How to find a lost cell phone via the Internet. How to find a lost or stolen phone

In the modern world, everyone already has a mobile phone, and this does not depend at all on social status or even age. Now, wherever a person is, his cell phone accompanies him everywhere. As for the differences among mobile phones, they mainly differ in their cost, but as soon as a person loses it, a lot of problems immediately arise. Among other things, it could simply be stolen. But how can you find your phone if it's turned off?

Many mobile operators provide free information about the location of your SIM card. If it has been stolen and the owner is sure of this, without any doubt, it is necessary to urgently contact the relevant authorities. But it often happens that the cell phone “disappears” at home. Of course, as long as the battery is charged, finding it is not particularly difficult, but how to find the phone if it is turned off? In this case, there are several options for resolving this problem.

The very first thing you need to do is try to reproduce all your last actions and thus try to remember where he could have stayed.
If there is no result, then you need to remember whether your mobile device has an alarm clock installed and whether it supports the notification function when it is turned off.
If there are animals or small children at home, most likely one of them decided to use it as a toy, so it may be in the most unpredictable places, for example under the sofa or even in the trash can. You need to be patient and have something long to get it out of hard-to-reach places. First of all, it is necessary to do a cursory examination, and then with passion. Particular attention must be paid to those places in which, by definition, it cannot be. Most likely, you will be able to find not only a mobile phone, but also a lot of other useful things that were considered irretrievably lost.
Alternatively, you can use a metal detector.

A few tips that you can follow to avoid unpleasant situations.

If you don’t know how to find a switched off phone at home, then it would be best not to lose it at all. In this case, you need to follow some simple tips:

To prevent your mobile phone from being stolen or lost, you should always carry it in a closed pocket, and in crowded places it is best not to take it out if possible.
In the event that the cell phone gets lost in the grass, the bright body will be much more noticeable.
You can purchase a special key fob that responds to loud sounds or one that gives light signals.
Some mobile phones have special so-called anti-theft protection, which works as follows. Initially, an additional number is saved, where an SMS is instantly sent with a new number, the SIM card of which is replaced on your cell phone. Then you should act according to the circumstances - either try to call and negotiate, or contact special services about this.

How to find a switched off Android phone

If your cell phone is based on Android, Google offers a unique service called Android Device Manager completely free of charge. Its essence is as follows. In a special window that appears, you need to select your device (which must have previously been attached to your account), and the location of your phone will be displayed on the map.

At the same time, there is one nuance, without which such an attempt will be reduced to almost zero. The phone must have Internet or GPS navigation enabled, but in modern smartphones, in most cases, users do not disable these functions, so there should be no problems. Also, after detection, you can call the phone and it will play a melody at full volume for 5 minutes. You can turn it off only by removing the battery. There is also a locking option.

It is always necessary to keep the Internet on, and mobile service providers provide convenient unlimited packages for this purpose. You can also further encrypt your device using a screen lock. Modern mobile phones and smartphones support similar functions even as standard.

What is IMEI?

How to find your phone if it is turned off? Firstly, you need to take all the documents available for it, your documents and, of course, the IMEI of your cell phone. Each mobile phone has its own unique identification number. As a rule, it consists of 15 digits. Secondly, IMEI is “hardwired” into the phone’s memory, and it is not as easy to change as it seems. It is often printed under the battery, but if for some reason it is not there, you can press the following combination on your cell phone: *#06#, and the number will appear on the screen.

In addition to the fact that this number stores a large amount of useful information, it is thanks to it that you can find a lost or stolen device.

How to find a phone by IMEI?

Naturally, all the nuances of this are not known to the average user, and by and large this is not necessary. Only the result is important. Law enforcement agencies have the opportunity, upon your application, to carry out a request from telecom operators to search for a specific mobile phone. If it is active and in use, the data will be received.

