How to Find a Lost Android Phone (and Lock or Erase It)

Use Google's Find Hub to locate, ring, lock or erase a lost Android phone from a computer or another phone, plus the settings to check before it happens.

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Published 5 min read
Checked against 2 sources
Illustration: How to Find a Lost Android Phone (and Lock or Erase It)

The short answer

On a computer or another phone, go to android.com/find and sign in with the Google Account on your lost phone. You'll see its location on a map and can play a sound, secure (lock) it with a message, or erase it. Erasing is permanent, so use it only if you don't expect to get the phone back.

Losing your phone is stressful, but if Find Hub (previously called Find My Device) is turned on, you can usually see where it is, make it ring, or lock it within a minute from any browser.

Before you lose it: check these settings

  1. Open Settings › Google › All services › Find Hub (wording varies; on some phones search Settings for Find).
  2. Make sure Find Hub (or Find My Device) is on.
  3. Turn on Location in Settings › Location.
  4. Make sure you know your Google Account password and have a backup sign-in method, since you’ll need it on another device.

Samsung phones also have Samsung’s own Find My Mobile; you can use both.

Find your phone

  1. On a computer or another phone, go to android.com/find, or open the Find Hub app on another Android device.
  2. Sign in with the Google Account used on the lost phone.
  3. Select your phone at the top if you have more than one device.
  4. The map shows its current or last known location.

Play a sound

Tap Play sound. The phone rings at full volume for five minutes, even if it’s set to silent. This is ideal if it’s somewhere in your home.

Secure (lock) the phone

Choose Secure device (or Mark as lost, depending on version). This locks the phone with your PIN, pattern or password and lets you show a message or phone number on the lock screen, so an honest finder can return it.

Erase the phone

Choose Factory reset device (or Erase device) only if you don’t expect to get the phone back. This deletes everything on it, and you won’t be able to locate it afterwards.

If it’s stolen

  • Don’t try to recover it yourself. Contact local police with the location shown.
  • Call your carrier to suspend service and block the phone.
  • Change your Google Account password and review which devices are signed in.
  • Change passwords for banking and email apps that were signed in.

After you get it back

Check your Google Account › Security for unfamiliar activity and make sure your screen lock is on.

A recent backup makes losing a phone much less painful. Here’s how to back up an Android phone. If you think someone got into your accounts, see what to do if your email is hacked.

The bottom line

Make sure Find Hub is on today. If your phone goes missing, go to android.com/find, ring it, lock it with a message, and erase it only as a last resort. Keeping your phone backed up means losing it doesn’t mean losing your data.

Frequently asked questions

What if my phone is turned off?

If the phone is off or offline, you may see its last known location. On supported phones with the feature turned on, Google's network of Android devices can help locate it even when it's offline.

Can I find my phone after erasing it?

No. After you erase a phone, you can no longer locate it with Find Hub. Try to locate and lock it first.

Should I report a stolen phone to my carrier?

Yes. Your carrier can suspend service and block the phone. You may need the IMEI number, which you can find in your Google Account's device list or on the phone's box. For theft, also contact local police.

Why you can trust this guide
  • Based on official sources. The steps here are checked against the 2 official sources listed below, such as the help pages of the companies involved.
  • Checked and dated. Last checked on November 10, 2026. We update guides when software or advice changes.
  • Independent. No company paid for or reviewed this guide. We don't sell products, and ads never influence our advice.
  • Open to corrections. Spotted an error? Tell us and we'll fix it. Read how we research.

Sources

  1. Android Help — Find, lock, or erase a lost Android device
  2. Google Account Help — Secure a hacked or compromised Google Account

This guide is general information. Menus and features can change with software updates, and steps may differ on your device or version. Back up important data before making big changes. Read our disclaimer.

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