How to find a lost cell phone online. How to find a lost or stolen phone

In the modern world, everyone already has a mobile phone, and this does not at all depend on social status or even age. Now, wherever a person is, a 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. In addition, it can simply be stolen. But how to find the phone if it is turned off?

Many mobile operators provide free information about the location of your SIM card. In the event that it was 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, it is not difficult to find it, 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 to do is to 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 if there is a set alarm on your mobile device and whether it supports the notification function in the off state.
In the event that there are animals or small children at home, most likely, one of them decided to use it as a toy, so it can be in the most unpredictable places, such as under the sofa or even in the trash can. You need to be patient and something long in order to get it from hard-to-reach places. First of all, it is necessary to make a cursory examination, and then - with predilection. Particular attention must be paid to those places where, 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 to help you avoid embarrassing situations

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

In order to prevent the mobile phone from being stolen and lost, it is necessary to 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 is lost in the grass, the bright body will be much more noticeable.
You can purchase a special keychain that reacts to loud sounds or one that gives light signals.
Some mobile phones have special so-called anti-theft protections that work in the following way. Initially, an additional number is saved, where SMS is instantly sent with a new number, the SIM card of which is replaced on your cell phone. Then it is worth acting according to the circumstances - either try to call and agree, or contact special services with this.

How to find a turned off Android phone

In the event that your cell phone is based on Android, Google offers a completely free unique service called Android Device Manager. Its essence is as follows. In a special window that appears, you must select your device (which before that must have 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, users in most cases 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. It can only be turned off by removing the battery. There is also a blocking option.

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

What is IMEI?

How to find the phone if it is turned off? First, you need to take all the documents available for it, your documents and, of course, the IMEI of the cell. Each mobile phone has its own unique identification number. As a rule, it consists of 15 digits. Secondly, IMEI is “sewn” into the phone’s memory, and it’s not as easy to change it as it seems. Often it is printed under the battery, but if for some reason it was 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 that are not known to a simple user, and this is not necessary by and large. Only the result matters. Law enforcement agencies have the opportunity, upon your application, to fulfill a request from telecom operators to search for a specific mobile phone. In the event that it is active and in use, the data will be received.

This is the first stage of the search work. In order to know for sure whether the switched off phone can be found, the police need to conduct a series of investigative and operational measures 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 you have a mobile phone at home, then you will also receive a rather big fine.

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

The loss of 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 utility bills 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 probability of finding a lost phone is quite high, so you need to use all available search methods.

Actual ways to find lost phones

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

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

Go around the places where you were before the loss was discovered;
Once again, “scratch” in the pockets of clothes;
Call your number from another phone - it is possible that the lost handset is somewhere nearby;
Use the definition of coordinates (maybe not 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 parted with his mobile phone, so from the moment of loss until the discovery of the loss, a maximum of 20-30 minutes pass (usually less). Remember what you were doing a few minutes ago, where you were, with whom they talked on the phone and where did they put him after the last call.

It is quite possible that you forgot it on the store counter - it is more than real to find a lost phone here. If you just got out of your car, go back - probably the phone is in the car or lying under it (fell out of your pocket). You should also return to your workplace, maybe the "tube" is on the desktop. If the place of your last stay was a bus stop filled with people, then you can, in principle, not return there - 99.9% that the phone will not be 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 lies somewhere in the grass - return to your resting place, call your number from someone else's phone and inspect the area.

Never call your phone away from the place of the alleged loss. First, return to this place and only after that start calling. Otherwise, you will attract the attention of strangers who can take the found phone for themselves. But it is best to block the number by calling the hotline and continue the search without unnecessary calls.

Search by pocket

How to find a cell phone if you lost it and can't 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 alleged loss is a large daily bag with a bunch of things.. It is here that your mobile phone can be lost (relevant for women).

Search by number

How to find a phone by number and is it possible at all? Certainly, it is possible. But only if the phone is stolen from you and you write a statement to the police. If the case is really serious, then the phone is likely to be found. But more often than not, the case is left without progress, as the police are extremely reluctant to look for stolen phones.