This is the first stage of search work. To find out for sure whether a switched-off phone can be found, the police need to carry out a number of investigative and operational activities in order to accurately determine the new owner of the device and its location. It is worth noting, however, that this method is very effective, but law enforcement agencies resort to it only in extreme cases, and if it turns out that the mobile phone is in your home, you will also receive a rather large fine.

Now you know how to find your phone if it is turned off, so there should be no problems.

Losing a mobile phone becomes a real problem - we cannot get in touch with the necessary contacts or clients, we cannot access the Internet or pay for utilities using electronic payment systems. How to find a lost phone and what is needed for this? In our age of advanced information and communication technologies, the likelihood of finding a lost phone is quite high, so you need to use all available search methods.

Current ways to find lost phones

Lost my phone - how to find it? These are the questions people turn to Internet search engines. And the point here is not so much the high cost of the device itself, but the information stored in it. The value comes from contacts, photos, videos, passwords saved in the browser and applications, bank cards linked to a phone number, and much more.

Undoubtedly, a lot can be recovered, but first you should look for the lost handset. How can you find a lost phone? Let's discuss the main methods:

Go around the places where you were before the loss was discovered;
Once again, “rummage” through the pockets of your clothes;
Call your number from another phone - it is possible that the lost handset is somewhere nearby;
Use coordinate determination (may not be available on all phones).

Any method can give a positive result (but it may not give at all).

Search in places of last stay

A modern person almost never parts with his mobile phone, so from the moment of loss to the moment of discovery of the loss, a maximum of 20-30 minutes passes (usually less). Remember what you were doing a few minutes ago, where you were, who they talked to on the phone and where they took him after the last call.

It is quite possible that you forgot it on the store counter - finding a lost phone here is more than possible. If you just got out of your car, go back - your phone is probably in the car or lying under it (fell out of your pocket). You should also return to your workplace; perhaps the “tube” is on the desktop. If the place of your last stay was a bus stop filled with people, then, in principle, you can not return there - 99.9% that there will be no telephone there.

If your last place was a park or a forest edge, then it is quite possible that the phone fell out of your pocket and is lying somewhere in the grass - return to your resting place, call your number from someone else’s phone and examine the area.

Never call your phone away from the location of the suspected loss. First return to this place and only then start calling. Otherwise, you will attract the attention of strangers who may take the found phone for themselves. But it’s best to block the number by calling the hotline and continue searching without unnecessary calls.

Search by pockets

How to find a cell phone if you have lost it and cannot find it? The easiest way is to go through your pockets again. If the phone is small, then it can easily hide in the pockets of your jacket or even fall under an accidentally torn lining. Another place of suspected loss is a large daily bag with a bunch of things. This is where your mobile phone can get lost (relevant for women).

Search by number

How to find a phone number and is it even possible? It's certainly possible. But only if your phone is stolen and you file a statement with the police. If the case is really serious, then the phone will most likely be found. But most often the case is left without progress, since the police are extremely reluctant to look for stolen phones.

As for lost handsets, no one will look for them at all - whatever one may say, this is the problem of the subscriber himself (the police are not a lost and found office). By the way, Investigators look for stolen phones by IMEI, not by number. You can change the number, but the IMEI will remain - then the police will start shaking the person who installed his SIM card in the stolen phone. They can also determine the location of the phone, but not by satellite, but by geolocation using cellular networks.

Information about the location of the phone you are looking for is provided by cellular operators upon request from law enforcement agencies. You will not be able to submit such a request on your own.

Search by satellite

You can find a lost phone using satellite and cellular network coordinates. To do this, you must first install a tracking program on your device, which will continuously monitor the coordinates of the device. The search for lost devices is carried out via the Internet, using services belonging to program developers. You can also use them to remotely lock the device..

You need to remember that keeping the GPS receiver in your mobile phone turned on is not profitable - the battery drains quickly. Therefore, most often the search is carried out using the coordinates of cellular networks. For a successful search, your lost phone must be connected to the Internet. If your phone is switched off, it will be much more difficult to find it.

