How to find your lost phone. How to find a lost or switched off phone

How to find your lost phone.  How to find a lost or switched off phone
How to find your lost phone. How to find a lost or switched off phone

Unfortunately, cases of theft or loss of smartphones are not uncommon. When such a problem occurs, the question immediately arises of how to find the phone if it is turned off. Because at least you can make a call when the device is turned on. But if it is turned off, then most likely it is theft. So, let's figure out what needs to be done in such situations.

Knowing IMEI

You can find a switched off phone, be it an Android or an iPhone, using its unique code. These numbers are assigned to any device upon release; they are indicated on the case itself, battery, box or packaging.

You can also find out by typing in your phone *#06# , you will receive a service message with the equipment identification number.

This number is suitable for those who are used to being prepared in advance for any situation and, having your smartphone in hand, you enter the required combination of numbers and then write down the IMEI in a notepad.

So, no matter how, but you found out the device identifier, what to do with it?

File a police report about the theft of your gadget. Law enforcement agencies will search for him in their database. However, you should not rely too much on quick results, since there are hundreds of similar lost mobile phones.

However, if you are very lucky, you can still find a switched off phone by IMEI.

Contacting SIM

At this point you will still need a unique device identification number, but the trick is different. All operators mobile communications can find a switched off phone via satellite. GPS sends a signal to your SIM card. As soon as the card recognizes the signal, the nearest towers will notify about it cellular communication.

Based on their location, law enforcement agencies will be able to quickly find the mobile phone.

What is needed for this?

  • Go to your operator's nearest customer service center (or contact customer support by phone).
  • Provide your phone number and IMEI.
  • Enter the contract number for the SIM card.
  • You may also need your passport information.

This way, you can find a switched off smartphone by phone number more quickly.
In addition, knowing this, you can block your SIM card so that an attacker cannot access your personal information.

Useful applications

If you are looking for how to find a switched off phone through a computer, here are some great programs for you.

When the device is turned off, both services will show its last location when it was turned on. These features include functions for ringing and blocking the phone, but they will become relevant if it is turned on.

Looking for an iPhone

iOS devices come with a convenient Find My iPhone feature. Note that it must be activated before it is lost, otherwise it will be of no use. Immediately upon purchase, set up the program so that the right situation take advantage of it.

With its help, you can track the location of the gadget online. If it is turned off, the program will show the last place where it was still in working mode. And he will report the coordinates when he appears online again.

The device will be searched on iCloud.com in the Find iPhone section.

In addition, Apple phones have a Lost Mode. By programming it in advance, you can specify specific text. For example, a request to call a specific number back if the device was found. This text will appear as soon as the smartphone is connected to charging.

How to protect yourself in advance

When purchasing a new device, a modern person must not only install all his favorite utilities on it, but also take care of its security, so that later he does not rack his brains about how to find it. lost phone, if it is turned off/on/discharged.

Be sure to put antivirus program avast! Mobile Security, which can be downloaded via an active link or on Google Play.

After the installation is complete, go to Settings, set PIN Code Protection and Deletion Protection.

Then download the avast app from the play store! Anti-Theft, this feature will protect the data on your phone from the hands of an attacker. For the application to work, you must fill out account in Avast. Go to id.avast.com and find Create account now. Enter your email and password.

  1. Launch avast! Anti-Theft:
  2. Enter your name.
  3. Enter your PIN code
  4. Indicate your friend's phone number to which an SMS will be sent if the SIM card in the device is changed. This feature can help you find a stolen phone. Indicate the number of your husband/wife, mother, close friend or your second contact.
  5. Now in Account Settings, enter your phone number and password.

This way you have linked your Avast account to your Android. Now, if your smartphone is stolen or lost, you can perform the necessary actions with it directly on the avast.com website in your account.

Search for a gadget using the application

If you are so lucky that it was not in vain that you prepared and installed the programs described above, and ended up losing your phone, you will be able to control it via SMS.

Let's say that a person inserted another SIM card into the device instead of yours. You will immediately find out about this through a message that will be sent to the number left as a backup. Now, from this backup phone, send commands to the new number in your mobile.

Commands must be written in this form: pin code “command” (separated by a space). For example, if your pin is 111111, then the commands will look like this:

  • 111111 LOST – reports that the phone was lost;
  • 111111 LOCK – device locking;
  • 111111 UNLOCK – unlocking;
  • 111111 SIREN ON – turn on the siren;
  • 111111 SIREN OFF – turn off the siren;
  • 111111 LOCATE – gadget detection.

A complete list of commands can be found on the website avast.ru/free-mobile-security-b.

Bottom line

Now you know whether you can really find your phone if it is turned off and you can navigate in an emergency situation. Searching through a Google account will be relevant when the device is turned on, so we did not consider this method.

