Find My Device

Find My Device

Developer(s)	Google
Initial release	2 August 2013; 11 years ago (2013-08-02)
Stable release	3.1.148 / 9 September 2024; 13 days ago (2024-09-09)[1]
Operating system	Android, web
Type	Asset tracking
Website	www.google.com/android/find

Find My Device (also known as Find Device) is an asset tracking service provided by Google to remotely trace, locate and wipe devices that are compatible with the Find My Device network. It was initially launched on the 2nd of August 2013.^[2]

Background

The initial service only allowed Android devices to be found. In April 2024 an expanded Find My Device network launched,^[3] enabling the crowdsourcing of data from Android phones & tablets to assist in finding other devices on the network via Bluetooth. This has allowed for offline finding, as well as support for more items on the service, such as tracker tags initially from Chipolo and Pebblebee. These trackers are marked as supporting Google's Find My Device network via a badge on their product marketing. The Find My Device network was announced in Google I/O 2023, to be released in July in the same year, before being delayed awaiting a new industry specification aimed to prevent unwanted tracking.^[4] A draft of this specification was released in December 2023, and has been implemented in iOS 17.5.^[5][6]

The expanded network implements several safety systems.^[7] The DULT specification allowed for unknown tracker alerts on Apple devices for Find My Device network trackers, while alerts for Apple Find My trackers on Android devices was launched in summer 2023. In both cases, users are able to disable, ring or see information about the tracker.^[4][6]

Features

Find My Device locates and traces missing Android-powered smartphones, tablets, headphones/earphones, and Wear OS-powered smartwatches. Users have options to play a sound at maximum volume for 5 minutes, secure the device & force it to sign out of its associated Google Account, or erase the device entirely, including sensitive cards such as keys and IDs in Wallet.^[8]

"Works with Android - Find My Device" badge

Devices

Find My Device locates and traces missing Android-powered smartphones, tablets, and Wear OS-powered smartwatches, as well as headphones/earphones. Users have options to play a sound at maximum volume for 5 minutes, secure the device & force it to sign out of its associated Google Account, or erase the device entirely, including sensitive cards such as keys and IDs in Wallet.^[9]

Google offers a feature to locate the Pixel 8 series for several hours after the battery has run out. The Pixel's "find offline devices" setting must be set to "with network in high-traffic areas only" or "with network in all areas."^[10][11]

Items

With the release of the Find My Device network, third-party Bluetooth items and accessories with support for the Find My Device network accessory program can also be tracked with the app. If something is lost but out of Bluetooth range, the app will display the last known location until another Android device is nearby. Third-party items can be placed into a "lost mode," which prevents others from pairing to the device. Lost items can be identified from within the Find My Device app, allowing a user to see a message or contact information from the owner of the lost item.^[12]

To be Find My Device certified, devices must support Google Fast Pair Service utilizes Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to discover nearby Bluetooth devices without using significant phone battery.^[13][14] Google Fast Pair specification requires a device to have an advertise signal no larger than 100ms when in discoverable mode and should be at most 250ms when in non discoverable mode,^[15] enabling “magical” scenarios based on device proximity.

See also

• Find My

References

1. "Find My Device". Google Play. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
2. "Find your lost phone with Android Device Manager". Official Android Blog. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
3. "5 ways to use the new Find My Device on Android". Google. April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
4. "3 ways unknown tracker alerts on Android help keep you safe". Google. July 27, 2023. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
5. Schoon, Ben (December 21, 2023). "Android's 'Find My Device' network inches forward as industry spec nears release". 9to5Google. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
6. Miller, Chance (April 3, 2024). "iOS 17.5 beta 1: Here's everything new". 9to5Mac. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
7. "How we built the new Find My Device network with user security and privacy in mind". Google Online Security Blog. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
8. "Keep your payment info safe - Google Pay Help". support.google.com. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
9. "Manage items in Google Wallet - Google Wallet Help". support.google.com. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
10. "Be ready to find a lost Android device - Android Help". support.google.com. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
11. "The Pixel 8a can also be located through Find My Device when it's out of battery". Android Authority. May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
12. "Find, secure, or erase a lost Android device - Android Help". support.google.com. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
13. "Find My Device Network Accessory Specification | Fast Pair". Google for Developers. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
14. "Fast Pair". Google for Developers. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
15. "Fast Pair". Google for Developers. Retrieved May 31, 2024.