Google Find My Device Saves The Day With One Caveat
Google Find My Device has saved the day for me more than a few times. For some reason, I have dropped my phone in the back of Uber and Lyft rides a few times – even in other countries.
The phone drop usually occurs after not traveling for a few weeks. This time, due to the pandemic, it was more than 19 months without traveling outside of my immediate area in Raleigh.
I have an Android. The app can be found here. I will include the Apple instructions later in the article. The Find Apps also work on laptops.
After spending the day at the NWCDC Conference in Vegas – I traveled to a restaurant that was off the strip to meet a client that was also attending the conference.
I dropped the phone into the floorboard, realizing it after 10 minutes. I luckily had my laptop with me. I simultaneously logged into the Uber account from my laptop and my Google account then I activated the Find Device.
My phone came up with the option to ring the phone for five minutes even if it was off. I could remotely lock my phone – which I did or even (Ouch!) delete all the data if I was unable to recover the phone.
The Uber driver returned the phone within two hours. The recovery did cost me $15 which is also what Lyft charges.
Google Find My Phone Features
- See your phone, tablet or watch on a map. If current location isn’t available, you’ll see the last known location.
- Use indoor maps to help you to find your device in airports, malls, or other large buildings
- Navigate to your device with Google Maps by tapping the device location and then the Maps icon
- Play a sound at full volume, even if your device is on silent
- Erase the device or lock it with a custom message and contact number on lock screen
- See network and battery status
- See hardware details
Uber or Lyft Help Lost Phone
Uber has a device recovery in their FAQs. I was able to message the driver telling them that I had left the phone in their car while also ringing the phone so the driver could find it.
Lyft has a page for the same situation here.
IOS Help Page
The same thing can be found here for Apple/IOS devices. The page is from Apple Help. I do not own any Apple products, so I will let you read the page on how to set it up and use it just in case.
Apple and Google Find My Device Caveat – Big One
The one thing that will cause a panic is if you find out that you do not have the apps installed and turned on. Without doing both of those steps, the locator app may not work. Turn on Google Find My Device and the same with your iPhone. You can thank me later.
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