If you are a victim of a stolen or lost Android phone- Worry No More. There are quite a number of steps that you can take to get your smartphone back. From simple security methods to third party apps that are already built in your Smartphone. We are going to look at some of the most successful methods that can be used to find a lost or stolen Android device.Before we get into ways of how you can find your handset, let’s talk a little about how you can keep your phone data safe when your device is found by a stranger.

Be Prepared

First, you will need to set up a security code for you handset’s lock screen. This is the easiest method you can take to keep your data safe.On most handsets, you can access the security settings by going to ‘Settings’ and tap on the ‘Security’ then to ‘Screen lock’ then choose a security method you would like to use. You can choose a Password, PIN or Pattern on most handsets. Some will even allow you gain access by facial recognition.

Android Device Manager

All Android handsets that come with Google Play Services allow you to locate, ring, erase and lock your smartphone with a few taps.  Many handsets have the feature enabled out of the box, but you will want to double check to make sure you are secure.For the starters, you will need to download Android Device Manager application from Google Play Store. Once you have installed, make sure the Device Manager is set as a device administrator. To do that, go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Security’ then to ‘Device administrators’, hit the checkbox to grant the Device Manager access to your handset.If you have lost your smartphone and have the Android Device Manager enabled to your handset, it is easy to keep the data safe. In case you’ve access to a computer, visit google.com/android/devicemanager. Sign in into the Google account associated with your handset. You can now track where your Android device is located. This definitely comes in handy.If you’ve lost your handset in your house, tracking by location will not help. However, there is another awesome feature built into Android Device Manager that will help you find it. From the ADM page on your computer, press the Ring button, and your handset should start to blare, even if it’s in silent mode.In case you’ve a feeling that you will be able to retrieve your handset, remotely lock your handset with the Android Device Manager.  From the website, click ‘Lock button’, choose a new password and any message you would like to display on your handset’s lock screen.In case you find it impossible to find your handset and you are nervous about your personal info getting into wrong hands, perform a factory reset data on your handset to erase the information. This should be the last effort to make.

Try a Third Party Application

In case you do not think using ADM worth your while, there are some third party applications you may want to have a look at.Look out can only track your handset by location for the starters. However, you will also be sent an email of a photo taken by the front facing camera if some fails to enter your passcode 5 times. If you need to get more robust features you will be required to pay a premium fee.

View Comments

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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