However, before you report it missing, think about whether it is lost somewhere at home: under a pillow, in a blanket, in the bathroom, even look in the refrigerator. There are often cases when your mobile phone's battery runs out and you forget where you left it at home. And you begin to think that it was stolen.

If you are sure that this is the work of a thief, be sure to contact the police.


Today, the loss of a mobile device is quite common and does not surprise anyone. The phone may fall out of your pocket, remain lying on a bench in the park, or, having slipped past the pocket of your bag, get lost in the grass of the lawn.

In the article:

If you are afraid of losing your gadget running the Android operating system or have already encountered such a serious problem, carefully read our article. Mobile assistant Tarif-online.ru will tell you in detail how to find a lost Android phone on the Internet or via a computer using proprietary Google software. We will also touch upon important point with searching for a smartphone or tablet in a situation where it is turned off.

Remote control of a lost phone via the Internet

A wide mobile coverage area allows you to quickly detect a device both in the city and outside it. Even if the user lost his phone in the forest while picking mushrooms, or dropped the gadget on the bank of a river far from the city limits, if there is cellular communication there, it is always possible to calculate the coordinates of the device via the Internet.

It is very important that the device functionally meets the following requirements:

  • device on state;
  • availability of Internet access;
  • active status of the geolocation option.

Let us remind you once again that you can find a phone via the Internet only if the mobile phone is in the operator’s coverage area, since coordinates are determined via GPS using an active cellular communication channel.

It is a mistake to perceive and evaluate the Internet solely from the point of view of entertainment, communication on social networks or downloading media content. First of all, it is a universal communication line connecting the gadget, its owner and operator. Therefore, you should try to choose a tariff with mobile Internet and activate the “Locations by cell towers” ​​function on Android in advance. . This mode uses battery power quite economically and, if necessary, allows you to determine the coordinates of the phone by exchanging signals between GSM module device and receiving devices located on the cell towers closest to it.

The accuracy of determining the location of a mobile device is quite high, especially in the city. Searching by geolocation through a computer allows you to determine not only the street on which the device is located, but also its specific area or house.

To be able to find a smartphone running Android using Google services, you need to enable the option in it in a timely manner remote control. To do this, you need to perform the following steps in the device menu:

  • go to “Settings” and open the “Security” folder;
  • activate the “Device Administrators” section;
  • check the checkbox next to the option “ Remote control Android" and save the changes if necessary.

As a result of these manipulations, the subscriber receives the following options for remote control of his gadget:

  • radical clearing of phone memory with the ability to reset the operating system to factory settings;
  • blocking access to the device for third parties;
  • turning on a sound signal to detect the device.

Even if the geolocation function is turned off, but you approximately know where the phone was lost, activating a continuous signal will greatly simplify the search.

Important! Remote blocking of access to a mobile phone can be removed by another person if he uses a general reset in service menu the gadget at the stage of turning it on or when restarting the operating system. You must clearly understand this, and if you store confidential information on your phone that should not fall into the wrong hands, it is best to immediately completely clear the device’s memory.

If all the conditions for setting up the gadget were initially met, organizing a search for an Android phone will not be difficult. To do this you need:



In order for the user to be sure to find his gadget, he needs to move to the specified point, activate the “Ring” option and, focusing on the sound, determine the location of the device.

Finding a phone using special programs

There are a sufficient number of specialized applications that provide a comprehensive search for a smartphone even without using services mobile Internet. This software is pre-installed on the device and controlled using calls or SMS messages.

To the most popular and effective programs search engines include:

  • “Where’s My Droid” – allows you to track your gadget using SMS with a code word or the functionality of the Commander online service.
  • “WatchDroid” – provides the owner with the coordinates of the device, protects against SIM card replacement and allows you to erase data.
  • "Kaspersky Antivirus & Security" - guarantees virus blocking, dangerous applications, links, sites and contains the Anti-Theft utility for searching for a phone.
  • “Lost Android” – allows you to search for a phone using GPS or the network, remotely locks the device and erases data from the SD card.
  • "Avast Antivirus & Protection" - provides protection against viruses, malware and spyware, helps to find a lost phone through an online location service.
  • “Pray Anti Theft” – has extensive GPS and Wi-Fi triangulation functionality for detecting a mobile phone on a geolocation map. Allows you to remotely control Android and receive photo reports from the device’s camera.

You should not despair in a situation where you did not have time to install any of the above programs on your lost phone. It is possible to remotely install the “Plan B” utility into the device’s memory. To do this, you need to log into your account on the Android Market, select the “Plan B – Track Lost Phone” program and install it on your phone, following the service prompts. The coordinates of the device's location will be sent to the e-mail address specified during registration. In addition, the mobile phone’s geodata will be available on the website of the “Plan B-Backup” utility.