Modern lightweight and compact gadgets have one significant drawback - they are quite easy to lose, drop on the go, or forget in a hurry, for example, leaving work or a cafe. In addition, a modern, technologically advanced smartphone is a very tasty target for thieves. Should you panic if you are left without your favorite device? Of course not! From our article you will learn how to find a lost phone, spending very little time.

Every user has access to 5 main ways to find their gadget. Let's look at them in order.

Method 1. Through a computer

Owners of smartphones running the Android operating system can use the Android Device Manager service from Google. In this case, the phone search is carried out through a browser on a PC or laptop. Please note that for the service to work correctly, you must first configure your phone:

Go to Android settings

Select the Security section

Click on Device Administrators

Find the line “Android Remote Control” and check the box next to it

The configured phone can now be searched through the online service. To do this, type in your browser Android Device Manager address. Next, you need to log into your Google account. A Google map will appear, the system will start searching for the phone and after a while will indicate where the gadget is located. In the service menu, the user can make a call to the phone, as well as erase all data and block the device.

The operation of the Android Device Manager service requires a number of important conditions:

The mobile device must be active

The phone must have mobile Internet or Wi-Fi

Geolocation must be running

An active Google user account is required

Method 2: Search by IMEI

This method will help out those whose phone has fallen into the hands of a thief. In this case, the IMEI number will help out. You can read more about what this is in the article. The 15-digit mobile phone identification number is used to authorize the gadget during a cellular connection.

How to find out the IMEI number:

Dial *#06#.

Find the IMEI line under the removable battery in the phone

Find the IMEI line in the warranty card

Look at the phone box

With an IMEI number, a commodity or cash register number, the user needs to go to the police and write a statement, indicating his passport details and, in fact, the phone identification number. Next, law enforcement officers send a request to the operator, who determines the location of the phone.

It is worth considering that it may take more than one week to process the application. While the police are processing the documents, the phone may be dismantled several times for spare parts or taken to a pawnshop. In addition, if the “stolen” phone is found at the user’s home, he faces a very unpleasant fine.

Method 3: Phone Finder Apps

If the user has lost his phone, a special program that can be downloaded for free from the Google Play store will tell you how to find it. We've taken a closer look at three handy apps:

After installing the program on your cell phone, you need to give it access to your location, messages, contacts and camera. Next, you need to go to the Commander service and create an account to work on the site where you will search for a mobile phone.

Main functions of the program:

Determining phone coordinates

Ringing to device

Setting special words with which you can activate the GPS module or camera on your phone

Creating a password and special number that launches the application

The installed application is displayed on the desktop as an icon called Personal Notes. This is done so that a potential thief does not notice a dangerous program. Lost Android deletes data from the phone, controls the lock from the settings menu in the device.

To search for a phone, just go to the official website and enter your username and password.

The principle of operation of the application is similar to the two previous programs. Install the applet and register via email and password.

The program allows you to:

Find out the IMEI number

Determine battery charge level

Lock your phone

Find a phone by “breadcrumbs”, periodic signals to the server that the device sends

Method 4: Using an antivirus program

In the article about the best antiviruses for phones, you will learn that in some security applications a special “Anti-theft” function is available to the user. It will help those who are worried that their lost phone is in the wrong and extremely unreliable hands. When activated, the antivirus program turns on the GPS module, deletes data, and even takes a photo of the criminal with a smartphone camera.

For example, one of the most convenient antivirus programs with the Anti-Theft function is the CM Security program, which can be downloaded for free on Google Play.

How to use the program:

In the application menu, select the “Phone Search” section.

Go to findphone.cmcm.com

On the site, the user will be able to find a lost or stolen phone with an accuracy of several meters.

Method 5. Using an alarm clock

How to find a lost phone if it is turned off? The computer, the Internet or applications are powerless here. All we can do is rely on the fact that the user did not turn off the alarm clock on the phone in the morning. Therefore, this method will only work in one case - if the phone is located somewhere in the apartment. When the system alarm application is running, the alarm will sound even when the battery is low.