As for the lost handsets, no one will look for them at all - whatever one may say, but this is already the problem of the subscriber himself (the police are not a lost and found office). By the way, operatives look for stolen phones by IMEI, not by number. The number can be changed, but the IMEI will remain - then the police will start shaking the one 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 desired phone is issued by cellular operators upon a relevant request from law enforcement agencies. It is not possible to submit such a request on your own.

Satellite search

You can find your lost phone by satellite and by the coordinates of cellular networks. To do this, you must first install a tracking program on your device that will continuously track the coordinates of the device. The search for lost devices is carried out via the Internet, using services owned by software developers. They can also be used to remotely lock the device..

It must be remembered that it is unprofitable to keep the GPS receiver in the mobile phone turned on - the battery runs out quickly. Therefore, most often the search is carried out by the coordinates of cellular networks. For a successful search, your lost phone must be connected to the Internet. If your phone is turned off, then it will be much more difficult to find it.

Modern light 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 high-tech smartphone is a very tasty prey for thieves. Is it worth it to panic if you are left without your favorite device? Of course not! From our article you will learn how to find a lost phone, while spending very little time.

Each user has 5 main ways to find their gadget. Let's take them in order.

Method 1. Through a computer

Owners of smartphones on the Android operating system can use the Android Device Manager service from Google. In this case, the search for the phone 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, in the browser line, type Android Device Manager address. Next, you need to sign in to 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 involves a number of important conditions:

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 fell into the hands of a thief. In this case, the IMEI number will help out. You can read more about what it 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 line with IMEI under the removable battery in the phone

Find the line with IMEI in the warranty card

Look at the box from under the phone

With the IMEI number, commodity or cash person, the user needs to go to the police and write a statement, indicating their 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.

Please note that it may take up to a week to process your application. While the police are working on the documents, the phone can be unscrewed several times for spare parts or handed over 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 will tell you how to find it, which can be downloaded for free from the Google Play store. We've explored three handy apps in detail:

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

The main functions of the program:

Determination of phone coordinates

Call to device

Set special words that can be used to activate the GPS module or camera on the phone

Create a password and a special number that launch 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 program that is dangerous to himself. 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 with email and password.

The program allows:

Find out the IMEI number

Determine battery level

Lock 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 the phone, you will learn that in some security applications, the user has access to a special Anti-theft function. It will help those who are worried that the lost phone ended up in the wrong and extremely unreliable hands. When it is activated, the antivirus program turns on the GPS module, deletes data, and even photographs the criminal on a smartphone camera.

For example, one of the most convenient anti-virus 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 "Find phone" 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. It remains only to rely on the fact that in the morning the user did not turn off the alarm clock on the phone. Therefore, this method will work only in one case - if the phone is somewhere in the apartment. A running system alarm clock application activates a sound signal even when the battery runs out.

Why Fly

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

The Fly Cirrus 7 smartphone was chosen as a test site. During the preparation of 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 1.25 GHz 4-core processor perfectly coped with its tasks, not only supporting the operation of the modules, but also running quite large programs for finding the phone.

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

It is difficult at the present time to do without a smartphone, so everyone is trying to acquire a modern gadget. The latest models of iPhone, 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 an expensive purchase?

Is it possible to track the phone if it is turned off

This situation can arise in two cases: the smartphone was stolen and turned off, or the battery ran out 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? Searching in each case is different, 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 (soulmate, 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 the device is stolen or lost on the street, you must first go along the path of your last trip, search on the ground, but the off state often indicates that the cell has already been found. There are several ways to find the phone if it is turned off:

search through a special program for Android;
contacting the operator with a request to search by SIM card;
write a statement to the police so that they perform a search by the IMEI of the smartphone.

How to find a phone by IMEI

One of the options for finding a turned 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 it if there is no device? You can rewrite the code in advance and store it at home, or find a box from a smartphone. Each package must contain the serial release code and Have the device, it consists of 15 digits. Instructions on how to find a disabled phone:

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

How to find a phone by SIM card

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

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

How to find an Android phone

If you lost your device while it was on, then the Android operating system has a handy tool for finding your cell phone. To do this, you will need a Google account, a computer and Internet access. Find Android will help a special utility - Android Device Manager. It is completely free, installed on any version of the operating system. You need to install the program in advance, link the mobile number and model to the 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 that, it will be possible to perform several actions on your smartphone directly from your computer:

Call. The device will start emitting 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 (it 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 is also able to display the location of your device. This case is more suitable when you have lost your cell phone. When stolen, attackers often take out a card, turn off the Internet, GPS, and the smartphone itself. In this case, this program will be completely useless and the above methods of searching for a turned off mobile should be used.