Finding a turned off Android mobile phone

Solving the question of how to find a switched off phone also involves using a computer and the Android Device Manager geolocation service we have already described. In order to be able to track a mobile phone on Google maps, it is necessary that permanent access to the global network is activated on it or the GPS navigation option is turned on.

In a situation where there is no high chance of quickly finding a lost gadget, and the owner is sure that the device is already in a disabled state or has fallen into third hands, you need to use an IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) search. This numeric identifier is unique for each device, integrated into the factory settings, indicated on the case and in the accompanying documentation of the phone. Each user can also find out the IMEI of their device using the command prompt *#06#.


It is necessary to understand that the mechanism for searching for a disabled Android phone involves the owner writing a statement to the police. After filing an application, law enforcement agencies must carry out the necessary investigative and operational activities and submit a request to providers to track the phone by IMEI. Even if a new SIM card is installed in the device, telecommunications companies still have the opportunity to uniquely identify the gadget on the network and determine its location.

In addition, the owner of the phone has the opportunity to enter the wanted IMEI into the LoSToleN unified database of serial numbers and mobile equipment identifiers and try to return the device for a fee.

Finally

The Internet assistant site hopes that this review was useful to you and suggested a convenient algorithm for both setting up your phone in case of loss and organizing a search for an already lost mobile phone.

If you find your gadget in a place unfamiliar to you, where you definitely could not have lost it, you need to avoid rash actions and try to return your smartphone or tablet yourself. Here it is advisable to take the help of the police or friends who can act as witnesses in the event of any incidents with third parties.

Read what to do in 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, when we lose our smartphone, we part with gigabytes. various kinds 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 empty space. For example, you put your phone in one pocket, but 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 the simplest advice– call the lost phone. So, at least make sure whether it is turned on or not. Finally, remember where you were last time when last time took out a 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:

  1. 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);
  2. passport;
  3. 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 within range Smart Watch.

More interesting function smartwatch for users who often forget their smartphone in cafes or guests, there will be a warning about the connection being lost. 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. It's about o various kinds, the location of which can be tracked by satellite, for example, from a computer. Such devices are inexpensive and are presented in various designs, work for a long time on one charge (or battery) and will definitely help you find your lost phone, even if it is turned off.

You can find a GPS key fob interesting shape, which will not 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, the passwords are ours. 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. Very, very useful feature which is neglected by many. IN Android smartphones As a rule, Google services are used for synchronization, combining a lot of data in 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 Android phone, unless it's actually 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. Small keychain or smart watch will save your nerves and wallet. And passwords and synchronization will protect your personal information.


How to find out the IMEI of your phone? Installation of additional software equipment and ways to determine the location of the phone on the Internet.

One of the most unpleasant events which any owner may encounter mobile devices, this is the loss of the phone. Due to personal absent-mindedness or after theft, the first step is to establish the reasons for the loss and possible location.

Very often, phones cannot be fully controlled and tracked, so searching for devices on your own is a rather problematic activity that does not guarantee results.

The owner's inattention to his phone

IMEI is a 15-digit identifier code individual for each device, by which you can determine the status of the phone and its location.

The abbreviation IMEI itself stands for International Mobile Equipment Identifier. The manufacturer indicates the code on the cover and battery of the device, as well as on the box and in the warranty card for it.

Important: To check the IMEI code on your phone yourself, you must enter the code *#06# and press the call button.



quick reaction of the thief

Is it possible to find a switched off phone by IMEI?

To determine the location of a phone by satellite, it must have data transfer or GPS enabled, otherwise the phone will not identify itself when searching on the Internet. The same applies to the operator’s search for a phone; the phone must display itself on the network.

Important: Even if an attacker removes the SIM card, you can track his location using the device’s individual code.

If your phone is stolen, you must immediately contact law enforcement agencies with a statement and provide a passport for the device, as well as a personal IMEI code.



IMEI identifier printed on the box

For law enforcement the operator does not have the authority to open free access to the identifier database, but when filing an application for the loss of a mobile device and, in turn, filling out the corresponding request to the cellular operator, they have the opportunity to use the database.

Important: Independent search is most often an ineffective activity that will waste a lot of effort and time.



ways to determine IMEI code

Video: " How to find a stolen or lost phone?

Program to find a phone by IMEI for free: where to download?

  • On the Internet, the development of programs to search for phones using IMEI code is actively developing. The functions of these programs are based on searching for a given identification code in the cash databases owned by the program company
  • Without easy access to equipment and software mobile operators, searching for a lost phone is a very difficult task that does not guarantee success
  • IMEI-Poisk 2.0 - the program searches the database based on data received from the user. Last used information, location, phone number and IMEI are taken into account


internet fraud

Important: But don’t forget that there are also fraudulent companies operating on the Internet that require you to send an SMS message in order to search for equipment to receive an access code to personal IMEI databases. Even after receiving the code, these databases do not contain any objective information and are unlikely to help in the search.