Why Fly

We tested the main methods of determining the location of a phone on a smartphone from the British company Fly. We chose the products of this brand for the ideal combination of reliability, quality and versatility, for which the company has been famous for 14 years.

The Fly Cirrus 7 smartphone was chosen as a test platform. While preparing the material, we needed to launch the main communication modules: GPS for geolocation and 4G LTE for the correct operation of search applications. It is worth noting that the powerful 4-core processor at 1.25 GHz coped with its tasks perfectly, not only supporting the operation of the modules, but also launching quite voluminous programs for finding the phone.

Many hours of operation in maximum mode were ensured by the capacious 2600 mAh battery installed in the smartphone. Thanks to the battery, the charge indicator under heavy 4-hour loads (communication modules, browser, geolocation, applications) decreased by only 20%.

It’s difficult to do without a smartphone these days, so everyone is trying to get a modern gadget. The latest models of iPhone and Samsung cost a lot of money, so if they are lost or stolen, the owner conducts a thorough search. Is it possible to find a switched off phone or should you immediately forget about the expensive purchase?

Is it possible to track a phone if it is turned off?

This situation can arise in two cases: the smartphone was stolen and turned off, or the battery died while you were looking for it. In such a situation, the question arises: is it possible to find the phone if it is turned off? It is worth searching differently in each case, for example, if you are sure that the device was not stolen and it is located somewhere within the apartment, do the following:

Follow the last route in the apartment, see if you left the device in the bathroom, in the kitchen near the microwave or on top of the refrigerator (and sometimes inside it).
If you do not live alone (significant other, children), ask them. It is possible that someone took to use (play) your device.
If there is an alarm clock in the device, it will play even if the gadget is turned off. You just need to wait for the set time.

When a device is stolen or lost on the street, you must first follow the route you last took and look on the ground, but the switched off state more often indicates that the cell phone has already been found. There are several ways to find your phone if it is turned off:

search through a special program on Android;
contacting the operator with a request to search using a SIM card;
write a statement to the police so that they can search the IMEI of your smartphone.

How to find a phone by IMEI

One of the options for searching for a switched off device is to search for a phone by name. This is a special digital code that is located under the battery (usually) of the gadget. But how to do this if there is no device? You can rewrite the code in advance and store it at home, or find a smartphone box. Each package must indicate the serial release code and Have the device; it consists of 15 digits. Instructions on how to find a disconnected phone:

Rewrite IMEI.
Go with your passport and SIM card agreement to the nearest police station.
Write a statement that your cell phone is missing, and law enforcement officers will make a request to the company operator, who can search for your cell phone by this number (IMEI).
If a mobile phone is found in the applicant's apartment, a significant fine may be received, because the mobile phone could easily be found on its own.
Keep in mind that there are a lot of reports of theft and services do not often make such cases a priority.

How to find a phone using a SIM card

Another possible way to track a switched off phone if you have lost the device is to contact the operator directly. All modern companies (Megafon, MTS, Beeline) have the ability to send a signal to a SIM card even when the device is turned off. For this, a GPS system is used, which operates through a system of satellites. A signal that was sent from several points will be received by the card, which the nearest communication towers will have time to record. This will help calculate the location of the mobile and show it on the map. To find a phone using a SIM card, you need the following:

Contact the company office with a request to search for the device.
Give the mobile number that you lost, provide its IMEI, SIM card contract number.
Wait for the operator's response.

How to find an Android phone

If you lost your device while it was on, the Android operating system has a convenient tool for finding your cell phone. To do this, you will need a Google account, a computer and Internet access. A special utility, Android Device Manager, will help you find Android. It is completely free and can be installed on any version of the operating system. You need to install the program in advance, link your mobile number and model to your account. You can download the utility from the official Google Play store.

