6 Best Ways To Track An Android Phone That Is Turned Off

Cell phones are indispensable equipment that is used by almost everyone on the planet. Losing your phone may be a nightmare, especially if it goes off while you’re looking for it.

It is relatively simple to find a missing cell phone that has been switched off. The built-in and downloadable applications precisely identify an iPhone or Android device and assist in deleting material to prevent thief abuse.

All current smartphones allow you to track their position, which is a function that may be handy. Have you ever misplaced or had your device stolen? Or perhaps you wish to prepare your gadget for such eventuality? Don’t worry, you’ve arrived at the correct location.

To find out how to track your lost phone or when the battery of your phone is dead if you need to know where it is, follow the instructions below.

how to track an android phone that is turned off?

There are several ways to find a missing cell phone that is switched off if you Google it. The most popular Google services include Find My Phone, Timeline, and Google Photo.

Unfortunately, these three ways are only effective if the phone has internet connectivity. Nonetheless, they may be useful in determining the approximate position of a switched-off phone’s last known location.

Ways to track a lost android phone that is turned off:

  1. Google Find My Device
  2. Google Timeline
  3. Using Google Photo
  4. IMEI Number
  5. Using these third-party tools
  6. Google Maps

 Let’s take a look at them one by one.

Solution 1: Google Find My Device

Google’s official and simple-to-use solution for tracking your misplaced Android phone or tablet is Find My Device. The best part is that you don’t need to download an app to keep track of your gadgets. Your Android phone must be linked to your Google account, turned on, and connected to the internet.

how to track an android phone that is turned off

Then, while connected to your Google Account, just go to the Find My Device page. Once the webpage has loaded, it will attempt to locate your misplaced phone automatically.

If you have multiple Android devices registered, double-check that the correct one is selected in the menu. You can also download the find my device app from the Playstore.

Google has updated its search results page to include some of the features. This means you can easily find any registered Android device directly from the search results.

For example, if you search for “where is my phone,” Google will display a little map above the search results that will help you locate your missing Android phone. When you’ve discovered it, click “Ring” to make it ring.

You’ll need the Google account associated with your misplaced Android to locate it. To quickly locate your missing Android device, follow these steps:

  • Go to https://android.com/find to locate your phone.
  • Use your Google account to log in to Find My Device.
  • From the list, choose your missing Android phone.

Solution 2: Google Timeline

Is it possible to follow a phone that has been switched off? Google Maps Location History was originally known as Google Timeline. Google recently changed the name of this service, but it may still reveal the last known position of a switched-off device.

Google Timeline

This method, like Google, Find My Phone, has some restrictions.

Before it was switched off, your phone must have been connected to your Google account with the Location Reporting and Location History functionality set on.

Steps to Track a Phone That is Turned Off with Google Timeline:

  • Make sure that the data is appropriately chosen in Your Timeline.
  • On the left, you’ll see your whole timeline, which includes all of the names of the locations you’ve saved.
  • All of the sites visited are marked on a map on the right-hand side.

The Timeline records location data using cell tower IDs and a Wi-Fi logger. As a result, the precision of the findings will vary, but you will be able to acquire an approximate zone of the device’s last position.

Solution 3: Using Google Photo

The Google Photos app comes pre-installed on Android phones, and if you enable the sync option, your photos will be transferred to your Google account, where they will remain accessible.

If your smartphone is genuinely stolen, you might be able to locate it using Google Photos’ backup and sync function. All photographs captured with your phone will be posted to your Google Photos account if you choose this option in the app. What makes this good news? Not only is the photograph submitted, but also the place where it was taken.

So, if the burglar didn’t log out of your Google Account before trying out your phone’s camera, there may be some fresh photographs in Google Photos. Obviously, this only works if your phone is connected to the internet and if you have given your photographs app permission to utilize your location. 

So, if you find the location of your lost Android phone, be cautious because it might very likely be the thief’s home address. Do not attempt to locate it on your own! Instead, make use of that knowledge and contact your local authorities for more assistance.

Requirements: 

  • Your device must have internet connectivity.
  • In Google Photos, I enabled the ‘Backup & Sync’ option.
  • Someone needs to photograph your missing gadget.
Using Google Photo

Steps to Find a Lost Phone Location with Google Photo:

  • Log in to photos.google.com with the Google Account that your Android smartphone is associated with.
  • Examine your device to see whether any photos were taken after it was stolen.
  • If you answered yes, then click the picture.
  • Now, in the upper right corner, click the info symbol.
  • You can now see the image’s details, including the place where it was taken, in the appearing sidebar.

