When it comes to protecting your smartphone from loss or theft, the Google Play Store has plenty of apps, but like Apple’s Find My iPhone, Google has its own Android Device Manager that its users should be aware of.
Tracking down a lost or stolen Android smartphone or tablet can be a daunting task, not to mention trying to secure all the important and often sensitive information that resides on our smartphones these days. Even though April is the highest month of mobile theft, users need to remain protected throughout the year.
In mid-2013, Google released a new service and feature called “Android Device Manager”, but it’s not something that’s been talked about much or even remotely advertised. However, in the event of a lost or stolen phone emergency, you will want the phone to be up-to-date, active, and ready to use so that you can erase or locate the lost device. Below we’ll go through a few simple steps needed to do just that.
Android Device Manager allows users to locate smartphones and tablets or remotely wipe and erase all data and information if necessary. There is also a lock feature if you don’t want to delete all data, but clearing your information can be a safe choice. Then we have an option to make it ring if you can’t find the device, which is pretty neat. Tapping any of the options shown below takes only a second or two to activate, and in a matter of seconds you can make a phone ring or completely erase all of its content.
The lock option allows you to log into Android Device Manager and add a password or pin for added security if you are not a user initially using it. This will protect a lost device from anyone accessing your information while you try to locate it using the find feature. If all else fails, the nuclear “erase all data” option is your next move.
So, if you are worried about your smartphone or tablet being lost or stolen, read the few steps below and make sure all your devices are in the best position to be protected or recorded in the above scenarios.
Instructions
To get started, users simply need to go to: www.google.com/android/devicemanager on your computer. This will instantly start the ADM service which will let you scroll through your device list. This is where you need to give a device a name, find its location or delete all data. Find the device you want to interact with and Android Device Manager will do the rest.
As you can see above, I have a long list of devices in my ADM. Choose what you want, in our case I’m looking for the Google Play Edition Galaxy S4. Once you find and select the device, you will be informed about your options. There are some additional setups that may appear on your device, only allowing location services to track the device. Hit Enable and you will be set. You’re done.
New devices can also be easily activated and made ready for use by going to the Google Play Store and downloading the official version. Android Device Manager app. This app will not only explain how ADM works, it will allow you to set up the device you just set up, but you can also manage and access other devices from this app on a mobile device. So with Android Device Manager, you can use your tablet to monitor, locate, lock or wipe your smartphone.
As you can see above, you can access everything on a device the same way you can access it from a PC. This is one of the many ways a user can easily and quickly find a lost or stolen smartphone.
Find Your Lost Device
Back on PC, a single tap of the pen edit button lets you name a device whatever you want, and the bulls-eye-looking icon is GPS. This will track your device to its exact location and is usually accurate to within a few meters.
Just pressing the GPS finder button will track the lost or stolen device for you and it’s all set. Google warns that you should never try to retrieve a lost device yourself and contact the police. Of course this is a smart move and it would be a good move to bring an officer with you to try and retrieve a stolen smartphone. We’ve heard this a lot from iPhone users, and the same can be done with Android smartphones and tablets.
The screenshot above shows an accuracy of up to 24 meters since I’m in a secure community and Google Maps is never 100% accurate with my location. That said, Google’s Android Device Manager is usually accurate within a few meters of our devices when traveling about.
So, if you lost a smartphone, you just have to open the app you downloaded from above or go to the Android Device Manager page and tap find. That’s all it takes and usually gives you a full place to pick up a device. Also, you can try to play it only if it disappears, but keep in mind that it will play at full volume for 5 minutes uninterrupted. Or until someone hits the power button.
Should You Use This?
Users who want added protection and convenience will be happy to know that this is a free service that is extremely easy to use and that there is no reason not to at least log in and prepare devices. In the event of an incident or a stolen device, you’ll be glad you did.
Alternatively, there are tons of apps on the Play Store that offer something similar, but Google’s Android Device Manager works well, is simple, and best of all, completely free. There isn’t much, so head over to the Android Device Manager page today and try it yourself.
