Google Pixel 8 phones will now be hard to lose with new Find My Device feature

It is good news for Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro owners! Google has launched an upgraded and more advanced Find My Device network, which can locate certain Android devices even when they are switched off. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are among the devices that can be located through this network, thanks to the specialised Pixel hardware available in these models. This means that if you own either of these devices, you can use the new Find My Device network to locate them even when they are powered down or their battery is dead.

What is new in Find My Device?

Google has started the rollout of the new Find My Device network for over a billion devices, bringing support for end-to-end encryption, offline tracking, rate limiting for location requests, alerts for unknown trackers, and other safety measures. The interface also has minor changes, but the biggest improvements are under the hood. The app will also point towards a lost device when you are in its proximity to help you locate it more easily. You can also share devices with more people, making locating lost items easier to find. Google said the new Find My Device service is now available in the US and Canada, but more markets will be added soon.

How does Pixel 8 series tracking work?

According to the help centre page for the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, the new Find My Device network uses “specialised Pixel hardware” to figure out their location. The best use case is when these devices are powered off. The Find My Device network can locate a Pixel 8 or a Pixel 8 Pro device “for several hours” after it is turned off or shuts down because of low battery. A Google spokesperson told The Verge that offline tracking is possible because the Pixel 8 holds “reserve power” for several hours, which is channelled to the Bluetooth chip. Since the Find My Device network uses Bluetooth to scan nearby devices, it can locate Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro for as long as the Bluetooth chip inside them has enough power.