What is Google Find My Device?

Google recently announced a major update to the Find My Device app. What is Find My Device and why should you use it?

Read on to learn everything you need to know about Google’s latest device tracking app.

What is Google Find My Device?

Find My Device (formerly Find Device) is a tracking app that helps you locate lost Android devices.

Whenever you add a new Android device to your Google account, Find My Device is turned on by default. This means that if you lose your device, you can play a sound to help you find it nearby.

If your device is lost or stolen, you can also see its last known location on a map, even when the device is offline. You can even lock your device from afar to prevent thieves from using it or delete saved data for your own peace of mind.

This makes the Find My Device app essentially the Android equivalent of the Find My Device app available in the Apple ecosystem.

One unique feature for Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro users is that Find My Device works even when the phones are completely turned off, meaning you can still track your Pixel even after the battery dies.

If you have a Google Nest device, Find My Device can use it as a reference to help you locate a lost phone or tablet around your home.

The Find My Device app is also compatible with Bluetooth tracking tags from Chipolo and Pebblebee, with tags from Eufy, Jio, and Motorola coming soon. These tags are also compatible with Unknown Tracker Alerts, designed to notify Android and iOS users if a Bluetooth tracker has been hidden on their person or belongings to track them.

Another useful feature is the ability to share accessories with friends and family. This means that if one of you loses your house keys or TV remote and you have a tracker connected, you can both use Find My Device to locate it without having to text the other and ask where they might have left it.