How do I find phones? Effective ways to find lost phones. How to find a lost, switched off or lost phone How to find a stolen or lost phone

There are many things without which modern man can be easily dispensed with, but a cell phone is definitely not on this list.

And since a mobile phone has long been an integral part of our life, its unexpected loss (and such a situation can easily happen to anyone) plunges us into a confused state.

Losing your favorite gadget is a nuisance from which no one is immune

The loss of our favorite gadget plunges us into despondency

Indeed, this device serves not only for making calls, but also contains a large amount of confidential information, including a phone book with the numbers of our friends and closest people, notebook with a lot of personal information, our favorite apps and games, reminders and social media accounts with automatic login.

So, what to do if the mobile device is still lost (or stolen), and even if the situation is aggravated by the fact that the gadget is turned off due to, say, a dead battery?

First of all, do not panic, but try, following the recommendations below, to find your irreplaceable loss.

Recommendation 1. We are looking for a phone in the alleged places of loss

Before embarking on the most global search, we will make sure that we ourselves did not leave the device somewhere at work, in a taxi or with friends at home during our last visit.

If you have lost your phone, do not panic, but start searching

Our search would be greatly simplified by such a useful accessory as a keychain attached to a mobile phone and responding to our whistle or clap in the palm of our hand.

Therefore, if we are lucky and our phone is found somewhere in the house under a pile of things, the first thing it is advisable to do is to purchase such a keychain to make your life easier in the future.

Recommendation 2. If the lost Android phone, the Android Device Manager service will help us

Special service from google Android Device Manager will help you find

In the event that we have lost a mobile device based on Android, then we can contact special service from Google called Android Device Manager :

What to do if the search did not give any result, and our lost device is still in the off state? There is another way to search - via IMEI, which is known to be the original 15-digit number stamped on the body of each mobile device, usually under the battery.

Typically, the 15-digit IMEI is located under the battery.

To find out the IMEI-code on the phone, we dial the usb combination * # 06 #

Note: In order to find out our phone number, it is not necessary to remove the case cover, it is enough to dial the usb-combination * # 06 # on the phone and these numbers will appear on the screen of our device.

So, knowing the IMEI of the lost mobile phone, you can file a report of the loss with the law enforcement agency, whose employees will request the location of your device directly to the telecom operator and thus receive complete and reliable information about the location of your device and even the exact address of its new owner.

However, there is one "BUT" - police officers do not always take up the solution of such issues, but only in the case when there is a crime - theft. Otherwise, if it turns out that your phone is in your own home, then penalties cannot be avoided.

Recommendation 4. We are looking for a mobile device via satellite

This type of search is available to mere mortals only in two cases:

Let us consider the second case in more detail, as it is more likely. The above loSToleN program works as follows - when you replace your SIM card on a stolen or lost device with new card, the command of this program is immediately activated, which sends you an SMS message to the specified "spare" number. After that, you not only become aware that someone is using the phone, but also find out the number of its new owner. And then it's at your discretion - either call and figure it out yourself, or contact the police.

Recommendation 5. Alternative method of satellite search

Perhaps the site maps-info.ru will help in finding the device

So, in order to start an independent search for a mobile device via satellite, first of all we will connect to its monitoring on a special website maps-info.ru.

To do this, on this resource we find the section "free monitoring". We go through registration in the system, indicating two numbers mobile phone - your current one, to which you want to receive information and the number of the phone that we intend to look for.

The most important thing during registration and in further actions is to clearly follow the proposed instructions, which, however, are very simple - you just need to enter the missing subscriber's number in a certain field and click the "search" function.

As a rule, all the information found within a few minutes will be displayed on the screen of our monitor.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to remind one truth - in order not to seek anything, it is better not to lose anything. Take care in advance about the safety of your phone and then you will never need all the above tips. Good luck!

For the modern user, a smartphone has become not just an expensive toy, but also a place of work, study, and an opportunity to connect with the whole world. Therefore, for many people, its loss can bring tangible financial and personal problems.

If the gadget is still lost, you can get it back with the help of a few simple tips. You can find a phone in several ways: it is important to understand that the choice of a device search option depends mainly on operating systemon which he works. It can be Android, iOS or Windows Mobile system.

There are many methods that can be used on all systems to find a stolen phone, even if it is not connected to the Internet.

Call or send SMS

Sometimes a simple phone call may be enough. If it was not stolen or disabled, then there is a high probability that it will be found and returned to its owner.

Lost phone

If the call is not answered, then it is necessary to send an SMS with information about the loss and a request to call back to the specified number. Precautions should be taken when meeting whoever found the phone. It could be an intruder. The meeting should be made in a crowded place during daylight hours. It is better not to come alone, but to take another person with you.

