Losing your Samsung phone can be stressful, especially if it contains sensitive personal information or precious memories. Fortunately, Samsung provides several useful features to help locate lost or stolen devices.
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Use SmartThings Find
SmartThings Find allows you to locate, lock, wipe, and track your Samsung device using any web browser.
To use it:
- Go to https://smartthingsfind.samsung.com/
- Sign in with your Samsung account
- You’ll see all your Find-enabled devices listed on the left
- Select your lost device
- The map will display its last known location
- You can ring your device, lock it, display a message, or wipe it remotely
SmartThings Find uses data from both WiFi and cellular networks to estimate your device’s location. It can track devices even when offline, though with less accuracy.
Leverage Find My Mobile
The Find My Mobile service built into Samsung phones provides similar locate and security capabilities.
To use it:
- On another device, go to https://findmymobile.samsung.com/
- Sign in to your Samsung account
- Select your phone from the list of registered devices
- You can now ring, locate, lock, or wipe your phone
Enable Find My Mobile on your Samsung phone ahead of time for best results. You can also allow offline finding to better track lost devices when WiFi and cellular data are unavailable.
Use Google’s Find My Device
If you use a Google account on your Samsung phone, Google’s Find My Device can also help locate lost devices.
To use it:
- Go to https://www.google.com/android/find
- Sign in to your Google account
- Your lost phone will be displayed on the map if possible
- You can make it ring, lock it, or erase data
Google Find My Device relies solely on cellular and WiFi location data. Enabling location services and Google location history ahead of time provides the most accurate tracking.
Contact Your Carrier
If you cannot locate your device through Samsung or Google services, contact your cellular carrier. Provide them identifying details like the phone number or IMEI.
The carrier can then:
- Blacklist the IMEI so the phone can’t connect to cellular networks
- Suspend service to the lost phone number
- Notify you if the SIM card is moved to another device
Carriers can remotely brick lost devices by blacklisting IMEIs. This also prevents the phone from being activated on other carrier networks.
Preparation Is Key
Take proactive measures in case you ever lose your Samsung phone:
- Set up a Samsung account and enable SmartThings Find
- Enable Find My Mobile and offline finding
- Install Google Find My Device
- Record your IMEI number ahead of time
- Back up data regularly
With preparation, you have the best chance of recovering a lost Samsung phone, securing sensitive data, and protecting your privacy. Act quickly when a device goes missing to improve outcomes.
What If Nothing Works?
If you exhaust all options and cannot recover your lost Samsung phone:
- Report it to police and your carrier
- File an insurance claim if covered
- Change passwords on accounts accessed through the phone
- Set up a factory reset protection PIN in case it is ever wiped and reactivated
- Buy a replacement phone and take preventative measures immediately
Losing a phone is frustrating, but being proactive means you can often mitigate the damage. Follow the steps outlined here to maximize your chances of recovering a lost Samsung device.