The registration process is extremely simple and intuitive, just follow the instructions that the program installer will show. After this, you will be able to perform several actions on your smartphone directly from your computer:

Call. The device will begin to emit a loud signal, which can only be turned off by you from the computer or by removing the battery.
Block. You install an additional code on the device.
Erase. You can remotely completely destroy all data from your mobile phone (cannot be restored).

The only point in this method is that the device must be turned on, the Internet and GPS must be activated. This program can also display the location of your device. This case is more suitable when you have lost your cell phone. When theft occurs, criminals often take out the card, turn off the Internet, GPS, and the smartphone itself. In this case, this program will be completely useless and you should use the methods described above to search for a turned off mobile phone.

Find out more ways, lost or stolen.

Video: how to find a switched off phone

Read what to do in a hopeless situation, how to find a lost phone if it is turned off. Is this possible? And how to protect yourself from an unpleasant situation.

Often, having lost a smartphone, we part with gigabytes of various kinds of files that may contain personal information, logins and passwords. Today, a mobile phone is no longer just a means of communication, but a very multifunctional device.

But this article will not talk about the capabilities of a smartphone, but about how to find a lost phone if it is turned off. Now there are many services that are developed specifically to determine the location of Android devices, but none of them can work with the device turned off. What to do in such an unpleasant situation?

Lost phone - how to find it if it is turned off: search your pockets

It often happens that users, noticing that the smartphone is not in its proper place, begin to panic out of nowhere. For example, you put your phone in one pocket, and check it in another, more familiar one. Has it happened? Immediately, not very pleasant thoughts come into my head. So, the first piece of advice if you think you have lost your smartphone:

Take a good look at all the places where you usually put your gadget. It wouldn’t hurt to make sure it didn’t fall somewhere. In general, we carefully examine every possible place of his stay.

As I have personally verified, in most cases the phone is simply not where it usually is. That's it - the missing person case is solved. Another simple tip is to call your lost phone. So, at least make sure whether it is turned on or not. Finally, remember where you were the last time you took out your smartphone. This will at least reduce the search area.

How to find a lost phone at home. An alarm clock will help!

From banal advice to search your pockets, which you probably guessed yourself, we move on to more effective means. As we noted at the beginning, locating a turned off phone is complicated by the fact that most tools designed for this purpose simply do not work when the device is not turned off. What's interesting is that the alarm clock doesn't stop it.

Smartphone manufacturers and software developers thought, why don’t smartphones turn off on their own at night, and wake up in the morning with the first rays of the sun and wake up the owner.

The feature turned out to be really useful: the smartphone does not receive notifications at night that would force the user to wake up, and does not run out of charge, but turns on on its own in the morning. A similar function is implemented in many phones. It is she who can help find a switched off smartphone.

It is clear that automatic activation must be activated on the device. As a rule, you can find the option in the additional settings of your smartphone. You set the time at which the smartphone will turn off and on. Set an alarm.

Those who use the function can simply wait for the specified turn-on time.

Mobile operators and police will help you find your lost phone

Often, if a smartphone is lost while it is turned off, all the user can do is search the location. It's unfortunate, but there's nothing else we can do on our own unless you use the auto-on feature or some kind of GPS tracking fob. But the police department or a cell phone store can help solve the problem.

It’s worth noting right away that employees of structures and employees of communication stores are reluctant to do this.

The first, as crime chronicles show, are not always able to catch maniacs and murderers, but you will come to them with a statement about a missing, and most importantly, a switched off smartphone. Of course, if the statement indicates not the loss, but the theft of the device, then this will oblige the investigators to accept it.

However, as statistics again show, there is not much hope for success. Every day, hundreds, if not thousands, of users unwillingly part with their gadgets, which then find a new owner. The police simply will not search for missing or stolen phones.

Will mobile operators help you find your lost phone?

Operators are especially not eager to try their luck in finding your switched off smartphone. Although, it is quite doable.

Mobile operators today have tools that can find a lost phone, or even a disconnected one. By sending a signal to the SIM card, they can determine the approximate location of the gadget. But, again, the police can force the operator to carry out this kind of operation; they are not obliged to help the ordinary user.