Search phone

It often happens that lost device may end up in your bag, car, or home. It is worth carefully checking all possible places and things in the apartment and at work before taking active steps.

Contact your cellular operator

Whether the phone is turned on or not, the operator can track its SIM card using GPS.

If this fails, the operator will block the card so that thieves cannot use it to call or withdraw funds.

Contact law enforcement

If it is known for sure that the smartphone was stolen, then the first thing to do is to file a report with the police. It is necessary to indicate the time and place of the disappearance and the signs of the kidnapper.

To search for a device through the police, it is advisable to have the following:

• device make and model;
• unique identification number;
• passport;
• purchase documents (check, receipt, box);
• photograph of the phone.

The more information the department employees have about the missing gadget, the greater the chance of successfully finding the device.

Stealing a phone from a bag

To advertise

An effective way can be an advertisement in newspapers or on Internet sites with a message about the loss and a phone number. This is especially important if it is turned off.

Using IMEI

IMEI is a unique number of the device, which is located on its battery, under the case or on the box. You can also find it out by dialing the call command * # 06 # in advance. This number must be entered into one of the lost device registries.

The most popular ones are:

• sndeep.info;
• xinit.ru;
• gsmpress.ru/passport;
• MissingPhones.org.

On the site, you can check whether the gadget was previously wanted, submit a missing announcement, and read useful instructions on how to find a missing or stolen phone.

Attention! Fraud is possible. It should be remembered that such sites do not provide services for determining the location of the device by. This can only be done by a mobile operator.

How to find your missing Android

In addition to those described above, the Android system offers its users several ways to quick search missing devices:

Using a Google account

If your device has google account, then you need to go to the site, enter your account login and password and enable remote control. If the device is in the network, the system will determine its location with an accuracy of 200 meters.

Also, the service will help in finding a phone. Google maps, which displays the history of the movement of the smartphone. To do this, the Geolocation function must be enabled on it.

Your phone must always have location tracking enabled

Using the app

There are several applications for finding a device, which are installed in advance, and have several useful functions... Firstly, this is the ability to determine the position of the phone using geolocation, and if this does not work, then block all the data on it.

Popular search engine programs for Android:

• Lost Android - the application looks like a regular notepad, so an attacker would not even guess that it is transmitting data about the location of the gadget.
• Lookout - turns on a signal beacon on the map, allowing you to find a phone with geolocation enabled by address The program has built-in antivirus and detailed check systems.
• Find my device - can sound the location of the gadget, which allows you to find even a hidden device.

Even nowadays, phone theft is common

Using device manager

On every smartphone with android system you can use data administration to protect it. To do this, in the settings you need to find the item "Device Manager", and allow the device to:

• erase user data;
• change the screen lock code;
• block the screen.

How to find a lost Android phone if it's turned off

If the device is turned off or is not online, you need to use your account and enable the Lost Mode function. This will lock the device and prevent attackers from taking advantage of its features.

You can disable this mode by entering a special password in personal account Google.

How to find a missing iOS

Developers iPhone smartphones provided its owners with a wide range of services for finding lost and stolen gadgets:

FindMyPhone named the best app for finding a missing iOS device

Using an iCloud account

To do this, you need to go from another device to iCloud app or to the site, and activate the "Lost Mode" function. This will restrict free access to the gadget and display main screen message about the loss with the user's contact details.

The iCloud function also includes the removal of all user information from the smartphone. This completely locks the device, making it unusable without entering a special password. True, it will no longer be possible to return the deleted data if the device is found.

Using the app

Several useful apps can help you find your lost device:

• Find iPhone - the most popular application has the following functions: data lock, display of a lost message on the main screen, sound signal;
• Tracker Plus - in addition to the above features, allows you to build a route for your smartphone. For this, an Internet connection is not necessary, only the "Geolocation" function is enough;
• Contact if found - the application allows displaying information about the owner on the desktop splash screen.

To search for your missing smartphone, enter google app or iCloud

How to find a missing iOS phone if it's turned off

If the device is turned off, its current location cannot be found. But, using the iCloud service, you can find out the location of the device before shutting down. To do this, you need to enable the "Find my phone" and "Geolocation" functions in the settings in advance. In the future, the application will show the mark of the last activity of the smartphone.

Unfortunately, this feature is only available for iOS 8 and higher. It is not supported on earlier models.

How to find a missing Windows Phone

For Windows devices, there is a search from the Microsoft account. If the smartphone has been authorized in the system, then the "Find phone" function will show its current location.

If the phone was turned off (or discharged), then using account Microsoft can block or delete a user's personal information.

Several useful tips to protect your phone from theft and protect your personal data.

