn how you can easily track your stolen phone on any device.
How to Track Your Stolen Phone
The following are critical steps you must take as soon as you obtain a phone: Create a Google account, copy the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number from your phone, and then Turn on your Global Positioning System (GPS), install an anti-theft program, and configure your tracking system.
The methods outlined above will allow you to track a stolen phone, but failing to do any of them before your phone is stolen means saying goodbye to your cherished phone.
You can track your stolen phone using any of these methods:
#1. IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity)
The police can track down and reclaim a stolen phone using the IMEI number. Only the police have the necessary gadget or tools to track a stolen phone using the IMEI.
It is critical that you copy your IMEI number. You never know when the unlucky will hit.
What Is the IMEI Number?
If you haven’t seen a long 15-digit number on the packaging of your smartphone, don’t worry. This is your phone’s International Mobile Equipment Identity Number, which is unique to each device, much like our fingerprints. Our phones’ IMEI numbers are recorded with manufacturers and carrier networks in order to track the device’s whereabouts.
If your smartphone is stolen, notify your service provider and request that your IMEI number be blocked. When an IMEI number is blocked by one carrier, the database of the block category is changed, and all other carriers get and follow this information.
You will be unable to make or receive calls or send or receive messages following a block. As a result, if your device is stolen, this is the best course of action because it prohibits the number from coordinating illicit acts.
How to Track a Stolen Phone Using the IMEI Number
Tracking your lost phone becomes easier if your IMEI number is kept, due to location and carrier services and some apps. Use any of the techniques listed above to obtain your IMEI number, and we’ll show you how to trace your device.
Use the IMEI Tracker – Find My Device App
The IMEI Tracker – Find My Device App allows users to track their devices, but first you must configure it. Aside from IMEI monitoring, it also let you share your location and keep track of your entire family’s whereabouts. Without further ado, let us assist you in getting it up and running.
#1: From the Play Store or the internet, download and install the IMEI Tracker – Find My Device App.
#2: After installation, launch it. It may request some permissions. Accept the permissions.
#3: For real-time tracking, sign in with your Google Account.
#4: You will now be prompted to enter your trusted contacts, where you will obtain your IMEI information as well as the most recent location of your device. You will receive this after removing your SIM card from the device.
#5: Enter this IMEI into the app and press the track button to view the device’s current location.
Aside from the foregoing, the program allows users to assign commands to certain tasks. You can submit these commands as text messages, and the program will carry them out.
For example, the “getlostphone” command returns the IMEI, SIM ID, and Phone Location.
Use Online IMEI Tracker Tools
There are numerous internet tools (or sites) that can help you track your phone using IMEI information. They may be accessed using any web browser and do not require any additional step-by-step instructions.
All you have to do is put your IMEI number into the search box, click the search button, and wait for the site to track it. Though the methods are easy, locating a genuine tool on the internet is difficult.
Most sites that surface after searching are usually bogus and merely display advertisements without tracking your device. Furthermore, in certain circumstances, the advertisements contain harmful cookies and malware.
As a result, we do not recommend using them without sufficient verification and safety. Trackimei.net is a popular tool for tracking your smartphone using an IMEI number.
You can enter your IMEI number here and view the most recent changes. Another significant consideration is that, depending on your country, you may need to look for additional tools.
#2. Find My iPhone/Find My Device Utility
This service assists you in locating your missing phone by using your phone account, provided the thief has not yet checked out of your account.
With this method, you can erase all data from your phone, lock it, or sound an alert.
Alternatively, if you did not act quickly and the thief logged out of your account, you can verify your phone’s latest position by using Google Maps and selecting the ‘Your Timeline’ option, or you can visit the link:google.com/maps/timeline to see every location your phone has been taken to.
The Find My iPhone Utility is the solution for stolen iPhones. It allows you to track your phone’s location, lock it, and wipe all data.
Another option is ‘Notify Me When Found,’ which alerts you when your phone is turned back on.
Microsoft phones have comparable tracking systems, but the links are different. To track, lock, and remove data, go to ‘account.Microsoft.com/devices’.
#3. Google Services
By signing into your Google account from another phone or computer, you can track down the whereabouts of your stolen phone. In your web browser, navigate to ‘android.com/find’ and enter your email address and password.
#4. Apps for Phone Tracking
A stolen phone can be tracked using numerous software such as Cerberus anti-theft, Prey anti-theft, Lost Android App, Where’s My Droid App, and so on. These programs have distinct features but the same goals.
You may use these apps to find misplaced phones, ring them, wipe data, and lock them. The Lost Android features a unique function that allows you to relay any missed calls to another number while also recording a running list of calls, text messages, and images taken with your stolen phone.
How to Track A Stolen Phone That Is Switched Off
Is it feasible to track and locate a misplaced Android phone even while it is turned off? It’s tricky, but you can try a few things.