Let's say you are one of the people who are 100% confident in their abilities. You know that either the police or the employees of a mobile phone store will help you find your switched off smartphone. What is needed for this:

IMEI (a unique number assigned to each phone, usually indicated under the device’s battery, can be found by typing *#06#; IMEI is also indicated on the box in which the gadget was delivered);
passport;
the agreement you entered into when purchasing the SIM card.

With this we go to the police station or a cell phone store. Naturally, we fill out a statement according to which an attempt will be made to find your switched off smartphone. As a rule, the search process takes some time: both the police and cell phone stores send a request to the operator, who is already trying to track the phone.

We also note that if your smartphone is found in the apartment, there is a high risk of receiving a fine. Still, the police spent time and resources searching for your phone.

Plan ahead! What will help you find a switched off smartphone?

Providing your phone with a tool in advance that will help you find it in the future is the best solution. However, who will think about this before they lose their gadget?! So, firstly, an excellent device that will allow you not only to find, but also not to lose, is.

Yes, yes, the same ones that the market is flooded with today. We are interested in two functions in them - searching for a smartphone and warning about a disconnection. In the first case, we can activate a loud sound notification from the watch on the phone, which will “squeal” until you press the button.

Naturally, the option only works when the smartphone is turned on and is within the range of the Smart Watch.

A more interesting function of smartwatches for users who often forget their smartphone in cafes or guests will be a warning about a disconnection. That is, when you move about 15-20 meters away from the smartphone, the watch and the phone itself will begin to vibrate and make a sound.

Smart watches with these functions are inexpensive, and, in addition, are equipped with other useful options, for example, receiving notifications, remotely controlling a smartphone, and others. With them, you won’t have to look for a switched off smartphone - you will be protected from losing your electronic friend.

GPS trackers will help in the search

Do you prefer Smart Watch to regular watches? Then we will attach a tracking device to your phone. We are talking about various types, the location of which can be tracked by satellite, for example, from a computer. Such devices are inexpensive, come in various designs, work for a long time on one charge (or battery) and will definitely help you find a lost phone, even if it is turned off.

You can find an interestingly shaped GPS keychain that won't arouse suspicion if your smartphone is stolen. Agree, not everyone will realize that a dangling thing can send information about its location. We’ve already talked about it once, check it out if you’re interested.

Protect your data

Whatever one may say, it is very difficult to find a lost phone outside the home that is also turned off. And sometimes it’s not really necessary. Now, who wants to run from office to office at the police station, trying to file an application to find a phone for 3,000 rubles?

Just a waste of time and nerves. Today, the market allows you to purchase a sophisticated smartphone for a relatively small amount, and users often care not about the gadget itself, but about what it stores in the depths of its memory.

To prevent the finder from gaining access to your files and passwords, you need to worry about security in advance:

First of all, passwords are our best friend. Set a PIN code that the phone will request when turned on. It's unlikely that you reboot your device every day, so you won't have to enter it often. A simple action, but very difficult to access the device. We also recommend using a screen lock password, which will protect your turned-on smartphone from unauthorized access.

Many modern smartphones have a fingerprint scanner, although many users do not use it. We recommend using it - without your fingerprint, it is unlikely that anyone will be able to guess the password.

Secondly, synchronization. A very, very useful feature that is neglected by many. Android smartphones typically use Google services for synchronization, combining a lot of data into a single account. In case of theft or loss of a gadget, this same account will help you block or delete all data from your smartphone. By the way, services can help you find an Android phone, if it is not turned off. Read more about the issue of synchronization and remote monitoring of a smartphone using Google services.

Conclusion

As you can see, today there are not many ways to find a lost phone that is also turned off. If a device is lost outside the home, then the chance of finding it tends to zero.

However, there are quite a lot of means that will prevent loss and help in the search, if you take care of them in advance. A small keychain or smart watch will save your nerves and wallet. And passwords and synchronization will protect your personal information.