Solution 4: With IMEI Number

IMEI Number

However, if you don’t have Google services installed or are unable to connect with your Google account on your switched-off phone, you can seek assistance from your network provider or the police.

IMEI(International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers are used by carriers to identify devices that have been registered on their network. The precise position of your phone may be determined using this information to within a meter.

They’ll be able to ban the IMEI in the case of a lost or stolen phone, preventing it from being used on their network.

You should know the phone’s IMEI number and whether or not the SIM card is inserted.

Steps to Track a Lost Phone Location with IMEI:

  • When you initially buy a phone, look for the IMEI number on the back or dial *#06# to retrieve it.
  • Contact your cell phone providers and supply the required information.
  • Wait until they can identify your phone’s signal.

This approach is ineffective since thousands of phones are lost every day, making it hard for a network provider or the authorities to find your phone on time. Furthermore, the Google services mentioned above are useless if your smartphone is both lost and turned off.

The only effective approach to prevent future losses in such instances is to install tracking software beforehand. Please continue reading if you agree with me.

Solution 5: Using these third-party tools

Dropbox 

Dropbox

Requirements: 

  • Your device must have internet connectivity.
  • In your Dropbox app, enable “Camera Upload.”
  • Someone needs to photograph your missing gadget.

If all else fails to locate your stolen smartphone, Dropbox might be a resort. Dropbox must be installed on your phone, and the “Camera Upload” option must be enabled for this to work. Every time the thief on your phone takes a photo, it will be immediately posted to your Dropbox “Camera Uploads” folder. 

You might be able to identify the robber if they snap a beautiful selfie. And, if you’re lucky, the location can be deduced from the backdrop of the uploaded photos.

So far, Dropbox has only been able to assist you in this way. Dropbox, however, does not provide the IP address of mobile devices linked to your Dropbox account until this was only feasible on desktop PCs and laptops.

I hope you’re reading this because you’re curious, not because you’ve misplaced your phone! But, if that’s the case, I hope that this post can assist you in locating it. In any case, before your phone goes, I recommend downloading a reliable tracking program. Cerberus, which is accessible on Google Play, is an app that I suggest.

Cerberus

Cerberus

Cerberus is a well-regarded tracking app with a wide range of remote control capabilities. Basic location tracking, surreptitiously recording audio or video, capturing concealed photos, setting off an alarm, and deleting your data are all included. 

Cerberus may be used as a Swiss army knife or as a tracking app, among other things. Some of the more complex features make this program even better. You may, for example, conceal the Cerberus app in your app drawer, making it more difficult to find and uninstall.

If you have a rooted Android smartphone, you may use a flashable ZIP file to install it on your phone. Cerberus will remain installed on your device even if someone else resets your lost Android phone to factory settings.

Lost Android

Lost Android is similar to Cerberus in that it provides a variety of remote control options, such as tracking your lost phone, erasing its data, and remotely capturing photos.

Don’t be fooled by the Lost Android website’s simple design, which serves as the interface for finding and controlling your smartphone. It accomplishes its job effectively, and even the app’s creator declares on his website that he is an engineer rather than a web developer.

The setup is rather simple. Open the app after downloading it from the Play Store and grant it device administrator rights. Done. If you misplace your phone, go to the Lost Android website, log in with the same Google Account as your phone, and select one of the tracking features.

Prey Anti Theft

Prey Anti Theft

The Prey Anti Theft Software is a simple way to recover a misplaced phone. One download protects up to three devices.

It works with a simple interface that sets off an alarm on the phone that has gone missing. You may even remotely lock the device or take screenshots of what is occurring on it.

The Prey Account is available for free download and includes a wealth of premium features. Each download is accompanied by easy-to-follow instructions. It does not need an IMEI number to function.

Prey Anti Theft

The tracking app integrates and monitors your whole fleet in real-time, while also providing an extra layer of data privacy protection. Furthermore, it is completely free. However, before any issues arise, you must first have it loaded on your device.

Solution 6: Google Maps

This will only work if you have the “Find My Device” app installed on your phone. The app must be linked to your Google Account to view your phone’s location history.

  • Go to your Google Account and sign in.
  • Bring up Google Maps.
  • In the top right corner of the screen, click the “Menu” symbol.
  • From the drop-down menu, choose “Your timeline.”
  • Fill in the date you misplaced your smartphone in the popup that appears.

You will be given access to a list of the device’s most recent locations.

How to Locate My Lost Samsung Mobile Phone with Find My Mobile?

Samsung Mobile Phone with Find My Mobile

Samsung customers get even more assistance in tracking down a lost device. Find My Mobile is a Samsung-exclusive application.

