You Can Now Track a Supported Smartphone Even When It’s Powered Off
In a blog post, Google has detailed the new Find My Device experience and how it would be beneficial for users. According to the company, the new Find My Device will use a crowdsourced network of over a billion Android devices to help you locate your misplaced smartphones “quickly and securely.”
The Find My Device service has been available on Android for over 10 years, but the revamped version introduces several new useful features. Until now, a lost phone needed to be powered on and connected to the internet to be tracked. With the new network, you can locate a phone using Bluetooth if it’s not connected to a network. And if it is powered off or has run out of battery, the Powered Off Finding feature, which stores beacons in the phone’s Bluetooth controller’s memory, can assist in locating it.
Currently, though, you can only track the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones offline. A software update will not bring this functionality to other smartphones, as it requires special hardware to function, which is there on the said smartphones only. The upcoming smartphones and tablets from Google will expectedly ship with compatible hardware.
Starting today, the feature will be live on devices running Android 9 or later in the US and Canada. More countries will be added gradually, as Google plans to make the network available worldwide.
With the new Find My Device update, Google has also introduced Bluetooth tags support for Android, similar to Apple’s AirTags. You can use these to find your lost keys, wallet, or other belongings you pair with a tag. But Google isn’t launching its own tracker tags – at least not yet. Instead, it has listed the tags from other brands that will specifically be made for Google’s Find My Device Network.
Support for Bluetooth tags will go live in May, starting with the offerings from Chipolo and Pebblebee. Later this year, some other companies like Jio, Motorola, Eufy, etc., will join the list with their products. Moreover, you will also be able to track some other accessories via Find My Device. Only a handful of headphones from Sony and JBL are supported currently.
Other Features of Google’s New Find My Device Update
We often lose things even if they’re nearby. This is where the Find Nearby option will be of help. It will allow you to search for things you lose nearby, like your phone or something else paired with a tracking tag. When searching, you’ll be able to see on your phone’s screen how close or far you get to what you’re looking for.
For Nest users, there’s another feature that would help you determine whether you’ve forgotten your device at home when you’re outside. It would tell so by estimating the distance between your lost device and the Google Nest in your home.
Lastly, if you share your accessories with someone else, they can easily connect them to their phone and track them themselves, or vice versa.
Google Held Back Find My Device Network’s Release Over Privacy Concerns
Google first announced the new Find My Device network back in September last year, but it refrained from launching it over fears of people misusing this technology. For instance, someone can hide a tracking tag in any of your belongings to keep an eye on where you are. It, therefore, partnered with Apple for a solution to address this issue.
The upcoming iOS 17.5 update, which is currently in beta testing, will introduce the necessary security measures like alerting users if the phone detects an unauthorized tracking device nearby. Since the update is just about to go live, Google has finally decided to roll out the new Find My Device network.
