You must have heard a lot about tracking devices to locate them when they are lost or stolen. But, are you prepared for any circumstance where you have to track your phone to find it? If not, this article will help you understand how mobile phones are tracked via Gmail.
Tracking your phone with Gmail is a service provided by Google in any case where you lost your device. Specifically, it is named ‘Find My Device,’ where you can use your Gmail id to locate the device’s location. The ‘Find My Device’ gives you three options, i.e., Locate Device, Play Sound On Phone, and Secure Device.
If you want to see how you can prepare your device in case of theft or loss, please read this article ahead. This article explains how the feature works, how you can set up the device, and how you can use the feature to find the device.
What Is The ‘Find My Device’ Feature?
The ‘Find my device’ feature is a special feature that Google provided for android users to track or locate their devices in case they lose it. This feature only works for Android and not in any other operating system.
If you also use an android device such as a smartphone or wearable device, this feature is a must, and you should learn how to use it. This ‘find my device’ feature had to be set up on your device and then can be used to track if it gets lost.
In case you want to recover your Gmail account, this article will help you to do it.
There are mainly three actions you can take when using this feature:
Location Tracking
Location tracking is one of the functions that can be done using the ‘Find my device’ feature.
When you lose your phone, go to google and log in to your account. The account should be the same account you used on your phone.
After login, you can now locate your device. Of course, the location of your device is approximate and may not be exact. But it does give you an idea of where your phone may be located.
Play Sound On Phone
Sometimes, it just so happens that you misplace your phone in your home or office. You can also use this ‘find my device’ feature in such situations. You can just play sound by clicking the ‘Ring’ button on the home screen.
This feature is also helpful in case you suspect your device is just stolen at an event or crowdy place.
Secure Device
This is another important function of the ‘Find my device’ feature. You can secure your lost device by erasing the data, logging out of your account remotely, and also locking the device so that it may not be used for some nefarious purposes.
This feature is mainly good for situations where you cannot find your device, and you do not want your data to be misused.
For all these features and functions to be used, first, you have to set up the phone with the necessary settings enabled. You can then change your password to secure your Gmail too.
Securing your Gmail contact is another issue. Read this article to secure your Gmail contacts.
How Are Mobile Phones Tracked Via Gmail?
If your android device is linked with a Gmail account, it is much easier to find your device in case of theft or loss. Google creates this feature to give the device owners control over their devices and also a way to secure their data.
It is a very reliable method of finding your device in case of misplacement in your home or office too. But to access your device when lost, you do need another android device or a PC.
You do need to prepare your device for such a situation by enabling the ‘Find My Device’ feature and setting it up.
So, how do you set up the feature on your device?
How To Setup ‘Find My Device’ Feature?
To set up the ‘Find My Device’ feature, you can first download the app from the play store if you already do not have it installed. Using it is how mobile phones are tracked via Gmail.
First, go to the Play store and search for ‘Find My Device.’ Download the app and proceed to set up your device.
Enable Location If It’s Not Already
You need to enable to location if you haven’t already done it. Enabling the location will help google locate the device with precision.
It is an important step to get your device ready for the tracking when you want to.
Turn on Find My Device Feature
After the device is installed with the ‘Find my device’ app, make sure that the feature is turned on and activated. Once you install the app on your device, you need to log in with the Gmail account, and it will be activated.
Ensure That The Device Is Turned On
And also, when you try to locate or track your device, it should be turned on and not switched off.
The Device Has An Internet Connection
The device should also be connected to the internet. As the tracing has to be done with the internet connection, if your device is not connected, google will not be able to find the device.
Visibility On The Google Play Store
You also need to be visible on Google Play. For this, you have to go to ‘play.google.com/settings’ and check the device under visibility.
After you have checked and set your device up for tracking, use the ‘Find My Device’. You can now use it to test if you can locate the device if it goes missing.
How To Track Your Device Using ‘Find My Device’ Feature?
If you want to take steps to track your device using the find my device feature, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Go To ‘myaccount.google.com’
Open the browser of another device or your PC.
Step 2: Log Into Your Account
Now log into your account if you haven’t already.
Step 3: Click ‘Sign-In & Security’
Next, click in ‘Sign-in & Security’ option.
Step 4: Tap Get Started On ‘Find Your Phone ‘
Now you will see the security settings page. Click on the ‘Get Started’ button below the Find Your Phone option.
Step 5: Select The Device
Next, it will show you all the devices where the google account is logged in. Select your device from the list.
Step 6: Re-Enter The Password
For security reasons, Google will again ask for the password of your account.
Step 7: Click ‘Locate’ On The Right
After you successfully enter the password, you will be presented with all the settings you can control for your device. You can click the ‘Locate’ button on the right.
You can also choose to just ring the phone by clicking the ‘Ring’ button. Similarly, you can also secure your device by locking it or deleting your data from the phone.
How To Lock “Secure Device” Lost Android device by Gmail
The steps mentioned below are the ways to lock “Secure Device” your Lost Android device by Gmail.
Step 1: Open Browser
Open the Web browser on your secondary phone or PC that is connected with the same Gmail.
Step 2: Click On Search Bar
Click on the search bar of the web browser. You will find the search bar in the middle of your screen or at the top, depending on which browser you are using.
Step 3: Type Find My Device
Now, enter Find My Device in the search bar and search for it.
Step 4: Select Your Lost Device
At the top, you will see Map with the device name and model. Tap the Google Map with your device name and device model.
Step 5: Secure Your Device
Then, locate your current location and select SECURED DEVICE from the options on the left. Afterward, follow the on-screen directions on how to lock your lost phone.
After you set up the Secure Data from the Find My Device feature, no one can access your lost device.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Some frequently asked questions about ‘How mobile phones are tracked via Gmail’ are taken from the internet. Please review the questions and answers to understand more about the topic and platform.
Can I Track A Cell Phone With Just A Number?
Yes, various cell phone number tracking apps can be used to trace a number to their geographical location. But the accuracy of the location is not precise and may not always be correct.
Can You Track Someone By Their Email?
Yes, you can use email to track someone. But like the phone tracking, the precise location may not always be correct. Especially when they are using VPN services, you may end up tracking them to places where they are not.
Is There A Free Location Tracker?
Yes, there are various location trackers applications and tools. These tools are used by marketers and hackers alike to find the location of people. But still, these apps are not always correct and may also provide you with outdated locations.
Does Gmail Reveal Your IP Address?
No, Gmail does not reveal your IP address. Whenever you send an email using your Gmail, the receiver can only be able to see the IP address of the google server and not yours.
Can I find my device location by phone number?
It’s also possible to locate you by using the phone number that you have authorized to access other features.
Conclusion
Therefore, Mobile Phones Is Tracked Via Gmail using the Find My Device feature of google. It is a legitimate tool provided by google to their users to locate their device in case it goes missing or lost.
You need to set up the device before using the feature. You can simply download the ‘Find My Device’ app and set it up. After that, you can use another phone or PC to locate the device or secure your data on the device by locking or deleting it.
Please comment below if you have any more information related to the topic. We would love to have input on our content.
