5 ways to use the new Find My Device on Android
Today, the all-new Find My Device is rolling out to Android devices around the world, starting in the U.S. and Canada. With a new, crowdsourced network of over a billion Android devices, Find My Device can help you find your misplaced Android devices and everyday items quickly and securely. Here are five ways you can try it out.
1. Locate offline devices
Locate your compatible Android phone and tablet by ringing them or viewing their location on a map in the app — even when they’re offline. And thanks to specialized Pixel hardware, Pixel 8 and 8 Pro owners will also be able to find their devices if they’re powered off or the battery is dead.
2. Keep track of everyday items with compatible Bluetooth tags
Starting in May, you’ll be able to locate everyday items like your keys, wallet or luggage with Bluetooth tracker tags from Chipolo and Pebblebee in the Find My Device app. These tags, built specifically for the Find My Device network, will be compatible with unknown tracker alerts across Android and iOS to help protect you from unwanted tracking. Keep an eye out later this year for additional Bluetooth tags from eufy, Jio, Motorola and more.
3. Find nearby items
Sometimes what we’re looking for is right under our noses. If you're close to your lost device but need a little extra help tracking it down, a “Find nearby” button will appear to help you figure out exactly where it’s hiding. You’ll also be able to use this to find everyday items, like your wallet or keys, when Bluetooth tags launch in May.
4. Pinpoint devices at home with Nest
More often than not, we lose everyday items like our keys or phone right at home. So the Find My Device app now shows a lost device’s proximity to your home Nest devices, giving you an easy reference point.
5. Share accessories with friends and family
Share an accessory so everyone can keep an eye on it in the app. For instance, share your house key with your roommate, the TV remote with your friend or luggage with a travel buddy so you can easily divide and conquer if something goes missing.
Find My Device is secure by default and private by design. Multi-layered protections built into the Find My Device network help keep you safe and your personal information private, while keeping you in control of the devices connected to the Find My Device network. This includes end-to-end encryption of location data as well as aggregated device location reporting, a first-of-its-kind safety feature that provides additional protection against unwanted tracking back to a home or private location. Read more about how our multi-layered protections for the Find My Device network work.
The new Find My Device works with devices running Android 9+. Learn more about Find My Device-compatible devices and all the ways the Find My Device network can help you find a lost device or item. And look out for software updates coming to headphones from JBL, Sony and others, which will join the Find My Device network soon.
