A very tech-savvy family member recently misplaced their phone. She checked pockets, countertops, bags, chairs, bedrooms and even the car. After about 90 minutes of searching, she called The Docs. She was using the “find my phone” app on her iPad, which kept telling her it was located at the house. She had not used the “play sound” feature, because the phone was on silent. I told her that feature overrides the silent settings, and within a few minutes, she found it. Outside. Under a plant. Next to the bird feeder! That’s what inspired today’s column.
Both iPhones and Android phones include free tools that can show a phone’s location and make it ring or send an alarm, even when its normal ringer is turned off. The important thing is knowing how to use them before you need them.
For an Apple iPhone: Apple calls its service “Find My.” There are two easy ways to use it: through the Find My app on another Apple device or through a web browser.
First, make sure Find My is turned on. Do this now, while you still have your iPhone
Open Settings.
Tap your name at the top.
Tap Find My.
Tap Find My iPhone.
Turn on Find My iPhone.
Also turn on Find My network and Send Last Location.
The Find My network may help locate a supported iPhone even when it is offline or has recently been turned off. Send Last Location tells Apple where the phone was when its battery became critically low.
Apple method 1: Use another Apple device. You can use an iPad, Mac or another iPhone that is connected to your Apple Account.
Open the Find My app.
Tap or click Devices.
Select the missing iPhone.
Look at its location on the map.
Tap Play Sound.
The iPhone will begin making a sound. The volume gradually increases and normally continues for about two minutes. The sound can play even when the phone is in Silent mode or its volume is muted.
Members of an Apple Family Sharing group may also be able to see and ring one another’s devices.
Apple method 2: Use any computer or web browser. This is often the simplest method when the missing iPhone is your only Apple device.
On any computer, tablet or phone, open a web browser.
Go to iCloud.com/find.
Sign in with the Apple Account used on the missing iPhone.
Select the iPhone from the list of devices.
Select Play Sound.
Apple does not require a verification code to use this particular Find Devices page. If the website asks for a code being sent to your missing phone, look for and select Find Devices instead.
For Most Android phones: Google’s locating service is now called Find Hub. It was previously known as Find My Device.
First, make sure Find Hub is turned on. The exact wording may vary slightly among Android phones.
Open Settings.
Tap Location.
Make sure Use Location is turned on.
Return to Settings.
Tap Security.
Tap Find Hub.
Make sure Allow Device to be Located is turned on.
You can also open Settings, tap Google, tap All services and then select Find Hub to check the offline-finding options. Google recommends having a PIN, pattern or password on the phone so its encrypted offline-finding network can work properly.
Make an Android phone ring
On another phone, tablet or computer, open a browser.
Go to android.com/find.
Sign in with the same Google Account used on the missing phone.
Select the missing phone from the list.
Select Play sound.
The phone will ring at full volume for up to five minutes, even when it is set to silent or vibrate. Once you find it, unlock the phone or select the stop option on the Find Hub screen.
You can also use the Find Hub app on another Android device. When helping someone else, select Sign in as guest and allow the phone’s owner to enter their own Google Account information.
For a Samsung Galaxy Phone
Samsung Galaxy owners can use Google Find Hub, but Samsung also provides its own locating services called Samsung Find and SmartThings Find.
First, check Samsung’s lost-phone settings.
Open Settings.
Tap Security and privacy.
Tap Lost device protection.
Turn on Allow this phone to be found.
Turn on Send last location.
Turn on Offline finding.
The phone must also have a Samsung account added to it. Samsung says its remote controls are normally enabled automatically when a Samsung account is added.
Make a Samsung phone ring
On another phone, tablet or computer, open a browser.
Go to either samsungfind.samsung.com or smartthingsfind.samsung.com.
Sign in with the Samsung account used on the missing phone.
Select the missing phone from the device list.
Select Ring.
Select Start.
The Samsung phone will ring for approximately one minute, even when it is set to Mute or Vibrate. After finding it, swipe Dismiss on the phone or select Stop on the website.
A Galaxy Watch can also help. Open Samsung Find on the watch, select the phone and tap the phone-shaped Ring icon.
When the phone Is not nearby
If the map shows that the phone is somewhere else, do not erase it immediately. Erasing a phone can prevent you from continuing to track it. Instead, use the protection option provided by your service:
On an iPhone, select Lost Mode.
In Google Find Hub, select Mark as lost.
In Samsung Find, select Lock.
These options can lock the phone and display a message or alternate telephone number for anyone who finds it. Apple’s Lost Mode also suspends Apple Pay cards and passes on supported devices.
If the map shows an unfamiliar location and you believe the phone was stolen, do not confront anyone yourself. Contact the police and your cellular carrier. Samsung specifically advises owners not to travel directly to the displayed location of a suspected stolen device.
Try it before you need it
Take five minutes today and test the feature on your own phone. Make sure you know your Apple, Google or Samsung account password. Confirm that your phone appears on the appropriate locating website, and press the sound button once to see how it works.
That small test could save you from spending the next 90 minutes searching under couch cushions for a phone that can tell you exactly where it is.
If you’d like a handy checklist summation of this “how to”, just email doc@thedigitaldocs.com and we’ll email it right out! Until next time, stay safe, and try not to lose your phone!
Stephen Bach is the owner and chief of surgery at The Digital Docs in Marblehead.
