How to turn on Find My Device to locate offline/dead Android phone

Google has launched the updated Find My Device network for Android phones allowing you to find your lost Android device even if it’s offline or switched off due to low battery. This works similarly to Apple’s Find My feature for iPhones. However, this newly updated network is supported on devices running on Android 9.0 or up. Also Read: High-Risk Alert Issued For Google Chrome Users: Update Your Browser Now

The ability to find a phone with a dead battery via Find My Device is restricted to Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. That is possible due to the specialized Pixel hardware available on the two phones. This works because the latest Pixel phones have reverse power channelled to the Bluetooth chip. Also Read: Gemini Nano Banana AI Image Editor Rolls Out To Google Search And NotebookLM: Here’s What’s New

Since this hardware is available in latest Pixel phones, expect it to be also available in more Pixel phones like the upcoming Pixel 9 series and Fold 2 when they arrive. It remains to be seen if Google will add it to the Pixel 8a budget device, which is most likely launching next month. Also Read: How To Create Unique Rangoli Designs For Diwali Using Gemini Nano Banana AI Tool: Check Prompt

That said, older Pixel phones won’t be able to locate their phones if they are dead due to low battery. However, they can still be located if they are on, but offline without the Internet.

That said, let’s see how you can turn on the new Find My Device feature to locate offline or dead Android phones.

How to turn on Find My Device to locate offline Android phones

Step 1: Open the Settings on your Android phone running on Android 9.0 or later.

Step 2: Tap on Google Settings and check if you are signed in. Chances are that you’d be already signed in.

Step 3: Now, go back to the main page of Settings and look for Location settings. If you don’t find it, just search for it from the search bar above. Open the Location option and turn on the location.

Step 4: You will now have to go back to Google Settings and you should see the Find My Device option. Tap on it.

Step 5: Turn on Find My Device and look for the new ‘Find your offline devices’ tab — a feature that will work with the new crowdsourced network. Tap on it to open it.

Step 6: Once you are in the Find your offline devices tab, you should see four options – Off, Without network, With network in high-traffic areas only, and With network in all areas. Toggle on the last option if you want to turn on offline finding in all areas. This is the quickest method.

(Note – If set Find My Device to Off, you won’t be able to find your offline device. However, you will still be able to locate it when it is back online. You can read about the other options here.)

How to turn on Find My Device to locate dead Pixel 8/Pixel 8 Pro

— The entire process to turn on Find My Device to locate dead Pixel 8/Pixel 8 Pro stays the same. Just make sure to turn on ‘With network in high-traffic areas only’ or ‘With network in all areas’.

—  Also, make sure your Bluetooth and Location are turned on all the time.

That’s how easily you can opt-in for the new Find My Device network on Android phones.