There are apparent services available to assist you in locating a missing Android phone by pinging its GPS location. But what if your phone is turned off? Can you still find it?
Can You Track A Stolen Phone That Is Switched Off?
The short answer is yes; the long answer is that it depends on how long it has been turned off. When you turn off your phone, it ceases connecting with cell towers, as does any GPS activities. To enhance your chances of finding your phone, you must act promptly.
If your phone is stolen, submitting a police report may improve your chances of locating it using your phone’s IMEI number. Fortunately, there are procedures in place to assist you in locating a missing cell phone even if it is turned off.
Locate Your Android Phone Using Find My Device
Google’s Find My Device feature can track any Android device that is linked to a Google account. It functions similarly to Apple’s Find My iPhone app, allowing you to ping your misplaced Android phone while also locking or erasing its contents.
- On a computer or another phone, go to Google’s Find My Device page.
- Log in to the same Google account that is associated with your stolen or lost phone.
- On the left, you may see compatible devices, such as your misplaced cell phone, and on the right, you can see its last known location.
If your phone is turned off, you will only be able to see the position where it last pinged Google. That may be sufficient if your phone was misplaced rather than stolen. If someone finds and switches on your phone, you can easily ping, lock, or factory delete it with Find My Device.
Trace Your Steps Making Use of Google Maps Timeline
Another brilliant technique to find your missing phone is to use Google Maps Timeline to check where you’ve gone. Because we rely so heavily on our phones for commuting and directions, there’s a good likelihood that Google Maps has a thorough history of where your phone has been—as long as Location History in Google Maps is enabled on the device.
The Google Maps Timeline shows every route you’ve taken as well as every store you’ve visited. Although this is not its intended use case, it is an excellent technique to locate a forgotten or lost Android device.
- Open Google Maps on your computer or phone and sign in to your Google account.
- Select Your Timeline from the menu selections by clicking on the menu icon. This will display a timeline of your most recent outings.
- To restrict your search, use the drop-down options to pick the date you misplaced your phone.
You might be able to find your phone if you retrace your steps.
Using Third-Party Apps to Track Your Phone
If you don’t use Google Maps on your phone frequently and have background data turned off, you won’t be able to find your phone using Google’s services.
Fortunately, a few apps and services continue to ping your last known position on a regular basis. Snapchat is an excellent example. Because Snapchat allows you to observe someone’s location, if you had the option enabled for your own account, you could ask your friends to look for your last whereabouts.
If you take a lot of photos and use Google Photos to back them up, you can access your most recent images from another device and look at the image details for the place where they were shot. Again, you must have the location option on in the camera app.
Consider any other apps on your phone that may have your last known location saved. In times like this, every piece of knowledge counts.
How to Track a Stolen Phone Using WhatsApp
There are numerous free and effective methods to locate your phone, ranging from using the Android Find My Device google tracking option to using apps.
Because it allows you to share and track live position, WhatsApp is one of the greatest apps to use while tracking your missing phone. Tracking a phone using WhatsApp is a simple method that requires no technical knowledge and takes only a few minutes.
Methods for Tracking a Phone Using WhatsApp
The entire method of how to track a stolen phone using WhatsApp consists of four simple stages. However, you would need another smartphone and the WhatsApp software to do so. You can use your friend’s or spouse’s phone for this purpose.
Now that you have those two prerequisites, let’s get started on the tracking procedure.
Step 1: Launch the WhatsApp application.
Launch the WhatsApp app on your phone. Choose your contact (the one who has a WhatsApp account and will be tracking your phone). To access the chat screen with that contact, click.
Step 2: Tap the “Attach file” button.
On the chat area where you type your words, look for the “attach symbol (clip-like).” Tap it, and it will open, displaying ‘Document,’ ‘Camera,’ ‘Gallery,’ ‘Location,’ and so on.
Tap on location to go to the next stage.
Step 3: Send the Location
After taping the location, a ‘Send location’ page will appear, allowing you to share your current position. To do this, select “Share Live Location.”
Note: By doing so, the contact with whom you’re sharing your location will be able to successfully track your phone’s whereabouts.
Step 4: Select Your Preferred Tracking Period
So, how long do you want to keep your live location tracking process running? It could be 15 minutes, an hour, or eight hours. At this stage, you are ready to begin tracking your phone.
This method is quite useful for recovering your phone, especially if the person who has your misplaced phone lives nearby, such as in the same town or region. However, in the event that your live location is stolen, you will not always share it with others.If you have Find My Device or Find My iPhone enabled on your phone, you can use it to track it.
In Conclusion
Finding a lost or stolen phone can be a stressful experience, but with these useful location services, you have a decent chance of finding it. Seeking police assistance is always an option that will considerably improve your chances of finding your missing cell phone.
Losing a significant piece of technology is obviously only one side of the coin. Your personal information, banking information, contacts, and business documents are all at risk if your phone is lost. The sooner you locate it, the better.
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