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 it 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 can carry personal information, logins and passwords. A mobile phone is no longer just a means of communication, but a very multifunctional device.

But in this article we 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 for determining 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 the right place, start to panic from scratch. For example, put the phone in one pocket, and check in another, more familiar one. Has it happened? Not very pleasant thoughts immediately come to mind. So, the first tip, if you think you have lost your smartphone:

Check carefully all the places where you usually put your gadget. It will not be superfluous to make sure that he has not collapsed where. In general, we carefully examine each probable place of his stay.

As verified personally, in most cases the phone is simply not where it usually is. That's all - the case of the loss solved. Another very simple advice is to call the lost phone. So at least make sure it's enabled or not. Finally, remember where you were lately, when you last took out your smartphone. This will at least reduce the search area.

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

From banal advice to search pockets, which you probably guessed yourself, we are moving on to more effective means. As we noted at the beginning, finding a turned off phone is complicated by the fact that most of the tools developed for this purpose simply do not work when the device is not turned off. Interestingly, the alarm does not stop this.

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

The opportunity 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 battery, but turns on on its own in the morning. This feature is implemented in many phones. It is she who can help find the switched off smartphone.

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

Users of the function can simply wait for the set switch-on time.

Cellular operators and the police will help you find your lost phone

Oftentimes, if a smartphone is lost while turned off, all the user can do is search the location. Sadly, there's not much else we can do on our own unless you use the auto-on feature or some GPS tracking fobs. But a police department or a cell phone shop can help solve the problem.

You should immediately pay attention that employees of structures and employees of communication salons are reluctant to do this.

The first, as criminal chronicles show, is not always possible to catch maniacs and murderers, and you will come to them with a statement about the missing, and most importantly, turned 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, it is not particularly worth hoping 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 and stolen phones.

Will mobile operators help to find a lost phone?

Especially, the operators are 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, and 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 perform 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 the mobile phone store will help you find the switched off smartphone. What is needed for this:

IMEI (a unique number assigned to each phone, as a rule, is indicated under the battery of the device, you can find out by typing the command * # 06 #, IMEI is also indicated on the box in which the gadget was delivered);
passport;
the contract that you entered into at the time of purchasing the SIM card.

With this we go to the police station or a cell phone salon. Naturally, we issue an application, 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 mobile phone shops 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 getting a fine. Yet the police have spent time and resources looking for your phone.

Anticipate! What will help you find a switched off smartphone?

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

Yes, yes, the very ones with which the market is littered today. We are interested in two functions in them - the search for a smartphone and a warning about a disconnection. In the first case, we can activate a loud sound notification on the phone from the clock, 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 feature of smartwatches for users who often forget their smartphone in a cafe or at a party will be a disconnection warning. That is, at a distance of about 15-20 meters from the smartphone, the watch and the phone itself will begin to vibrate and make a sound.

Smartwatches with these functions are inexpensive, and, in addition, they are endowed with other useful options, for example, receiving notifications, remote control of a smartphone, and others. With them, you do not have to look for a switched off smartphone - you will be protected from losing your electronic friend.

GPS trackers will help you find

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

You can find a GPS keychain with an interesting shape that will not arouse suspicion if your smartphone is stolen. Agree, not everyone will think that a dangling thing can send information about its location. We've talked about it before, check it out if you're interested.

Protect your data

Like it or not, finding a lost phone outside the home, which is also turned off, is very difficult to find. And sometimes it's not really necessary. Now, who wants to run from office to office at the police station, seeking to submit 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 do not care about the gadget itself, but about what it stores in the depths of memory.

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

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

A lot of modern smartphones have a fingerprint scanner, although many users do not use it. We advise you to use it - it is unlikely that someone will be able to guess the password without your fingerprint.

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

Conclusion

As you can see, there are not so many ways today to find a lost phone that is also turned off. If the device is lost outside the home, then the chance to find 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 secure personal information.