Even if you’ve input the wrong pin too many times, the Find My Mobile lost phone software will help you unlock your phone. When purchasing a device, many individuals overlook the need of obtaining a Samsung ID.

The ‘Find My Mobile’ feature may be used to find your missing Samsung device if there is Internet access, the Samsung account is set up, and this last location’ option is activated.

Requirements:

  • Your device must have internet connectivity.
  • You must first create a Samsung account and register your device with it.
  • Find my phone must be enabled on your Samsung phone (enabling remote controls).

If you have a Samsung phone, you may be able to locate it using Samsung’s tracking tool, ‘Find my Mobile.’  You’ll need a Samsung account and to register your smartphone before you lose it for this to operate. So try to recall whether or not you did it.

The steps to find your phone is: 

  • Go to the Find my mobile webpage and sign in. 
  • Make sure your device is connected to your account on the left sidebar. All you have to do now is go to the sidebar and click on the ‘Locate my device’ option. 
  • You should be able to view its approximate location if your device is online and remote controls are enabled. 
  • You can also use Find My Mobile to lock your cellphone, let it ring with a message, and wipe its data.

It will find your misplaced phone using Google Maps and reveal the last position, just like Find My Device. To get all of your data synchronized, you’ll need your Google account credentials.

Things you should do ASAP if you find your device or end up getting a new one

If you lose your smartphone again, use the two basic techniques outlined below to swiftly locate it.

1. Activate Find My Device and Location History

 Activate Find My Device and Location History

Check that Find My Device and Location History are both turned on. When you lose your smartphone, both tools might be quite useful. You can monitor your smartphone, make it ring, and delete its data using Find My Device.

On a map, location history displays the most recent reported places. If it is stolen, this information might assist you (and local police) in locating the thief’s home address, for example.

Select “Google Settings” from your app drawer to enable both services. Next, go to Security and make sure both “Find My Device” choices are checked. Return to the previous step and pick “Location.”

Next, enable “Google Location History” by clicking on it. You may now use the feature to follow your device and view its last recorded locations using Location History.

2. Set a lock screen pattern or password

Many individuals currently use lock screens to prevent unauthorized access to personal assets such as photographs, documents, and videos. Unlocking a phone dozens of times a day might be bothersome for some individuals, but it’s worth it.

This added layer of security prevents your friends and coworkers from sneaking a peek at your newest photos or communications.

It also stops criminals from making big changes to your phone’s settings, like as turning off mobile data or deleting it from your Google account. To retrieve your Android phone’s current position, you’ll need both a functional internet connection and a linked Google account, as you learned.

Conclusion

Is it possible to follow a phone that has been turned off? We’ve covered the most common methods for tracking turn-off mobile current location online. These are extremely simple methods, such as using Google services or using mobile network providers. However, none of them is 100% successful and requires the target phone to be turned on.

So, the best course of action is to plan ahead of time. Using a tracking app is our recommendation. It can track the exact position of Android or iOS devices in real-time. Although the possibilities of discovering a turned-off smartphone are slim, you can look up the device’s location history and get a rough patch.

FAQs

Can You Track An iPhone If It’s Turned Off?

When a phone is lost or stolen, it is frequently switched off or runs out of battery. You can follow its last known position if you act quickly. The goal is to find out where the last known position is before it’s too late. The last known location of the Apple device will be available for only one day.
It will stop showing the previous location on Find My iPhone after 24 hours. Even if the lost iPhone is turned off, you may use Find My iPhone to activate Lost Mode or delete its data remotely.

Can I Find My Phone Using My IMEI Number?

It’s difficult to find your missing Android phone using its unique IMEI number. In rare situations, the authorities can cooperate with a phone provider to track it down using its IMEI number. But don’t expect a police officer to do that just because you walk into the station. Blocking your phone so that no one can use it to make calls, send messages, or access the internet is a better option. The easiest way to do so is to contact your provider.

Can I Locate My Device If Someone Changed The Sim Card?

You might be able to track down someone who installs his SIM card on your phone. It is a good thing that changing SIMs does not separate it from your Google account. This implies that monitoring apps like Android Device Manager and Android Lost should continue to function. In this circumstance, the only need is that your phone maintains an internet connection.

Can I Track My Lost Phone If Someone Made A Factory Reset?

That’s a simple one: No. Resetting a phone restores it to its factory settings, as the name indicates. The most critical feature you require – access to your Google account – will no longer be available. You won’t be able to find it unless you use a monitoring tool that has root access, such as Cerberus.

Meet the Author

Abdul Rahim has been working in Information Technology for over two decades. Learn how Abdul got his start as a Tech Blogger , and why he decided to start this Software blog. If you want to send Abdul a quick message, then visit his contact page here.