# Is there an app for this? \[Finding lost phone using laptop\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 24, 2024, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-app-for-this-finding-lost-phone-using-laptop/1007673 "2024-09-24T17:24:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-app-for-this-finding-lost-phone-using-laptop/1007673/21 "2024-09-26T03:30:14Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Could you let us know what kind of phone you are using? Samsung Galaxy A12. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-app-for-this-finding-lost-phone-using-laptop/1007673/22 "2024-09-26T03:50:38Z")
On an Android phone, you don’t even need an app: it’s built into the native Google app. All you do on your PC is type “find my device” into google and take the first link: > **[Find My Device](https://accounts.google.com/v3/signin/identifier?opparams=%253Fkdi%253DCAMiCgoGZmluZGVyEAE&dsh=S-1475949784%3A1727322601635415&access_type=online&client_id=289722593072-1tp4g48pf1nr2er5njssr3bdu24v0mi0.apps.googleusercontent.com&ddm=0&kdi=CAMiCgoGZmluZGVyEAE&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fandroid%2Ffind%2F&response_type=code&scope=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.googleapis.com%2Fauth%2Fandroid_device_manager_limited%2Bhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.googleapis.com%2Fauth%2Fclient_channel%2Bhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.googleapis.com%2Fauth%2Fuserinfo.email%2Bhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.googleapis.com%2Fauth%2Fkeychain%2Fweb&service=lso&flowName=GeneralOAuthCookieLessFlow)** > > Find My Device makes it easy to locate, ring, or wipe your device from the web. As long as you’re logged into the same Google account on both your computer and your phone, you’ll see the phone listed. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-app-for-this-finding-lost-phone-using-laptop/1007673/23 "2024-09-26T16:33:11Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > There are “Find My Device” apps for both iOS and Android~search in your corresponding App Store. > > Google even offers a “Find My Device” for Androids. I have absolutely no experience with googles nor am I aware of friends’ experiences with it. At least for Android, location _must_ be on for them to work. My default is location off unless I’m actively using location for something. I have never lost my phone, I have misplaced it & just used another number (including Google Voice) to call it. Phone has always been either in the house or car. > [@Joey\_P](#): > > \*From your phone (when it’s not lost), send a text to your email address. The reply-to address should allow you to send emails to your phone that will act like text messages. Generically it’s [Phone #]@[provider] - AT&T - [text.att.net](http://text.att.net) - Verizon - [vtext.com](http://vtext.com) - TMo - (needs a preceeding 1) - [tmomail.net](http://tmomail.net) to text a verizon phone from your computer it’s 1235551212@vtext . com (intentionally broken link, remove spaces before/after period). It will show up on the phone as a text, not an email; however, it’ll have some header info on it so it’s not like a ‘normal’ text. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-app-for-this-finding-lost-phone-using-laptop/1007673/24 "2024-09-26T16:53:58Z")
My anti-virus has a locate phone. I have a subscription that covers my pc and phone. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-app-for-this-finding-lost-phone-using-laptop/1007673/25 "2024-09-26T17:59:39Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > My anti-virus has a locate phone. Why?? ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-app-for-this-finding-lost-phone-using-laptop/1007673/26 "2024-09-26T18:01:25Z")
I was walking through a parking lot, found a solitary airpod on the ground. I put it on the curb (so it wouldn’t get run over) with the hope the owner had enabled “find my…” since it would report the GPS location of the last time something was seen (by their phone). ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-app-for-this-finding-lost-phone-using-laptop/1007673/27 "2024-09-26T18:17:33Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Why?? Locating the phone is part of anti-theft. I can issue remote commands and lock the phone. Remote Wipe. I think it can take a photo to identify who’s using the phone. I recently switched to Bit Defender. Kaspersky had similar features. I used it for three years. I don’t like Bit Defenders locate alarm. It’s much too loud and harsh. Google’s locate alarm is less jarring. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-app-for-this-finding-lost-phone-using-laptop/1007673/28 "2024-09-26T19:15:15Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I don’t like Bit Defenders locate alarm. It’s much too loud and harsh. Google’s locate alarm is less jarring. If it’s on another floor, outside on the deck, between the sofa cushions (happen to me a couple of weeks ago) I’d want it as loud as possible. As soon as you locate it, you can stop it from alarming, right? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-app-for-this-finding-lost-phone-using-laptop/1007673/29 "2024-09-26T21:46:10Z")
Yes, it can be turned off easily. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-app-for-this-finding-lost-phone-using-laptop/1007673/30 "2024-09-26T23:13:14Z")
Whenever I take my iPad on a trip, and leave it in the trunk while getting out to shop or whatver (or leave it in the hotel room) about a minute or two later my iPhone tells me my iPad has been left behind… It dosen’t do this when the iPad is at home, but anywhere else it warns me. Poor thing must be lonely and feeling neglected. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-app-for-this-finding-lost-phone-using-laptop/1007673/31 "2024-09-26T23:58:12Z")
I’ve heard pranksters that find unattended cameras or phones will take random photos. People return from vacation and get surprised when they’re looking through their memories. _Hey, whose hairy butt is that?_ ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2024, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-app-for-this-finding-lost-phone-using-laptop/1007673/32 "2024-09-27T04:10:20Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > If it’s on another floor, outside on the deck, between the sofa cushions (happen to me a couple of weeks ago) I’d want it as loud as possible. That’s what ultra wideband is for. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2024, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-app-for-this-finding-lost-phone-using-laptop/1007673/33 "2024-09-27T09:40:26Z")
OK, for a Samsung Galaxy phone, there’s the SmartThings system that you can set up to use from the Web (on PC) or from other Samsung devices. It can locate your phone on the planet, wipe its contents if stolen, or simply make it ring if it’s between the couch cushions: > **[How to use SmartThings Find to locate your Galaxy device or erase data remotely](https://www.samsung.com/ca/support/mobile-devices/find-your-samsung-galaxy-devices/)** > > Cannot find your Samsung device? The SmartThings Find feature on your Galaxy device lets you locate and wipe lost or stolen devices. > **[SmartThings Find](https://smartthingsfind.samsung.com/login)** > > Find My Mobile has been integrated with SmartThings Find. Lost something? Find your Galaxy phone, tablet, watch, and other devices with SmartThings Find. Samsung Galaxy Watch smart watches have a Find My Phone feature that seems to be separate from SmartThings, that will at least make the phone ring: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmmkHmzOThQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmmkHmzOThQ) My Garmin watch (a Venu Sq, one of their cheaper models) also offers “ring my phone” for Android phones, including Samsung. I use the feature embarrassingly often with my (Android) Google Pixel 8. It’s loud, but that’s good because I often leave my phone in the basement. As far as I know, an Apple Watch will only find Apple devices, and you pretty much need an iPhone to use an Apple Watch anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2024, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-app-for-this-finding-lost-phone-using-laptop/1007673/34 "2024-09-27T10:20:24Z")
I’m reminded of the time I thought I left my smartphone at the sports bar. I got home, threw my clothes into the hamper, and that was that. But … where was my phone? A call to the sports bar from my home/office phone didn’t help. Nope, they hadn’t seen it. So where was it? Just for S&G, I called my cellphone from my home/office line. The hamper started ringing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-app-for-this-finding-lost-phone-using-laptop/1007673.md?page=1)