• You need to register in advance with Google and iCloud services - this is the most effective method to find the device.
• Setting a password or pattern key on the phone will prevent a thief from gaining access to personal data.
• The enabled Geolocation function will provide constant tracking of the device on the map.
• The sooner measures are taken to find the phone and block the SIM card, the more likely it is to avoid losing funds from the account and leaking personal information.

It was an ordinary day, nothing foreshadowed trouble. In the evening, friends invited me to a nightclub. All night with friends, we just had fun. Everything was wonderful. Dancing, wine, music, girls. At that time, I had samsung phone Galaxy A3 2016. We sat, had fun and talked. Suddenly, our favorite track started playing. My friends and I went to the dance floor. The phone was left on the table. After the stormy dancing we returned, but the phone was gone. I had a wonderful mood that evening. Alcohol does its job. I don't even remember how I got home. Naturally, I did not remember about the phone at all. The next morning the search began.

Search for a stolen phone.

Good thing I had in stock old phone... I called all my friends. Of course, no one gave a clear answer. Then I went to a nightclub and talked to the security guard. The boy turned out to be polite. The guard remembered me. Together we went up to the nightclub and examined all the corners. The telephone was nowhere to be found. They asked the cleaning lady, and she naturally saw nothing. After much deliberation, I decided to go to the police. In the duty department I wrote a corresponding statement about the loss of the phone. Told the whole story of yesterday evening. The police officers further clearly understand that my phone does not interest them. But, since its price was more than 20,000 rubles, and this already represents material value, they accepted the application. This is the only plus in this case.

Which helped me find my stolen phone.

It's been about a week since I lost my phone. Suddenly, I remembered that the Yandex Disk application was installed on my device. All photos taken with your phone are automatically uploaded to the cloud. I decided to check. Via stationary computer opened a profile on Yandex disk and saw the new added photos.

It was a young girl taking a selfie. There were also photographs of a shop window. This became the main lead in the search for the stolen phone.

The search for the girl and the store began. Our city is small, the store resembled some kind of kiosk, usually such kiosks are in yards or at bus stops. The main clue was the door to the store. Dark brown metal door. The search took a very long time. We could not find the required store in any way. And then one day, I showed these photos to a friend. He said that these are “Sudar” shops, which are located at bus stops. The search continued. Three days later, desired store was found.

We entered the shop as customers. It all fits together. The same door, the same counter as in the photographs. The saleswoman did not look like the girl in the photographs.

A clever way to find the person who stole the phone from his photo.

I went to the VKontakte group - dating our city. I posted photos of the girl, wrote that I really liked her, to be honest, this was far from the case. What you can't do for your phone.

I asked people who knew her to tell about her. What is the name, where does he live and much more. On the same evening, a citizen told me all the ins and outs of this girl. I found out where she lives, where to study, what her name is and other information. It turns out that this kid went to college with her. He asked the boy not to tell her anything. Supposedly, I myself will come by car all so beautiful with flowers and get to know her.

How to pick up your stolen phone.

It's good that I have a friend of a traffic police officer. I described the situation to him, sat down to think about it and decided to act.

We arrived at the indicated address. He was in civilian clothes.

The play has begun.

An acquaintance came to their house, introduced himself as a police officer and presented printed photographs. The girl got scared at once and told everything. It turns out that that evening she was also in this nightclub. And she just took the phone from the table. She told and showed everything. Returned without difficulty. Here's a story.

The whole event required a lot of effort, patience, a couple of liters of gasoline in search of a store and three three rubles of beer for a friend.

In most cases, IMEI search helps.

Read our article on how to track your device and prevent re-theft.

Modern technology, in particular, intermediate and higher price category, are of particular value to pickpockets.

They can steal your device and then resell it on the black market.

A logical question arises: how to track your phone in order to return it? In most cases, IMEI search helps.

This code is a unique 15-digit number that the manufacturer assigns to the device prior to sale.

It is almost impossible to change it, even if you remove the SIM card. To find out the IMEI of your terminal, just dial * # 06 #.

Or you can find it on the box with the device.

But how are things in practice, and will it be possible to find the device using the phone's IMEI? The procedure is feasible, but fraught with a number of difficulties.

Police report

To begin with, it is not possible to find the device on your own, because the operators who store the list of IMEI numbers in the database will not give out the data to third parties without the permission of law enforcement agencies. They just don't have the right.

In this regard, the victim is forced to go to the police, leaving a corresponding statement, attaching to it all accompanying documentation confirming the act of ownership:

1) box;

2) purchase receipt;

3) warranty card.

It should be noted right away that this is a very troublesome business, but if you are an influential official, and the device stores a lot of important corporate and personal data, this will greatly speed up the search.

Check on the official base

According to the legislation of Russia and Ukraine, the law enforcement officer is obliged to go to court, convincing the judges to obtain permission to search for information about the current position of the mobile terminal.

