So you’ve lost your phone. We’ve all been there. It was just in your pocket a minute ago — and now it’s gone, lost to the phone fairies, forgotten between the seats of your couch, or misplaced somewhere during your busy day. Maybe it’s just in your other coat, or maybe it’s already in the hands of someone who found it on the sidewalk. Either way, all you want to do is get it back.
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to get a hold of your missing phone.
If it’s a smartphone (or even a tablet), chances are good it already has the software needed to hunt it down — or there’s an app you can remotely install to find your phone. Here’s our guide on how to find your phone or similar device, including the old-fashioned way if you still own one of those flip phones:
Smartphones
If your lost phone happens to be a smartphone, all three of the major smartphone platform providers (Apple, Google, andMicrosoft) now include phone retrieval technology in your smartphone, in case you ever end up losing it, but forget to install a “find my phone” app. Usually, the way these apps work is through the account associated with your device. For Android devices this is your Google account, for iPhones this is your iCloud account, and for Windows Phones this is your Microsoft account. All three allow you to remotely lock and wipe your phone, ring the phone, and set up special messages to alert whoever finds it.
Of course, these features are only as good as your phone’s battery. If the smartphone dies, it’s about as easy to find as your wallet or anything else you might misplace.
We also recommend caution when communicating with anyone who has found your smartphone. Be careful to avoid giving away any personal information, such as your home address, until you know you’re dealing with someone you can trust. Stick with sending phone numbers or email addresses to communicate how the finder can return your phone.
How to find your not-so-smart phone
1. Call your mobile phone. Listen for the ring or vibrate and try to locate the phone through plain old human detection. If your phone is truly lost and in someone else’s hands then they are likely to answer if they intend to return the phone. If you don’t have access to a phone, try using wheresmycellphone.com or freecall.com. Both sites will call your phone for free and allow you to leave a message or talk to whomever is on the other side.
2. Retrace your steps. Do a full-fledged visual search. If you couldn’t hear a ring or vibration when you called it, don’t immediately assume that you’re phone is somewhere far away – the battery could be dead.
3. Text your phone. If you believe someone has stolen or possibly found your phone then send a text message to your phone with your contact info and a reward offer if you choose to do so. You can use many online services to send free text messages, such as txt2day.com.
4. Alert your service provider. If you’ve lost hope of finding it, then call your wireless carrier and let them know your phone is lost. Ask if they offer a GPS locating service. If not, ask them to suspend service to your phone to avoid any possible fraudulent charges. Carriers have differing policies about this, but it’s always worth a try.
5. Register your lost phone. If you have your phone’s serial number written down somewhere, register it with MissingPhones.org.
6. Prepare for the next time you lose your phone. Maybe you’re one of those people who is always losing your phone. You may want to register for a GPS tracking service such as AccuTracking. We also recommend Belon.gs, which is a free QR code based lost and found service.
Source: Yahoo News