You pat your pocket. Then the other pocket. Then your bag. Your phone isn’t there, and you can’t remember if you left it in the rideshare, on the conference table, or somewhere in the house.
If it’s an Android phone, Google’s built-in tracking tool can help you find it, make it ring, lock it, or erase it from any computer or another device. When this post was first written, that tool was called Android Device Manager. Google later renamed it Find My Device, and in 2025 it became Find Hub. The name has changed a few times, but the job is the same: helping you locate your phone and protect what’s on it.
Here’s how to set it up, how to use it when a phone goes missing, and what businesses should do when a work phone disappears.
Set It Up Before You Need It
Find Hub only works if it was turned on before the phone went missing. On most Android phones it’s on by default, but it’s worth a quick check:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Google, then All services, then Find Hub (on some phones, Find My Device). You can also search Settings for “Find.”
- Make sure the feature is turned on.
- Also make sure Location is turned on, and that you’re signed in to your Google account.
While you’re there, set a strong screen lock, like a PIN, pattern, or fingerprint. A lock screen keeps strangers out of your phone, and Find Hub can’t protect data on a phone anyone can open.
How to Locate a Lost Android Phone
- On a computer or another phone, go to google.com/android/find, or open the Find Hub app on another Android device.
- Sign in with the Google account used on the missing phone.
- Select the phone from the list. Its last known location appears on a map, along with when it was last seen and how much battery it has.
Newer Android phones can also be found when they’re offline or turned off, using nearby Android devices in Google’s network to report their location securely, if that setting is on.
What You Can Do From Find Hub
Once you’ve found your phone on the map, you have a few options:
- Play sound. Your phone rings at full volume for five minutes, even if it’s set to silent. Perfect for when it’s lost in the couch cushions.
- Secure device. Lock the phone with your PIN or password, sign it out of your Google account, and display a message or phone number on the lock screen so an honest person can return it.
- Factory reset device. Permanently erase everything on the phone. Use this only if you don’t expect to get it back, because after you erase it, you can no longer locate it.
Find Hub also helps locate other compatible devices on your account, like earbuds, tablets, and Bluetooth trackers attached to keys or bags.
If Your Phone Was Stolen
If you believe your phone was stolen rather than lost, don’t try to recover it yourself. Use Find Hub to lock it and display a contact message, report the theft to the police, and contact your carrier to suspend service and protect your phone number. Then change the passwords for your most important accounts, starting with email.
Many newer Android phones also include theft protection features that automatically lock the screen if the phone is snatched from your hand or goes offline unexpectedly. Look for Theft protection in your phone’s security settings.
What to Do When a Work Phone Goes Missing
A lost personal phone is a hassle. A lost work phone can be a security incident, especially if it has company email, files, or client information on it.
- Tell your IT team right away, even if you think the phone will turn up. They can block access to company accounts and, if needed, remove company data remotely.
- Don’t wait to change passwords for work accounts if the phone wasn’t locked.
- Use a work profile if your company provides one. It keeps business apps and data separate, so IT can wipe company information without touching personal photos and apps.
For businesses, it’s worth having a plan before a phone goes missing:
- Require a screen lock on every phone that accesses company data
- Turn on multi-factor authentication for email and business apps
- Use mobile device management to secure and remotely wipe company data
- Make sure employees know who to call, day or night, when a device is lost
For more ways to protect your phone, see our guide on 5 ways to secure your mobile device. iPhone users can do the same things with Apple’s Find My app, covered in that guide too.
LG Networks Can Help Protect Your Team’s Phones
Phones go missing. With the right setup, a lost phone is a quick fix instead of a data breach.
LG Networks provides IT support in Dallas and across DFW, including cybersecurity services, multi-factor authentication, 24/7 monitoring, and a 24/7 helpdesk your team can call the moment a device goes missing. We help businesses keep company data secure on every phone, Android or iPhone, company-owned or personal.
If an employee’s phone went missing tonight, would you know what was on it?
Take the first step. We’ve got you covered.
Want help securing your team’s mobile devices? Contact Us Today.
