Tracking and finding your lost phone or tablet has now become simpler than ever, with all major manufacturers offering their very own solutions. Google Android Device Manager and Apple Find My iPhone have been two popular services, helping their respective users not only track their lost device, but also wipe it clean if need be. Now Google plans to bridge the gap and help you locate or wipe your Device with Google Find Your Phone feature.Google Find Your Phone was unveiled at the Google I/O 2016, which will be a part of the Google app on Android and iOS devices. Google is not only enhancing the experience for current users with real-time tracking updates, but also bringing iPad and iPhone users into the fold. You can locate or wipe your device with Google Find Your Phone by opening the Google app on Android or iOS device, or head over to your Google’s “My Account” settings.Google Find Your PhoneStart off by logging into your Google account by visiting myaccount.google.com and entering your account details. You can also choose to sign into the Google app on your Android (download here) or iOS device (download here), and access your Google account settings.Under Google Account settings, you can find the “Find your phone” tab at the bottom of the page, so click on “Get Started” to begin. You can also simply type “I lost my phone” in Google search bar and press Enter.Google Find Your PhoneSelect the device you want to with Find Your Phone, and it will begin locating your Android or iOS device connected to your Google account. Android and iOS users both can press “Ring” to make the device ring at full volume even if the device was muted. While the locate button allows the user to pinpoint the location of their device on Google Maps.

Locking your phone with Google Find Your Phone

If you are certain that you have lost your phone or someone else has got the hold of it, you can choose to lock it. The lock feature sets a passcode on the screen and enables you to write down a note that is displayed on the screen.You can also enter your contact information which the finder can use to call you. The message on the screen by default is “This phone is lost. Please help give it back”Google Find Your PhoneNote: Although Apple allows you to use the Google Find Your Phone feature to locate, ring and display a private message on your device, it does not give you the permission to lock it. You need to access iCloud and use Find My iPhone service to lock and erase your iPhone if required.

Erasing your Android phone with Google Find Your Phone

If the phone is beyond retrieval and you have abandoned all hope, the least you can do is erase all your important and personal data on your lost or stolen Android. In the “Find Your Phone” settings tab, click on “Consider erasing your device” and read the given information.Once you are sure about your decision, click on “Yes, erase” to wipe off all your data and settings from your departed Android device.Google Find Your PhoneDoes Google’s Find Your Phone feature even come close to Apple’s Find My iPhone service for iOS users? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Source: Tom’s Guide

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What's my model number?

There are several ways to locate your model number:

Option 1
On your device, go to Settings, then "About device" and scroll down to "Model number"
Option 2
Often times you can view the model number inside the device, by removing the battery
Option 3
Using Samsung's model/serial number location tool

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