Imagine this scenario: you’ve just lost your android mobile – which has all your credentials and other vital and private information. Best case, you just lost your device, and you find it, but worst cases could be on the range of privacy breaches and much worse.
If this ever happens, fear not, for there are a couple of easy ways how to track an android phone from an iPhone (or even with another Android through some of our steps), given that you take the necessary steps before losing your device.
Tracking an Android phone with an iPhone
- Make a call/send a message to your lost Android phone
- Check the IMEI number of Android remotely
- Tracking through the Android browser
- Using a GPS Tracking App
- Using the Location Sharing Feature
- Using Google Timeline (Maps)
1. Make a call/send a message to your lost Android phone
This step could be obvious, but you could’ve misplaced your Android device more often than theft. In this case, try making a phone call for your device from another phone.
You can also try sending messages on Social Media messenger platforms such as Whatsapp. You can check if your device is online as the text sent through messenger apps indicates in some way that the message has been received.
If your phone is ‘Switch off’ or ‘Not Reachable,’ it should be assumed that your device has been stolen, and necessary steps (listed below) must be taken at once to find or at least secure the device.
2. Check the IMEI number of Android remotely using iPhone
A 15-digit unique number, International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), is often referred to as a phone’s fingerprint and contains vital information such as hardware and software specifications and warranty. IMEI could be used to track or block the information your device carries in case it’s stolen or compromised.
For this reason, it is advisable to note down your IMEI number if your device is still with you. This can be done by just dialing ‘*#06#’ from your device, and this would prompt a pop-up screen that would display your device’s IMEI number.
In case your mobile is already lost, you can still find your device’s IMEI number through several simple steps:
- Use an available android or iPhone device to open a web browser such as Chrome.
- In the search bar, enter google.com/android/find. Now enter the google id, active on the lost device, and log in with your password.
- The main screen with a map, device information, and other options. Here, tap the ‘i’ button near your device name. This triggers a pop-up window that would display your IMEI number and information, such as your device’s last seen status.
3. Tracking through the Android browser
You have set up a Google Find My Device on your target device to track your device’s location from another device, iPhone or Android.
Now that you’ve installed Find My Device on your device, you can open a web browser such as Chrome on the other phone and navigate to google.com/android/find. Sign into your account with your password, tap on the Android’s Location, and then the Directions. This will give you a route leading to the location of your target device.
It is advisable to alert the local authorities if you believe your phone has been stolen instead of engaging in the crime scene.
4. Tracking using a GPS Tracking App
With a GPS tracking app installed on your android/iPhone device before losing it, you can track your device from another android/iPhone device, either by installing the application on the latter device or by logging into your account in the latter’s web browser.
It is advisable to use reliable GPS tracking apps from trusted sources such as the Google Play Store and Apple Store. And when you’re using another device’s web browser to login into your account, turn on the incognito mode to prevent the web browser from remembering your private information.
5. Using the Location Sharing Feature
Google launched its Trusted Contacts way back for people to add a list of their close family and friends list to share their location in case of an emergency and for the latter to keep track of them. This service enabled cross-platform tracking and helped people to keep an eye on their loved ones in concerning times.
This service has been integrated into Google Maps as the Location Sharing feature through which people can check in on your real-time location for however long you opt to.
6. Tracking using the Google Timeline (Maps)
Google Maps Timeline is a service offered by Google that shows an estimate of places and routes you may have taken before based on your Location History. A timeline can be edited, and your Location History can be deleted anytime.
Go to the Google Maps app and tap on Settings to turn on your timeline. Click on the Personal Content and enable the Location Tracking feature in the Location Services option.
You can try logging into your Google account from another device and find your device’s Timeline and deduct where your device was last seen from the data registered in the Timeline. But this method is not recommended and may not provide successful results.
In case of misplacements, if you had clicked pictures on the date you lost your device, your pictures would show up in your timeline, thus giving you a much more comprehensive idea of the last location in which you could’ve used your phone.