Remotely ring, lock, erase or track your stolen or lost android phone

Turn Android Device Manager on or off

If you lose your Android device, you can use Android Device Manager to:

• Find your device: Use Android Device Manager to show your device's location.
• Ring, lock, or erase a lost device: Use Android Device Manager to remotely ring or lock your device, erase everything on it, or add a phone number to the lock screen.

Set up Android Device Manager

Step 1: Switch Android Device Manager on or off

Before you can use Android Device Manager, you need to make sure it's turned on and that your device is associated with your Google Account. If you have a tablet with more than one user, only the tablet owner can control this setting.

1. From your device's apps menu, open the Google Settings app .
   Note: This is a different app than "Settings."
2. Touch Security.
3. Under "Android Device Manager," move the switches next to Remotely locate this device and Allow remote lock and factory reset to the on or off position. 

Note: Make sure you sign into your Google account on your device if you want to use Android Device Manager.

 

Step 2: Make sure location access is on

To use Android Device Manager, you have to have location access turned on. If you’ve turned it off, here’s how to turn it back on:

1. Open the Settings app on your device .
2. Under "Personal," touch Location.
3. Move the switch to the on position.

Learn more about managing your account's location settings.

Step 3: Check that Android Device Manager can locate your device
After you turn on Android Device Manager, check to make sure that it's working properly. Sign in to your Google Account on android.com/devicemanager and check to see if your device shows up.
Don't see your device? Make sure that you're signed in to your Google Account, location settings are on, and that you've turned on Android Device Manager in Google Settings

Unhide devices on Google Play

If you hide a device on Google Play, the device won't appear in Android Device Manager. Unhide devices by going to play.google.com/settings and selecting a device in the Visibility column.

Remotely ring, lock, or erase a lost device

If you or a friend has lost a device, you can use Android Device Manager to remotely ring, lock, or erase the device if it's signed in to a Google Account. When Android Device Manager interacts with the device, it'll get a notification. You can also use Android Device Manager to show your device's location.
Important: Android Device Manager won't work for devices that are turned off or that don't have a Wi-Fi connection or mobile data connection with an active SIM card.

Use the Android Device Manager website

Before erasing your device: Remotely erasing a device performs a factory reset, which removes all data from the device. While any data stored in your Google Account will be restored, all apps and their associated data will be uninstalled.

1. Sign in to your Google Account on android.com/devicemanager. If you're helping a friend with their lost device, we recommend opening an incognito tab in Chrome and having them sign in to the Google Account they use on their mobile device.
2. Click the arrow next to the device name to select the lost device. Android Device Manager will show the location of that device.
3. Select from the following options. You may need to enable Lock & Erase first.
   • Ring: Rings your device at full volume for 5 minutes — even if it's set to silent or vibrate.
   • Lock: Locks your device with a password if you don't already have one set.
   • Erase: Permanently deletes all of your data. Android Device Manager may not be able to wipe the content of an SD card in the device. After you erase the device, Android Device Manager will no longer work on it.
4. If you're helping a friend, they can sign out when they're finished by touching Sign out at the top of the screen. If they don't sign out, they'll be automatically signed out after 5 minutes of inactivity on the website.
  

Use the Android Device Manager app

If you have another mobile device or are using a friend's device, you can use the Android Device Manager app to remotely ring, lock, or erase the lost device. You need to have the Android Device Manager app installed on the device you plan to use.
Before erasing your device: Remotely erasing a device performs a factory reset, which removes all data from the device. While any data stored in your Google Account will be restored, all apps and their associated data will be uninstalled.

1. On the device, open the Android Device Manager app .
2. Sign in to your Google Account or if you're helping a friend, touch Device Manager at the top of the screen and touch Guest to have your friend sign in to the Google Account they use on their mobile device.
3. Click the arrow next to the device name to select the lost device. Android Device Manager will show the location of that device.
4. Select from the following options. You may need to enable Lock & Erase first.
   • Ring: Rings your device at full volume for 5 minutes — even if it's set to silent or vibrate.
   • Lock: Locks your device with a password if you don't already have one set.
   • Erase: Permanently deletes all of the data on the device. Android Device Manager may not be able to wipe the content of an SD card in the device. After you erase the device, Android Device Manager will no longer work on it.
5. If you're helping a friend, they can sign out when they're finished by touching Sign out at the top of the screen. If they don't sign out, they'll be automatically signed out after 5 minutes of inactivity in the app.

 

Add a phone number to your lost device's lock screen

If you've lost a device, you can use Android Device Manager to let anyone who finds your device call you at a different number directly from the lock screen.

1. Sign in to your Google Account on android.com/devicemanager.
2. If you have more than one device, use the arrow next to the device name to choose the lost device.
3. Select Lock.
4. In the "Phone number (optional)" field, type in a phone number where you can be reached.
5. Select Lock. A button to call the number you entered will be displayed on the phone's lock screen. Anyone who finds your phone will be able to dial the number from the device.

To remove the phone number, just follow the steps above and delete the number in the phone number field.

 

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