How to find a phone via IMEI on a computer?

  • To search for phones by IMEI, there are many popular utilities on the Internet that work on similar principles.
  • TrackerPlus is a company that positions its developments as simple and accessible. The use of global GPS and GLONASS systems allows you to achieve more productive results in your search. With this service, in addition to the location of the phone on this moment, you can track its movement by installing the appropriate application
  • SNDeepInfo is a service with which you can find out the status of your phone and information about it. For Apple owners, the information is more extensive, in which you can also find out color, memory capacity, production date and firmware version, as well as unlocking and jailbreak methods


search by IMEI on the TrackerPlus website

Important: It is worth remembering that a thief can change the IMEI of a device using special programs, so searches must be carried out immediately after the loss.

How to find iPhone by IMEI?

Apple brand phones are not only some of the most attractive phones on the market, but also the most attractive to criminals. From other brands mobile phones, they are distinguished by their price and high demand in the device market, so manufacturers Apple We also took care of their safety by adding a geolocation function. If it is not connected in a timely manner, the device will not be tracked.



iPhone theft

To use, you must connect the iCloud utility to your device and enable the “Find My iPhone” option. If you lose your phone, you need to go to icloud.com and enter your access data - password and Apple ID.

On the site, using the Lost mode, you can find out where the phone is and where it is moving, and also block it using a four-digit password. At the testamentary stage, send a letter with a number to which you can call for the purpose of return.

Important: If you need to disable iCloud lock, you must contact Apple technical support.



remote control iphone in lost mode

Video: " How to find out IMEI and Apple serial number?

How to find a stolen Android phone by IMEI?

For its users, Google has provided the ability to track phones using the service “Android Remote Control”. It's built in operating system devices, and allows you to easily detect your phone on a virtual geographical map. To access the service, you must have an Android version higher than 3.2.25; in all other cases, the device will not be identified.

In addition to the geographical location, the site has two buttons with which you can “Lock the device and delete data” and in cases where the phone is lost on the premises, “Call”.



An analogue of Google, with a different range of services and functions, is the Airdroid application. The developers managed to implement the ability to remotely control the device at the software level, but despite these functions, when the SIM card is removed or the Internet is turned off, the attacker will be able to gain control over the phone. Regarding data reset via remote mode, a complete clearing will be performed until the lock is removed. The app can be installed from the Google Play app gallery.



online service Airdroid

How to find a Samsung phone by IMEI?

Samsung brand phones have standard form IMEI checking and location determination by IMEI.

The Find My Lost Phone application will help you find your phone using the geographical display of the device on the map. Its main task is to search for a phone that is currently or recently sending or receiving data from the Internet. When you enter the IMEI code, the location of the phone will be displayed on the map. You can download the application from the Play Store.

Important: When buying a phone on the secondary market, you need to make sure by checking the IMEI that it is not in the database of stolen phones. This will help avoid troubles and the need to return the phone to the copyright holder during the investigation.



attacker's reaction

How to find a stolen phone by IMEI in Ukraine for free?

Operates on the territory of Ukraine State Center Radio frequencies UCRF, which provides regulation in the field of communications and information. The Ukrainian government is striving to simplify the procedure for disabling stolen mobile devices and the status of the phone can be determined on the official website.

The most effective way search in Ukraine considers contacting the police with an official statement about the loss of the phone. According to the previous procedure, the investigator goes to court to obtain permission to check the IMEI using the mobile operator’s database, but even after receiving information from the operator about where the phone is located, it is necessary to carry out operational search activities to determine where and how often the phone is identified. The next action will be to try to find the current owner of the phone.

Important: Cases in which attackers offer to send SMS to a specified number or offer other payment methods are nothing more than fraud.



careless handling of the phone

How to find a stolen phone by IMEI in Kazakhstan for free?

You can conduct a search in the Republic of Kazakhstan by submitting a written application to the local department of internal affairs, submitting copies of documents for the device, including the warranty card.

On the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, you can check the information of interest about the status of the phone using the IMEI code and contact service representatives with questions regarding further issues. Phone searches are carried out for a month, then information regarding the current IMEI status is published on the website.



theft of mobile devices is punishable

At the moment, finding a lost phone is quite a labor-intensive task, and even the presence of an IMEI code and accurate evidence does not guarantee success. The scammer can make the maximum search resistance, modify the phone or quickly sell it, so a quick response can quickly solve the problem.

Video: K How to find a phone by IMEI?