If good is received and required document signed, a representative of the authorities applies to the national operator with a request to provide information about the IMEI code of interest.

Important: the identifier must be "white", i.e. officially included in legislative framework mobile devices... IfIMEI is "gray", i.e. the device was illegally brought from abroad, you can be additionally fined and held criminally liable for using contraband.

Even if the operative received all the data, this does not mean the success of the search.

Based on the information received, investigative measures will be carried out in order to track the current location. In other words, they will try to find the phone via satellite.

In most cases, the device is still located.

Remember that modern smartphones are mini computers with an OS on board.

Smart thieves can programmatically change the unique identifier, after which no one will be able to find the phone.

This method is very complex and cost-effective only when very expensive or rare specimens are stolen, and besides, only a few are taken for a change.

The second point is the same judgment. Your application may not be satisfied, and then next steps will no longer seem possible.

An independent search on the Internet will not lead to anything good either.

Let's start with the fact that only an operator can provide reliable information about IMEI, which under no circumstances will store its database on some dubious third-party resources.

If you are asked to send an SMS-message of any content to obtain data, this is a common scam. In the best case, you will lose money in your account.

Alternative search methods

To protect yourself as much as possible from theft or loss, follow the steps below.

Fill in the business card in the profile of the device, indicating the contact information, including an alternative phone number, email and residential address.

If the device is found by a respectable citizen, he will be able to dock with you, returning the loss.

Install additional software that will automatically send SMS to the specified number if someone has changed the SIM card on the phone.

If you own a product from Apple - and other services. In addition, activate the Find iPhone service.

This will help you calculate the current location of the gadget via the Internet.

Instructions

If an attacker who stole your smartphone needs your data, then the first thing he will try is to completely turn off the device or disconnect all communication: mobile and WiFi. If he only needs your device, then first of all he will do a hard reset ( hard reset) to return the device to factory settings. Therefore, you need to lock your smartphone as soon as possible after detecting a loss and try to track its location. This is done remotely using special tools.

If you have an Android smartphone, then you need to follow the link https://www.google.com/android/devicemanager to the page for remote control of your devices. If the smartphone is currently online, then its location will be displayed on the map, with pretty decent accuracy. If the phone is offline, its location will be determined and shown on the map as soon as it appears online.
In the market Google play there is an application of the same name Remote control Android (or Device Manager). With it, you can search and lock your device from another Android device.
Also, for tracking an Android device, the https://www.google.com/maps/timeline service will be useful, which collects and stores the movement history of your device.

If you have prudently allowed to determine the location of your Android device and set up blocking and deletion of data (button Configure data blocking and deletion), then here it will be possible to lock the phone or erase the data stored in it internal memory (data from the SD card will not be deleted). You can write a message that will appear on the device's screen and leave a backup number to contact you.

If you are an iPhone owner, go to the search page https://icloud.com/find or launch the special Find iPhone application from another i-device. Select your lost device from the list of devices. If it is online, you will see its location on the map.
Next you need to activate Lost Mode... This mode puts a code lock on the device. Also here you should set a message about the reward for the return and leave your contact information to contact you.
You can also delete all data from iPhone here. However, after that it will be impossible to find it through the iPhone search page. But no one can use your smartphone until they activate it with your Apple ID.

If you have lost your Windows device, go to https://account.microsoft.com/devices and log in. Select your stolen / lost smartphone from the list of your devices and click Phone search... If its location is known, it will be displayed on the map. Next, click "Block" and specify the phone number for feedback with you.

Many smartphone manufacturers have their own individual means of finding lost or stolen smartphones. For example, Sony devices have a service My Xperia Theft Protection... Samsung has - Reactivation Lock... Apple devices, in addition to searching for smartphones, have a function Activation Lock... Usually, these capabilities are activated by the user, that is, by you, until the moment of loss, so we will not dwell on them in detail. Search the website of your device manufacturer, it is possible that one of the tools they offer will help you find a smartphone.

After that, it is advisable to contact your mobile operator and leave a request for sIM card lock... Of course, after blocking your device will not be able to access the network via mobile internet GPRS, and its location will be determined by WiFi only. But attackers usually rule out this possibility.
Next we write loss statement to the police and possibly to your cellular operator... This will require your passport, the original packaging of the device, and a cash register / sales receipt.
If you know unique iMEI number your smartphone, you can leave information that it is listed as stolen in the database http://sndeep.info/ru/lostolen. Enter the amount of the return fee. Perhaps someone will find and return it to you.
These are perhaps the basic steps you can take to try to recoup your loss.

Avast Anti-Theft. It will help you find your stolen smartphone even after an attacker has reset to factory settings. Alas, if the program was not installed before the loss, this method is not applicable.