Block Android from a distance. How to block a phone if it is stolen? Step-by-step instructions, methods

If your phone, tablet or laptop is lost or stolen, follow these steps to find it and protect your data.

Even if you can't return your device, our instructions will help protect the information on it.

Step 1: Find your device and protect your data

You can perform some actions remotely, such as calling your device, locking it, or logging out of your account.

Lost your Windows, macOS or Linux computer? Such devices are not shown in the Find My Phone list. Go to step 2.

Other options

• If you've lost your iPhone, learn how to find and protect your device using iCloud.
• Contact your operator mobile communications, to:
  • enable call forwarding to another number;
  • order a new SIM card;
  • block the SIM card so that it is impossible to make calls or send messages from it.

Device is not listed

Make sure you're signed in to the correct Google account on the device you're currently using.

• The lost device must be signed in to a Google Account in a Google app such as Gmail or YouTube.
• Windows, Mac OS, and Linux computers do not appear in the Find My Phone list.

If your device is not listed, change your Google Account password.

Step 2: Change your Google Account password

1. Open the Google Account page. Sign in if necessary.
2. Under Security, select Sign in to your Google account.
3. Click Password. If prompted, sign in again.
4. Enter New Password and press Change password.

Step 3: Change your saved passwords

Your lost device may have fallen into the hands of others, so we recommend changing the passwords saved on your device or Google Account.

1. Go to passwords.google.com.
2. Sign in to your Google account.
3. Find the "Saved Passwords" list.
   • This list includes passwords stored in your account, not on the lost device.
4. To change each password, you must open the application or website.
5. Change your passwords.

Advice. Monitor your accounts to prevent illegal withdrawals.

Follow the statements on bank card. If you find suspicious transactions, report them to your card company.

Locking Android may be required if your smartphone is lost or stolen. This tool allows you to erase all user data from a mobile device, as well as limit its functionality for a while, making further management of the device impossible. You can activate remote control of your phone using both the capabilities built into the operating system and through special programs. Let's look at how to block Android if it is stolen or lost.

Locking a smartphone through the standard Android menu

Starting from version Android 5.0, you can block a mobile device via the Internet using the integrated “Android Remote Control” function. For earlier builds you will need to download from Play Market application of the same name.

Remote phone locking is carried out through the Google service. To successfully complete this procedure, three conditions must be met:

1. The stolen or lost gadget must be connected to the Internet. It does not matter what type of connection is used - mobile or Wi-Fi.
2. The smartphone must be connected to Google account.
3. The corresponding function must be running on the device.

If everything is clear with the first point, then certain difficulties may arise with the rest. Therefore, they should be discussed in more detail.

In order for the owner of a smartphone to have the ability to remotely block it, you first need to pair the device with the Google virtual service. This is done as follows:

After completing the binding, you must log into the application " Google Settings" and open the "Security" tab. Then click on the “Device Administrators” item, check the appropriate boxes and launch remote control by clicking “Activate”.

By setting up the remote control function on your phone, if your device is stolen or lost, you can perform a number of actions with it: change the password, reset the settings to factory settings, or lock it. To do this you need:

This service also provides the opportunity to write a message and set a phone number. Now, if someone finds your gadget, the relevant information will be displayed on its screen, which can be used to find the owner of the mobile device.

Blocking a smartphone using additional software

If your device does not have a built-in remote control function, you can block your Android mobile device using special software. You can easily find it on the Play Market. One such program is Android Lost, which can be downloaded from Google Play absolutely free.

To unlock all possibilities this application you will need Root rights. To get them, use the Framaroot utility:

After obtaining Superuser rights, you will need to activate the remote blocking feature. To do this you need:

Now, if you lose your smartphone, you will need to do the following:

Now a locked device will require a PIN code when turned on.

Hello, dear owners of modern gadgets.)) Today we will digress a little from the topic of website building. I'll tell you how I almost lost my smartphone and how to find my phone through a Google account, as well as how to protect all my data on my mobile phone and how to recover lost records telephone numbers and much more. Read carefully, this article will be useful to everyone who is unlucky, like me.(((

Fortunately, or unfortunately for me, my smartphone served me faithfully for 4 years. Probably it should have been changed a long time ago, well, what luck would it have been, but misfortune helped.

It was a pity not so much for the device itself, but for the data that was on it, and this is the most valuable data for me: access to electronic wallets WM and Qiwi, access to websites and my blog, not to mention a bunch of photos and home videos...(((Here I was of course scared.

But looking ahead, I’ll say that I later found the device in the yard in the March snow, it didn’t even turn off - this made my search easier. But first things first)))

Now I’ll tell you a little about the story...

Smartphones accompany us everywhere. They are at home with us, we take them to work, but sometimes it happens that you put it down, or left it in a place like me that we can’t remember. What then? How to find a phone and is it possible? Fortunately, every mobile platform: Android, iOS or Windows Phone has functions that allow you to track the location of gadgets.

Have you lost your phone? Now you can easily take a bearing on it

A service from Google has become available - to find your smartphone through your account, and which should become an antidote to “sclerosis”.)) Unfortunately, it is not perfect, and, most likely, will not help people who have been robbed by thieves.

How to track equipment with android?

A mechanism for tracking lost Android smartphones or tablets has been developed Google service called Android Device Manager. The Android application is a tool from Google that allows you to track or block your phone from the mobile system.

It is closely linked to your Google account, which, in turn, is the digital identification of the owner of a smartphone or tablet under Android control.

But that's not all: without included software GPS cannot track the device. So you should Android settings go to the location folder and launch GPS.

How to track an Android smartphone using an app

If your smartphone has been stolen, then launch the Android application on another device with this system as quickly as possible. After that, login using account and Google password. The application will display all existing Android devices. Now you just need to select one of them and the manager will show the approximate location.

Note: The application tracks the gadget via GPS only if it is turned on and connected to the network via 3G or Wi-Fi.

How to track an Android smartphone from a browser

In cases where we don't have another Android device, you don't have to worry. The tracking service also works from a web browser.
Just visit the Android management website using the link. You will be prompted to sign in to your Google account.

After you do this, the page will display a map with the location of devices with the Android operating system.
If your smartphone is nearby but you can't see it, use the Call command. The device will start ringing at the highest level and will ring for five minutes.

How to block an Android smartphone

Just because you can't find your lost or stolen phone using geolocation doesn't mean everything is lost. Maybe you just forgot where you left your smartphone and it wasn't stolen.

Using the dispatcher Android devices you can block it from another Android device or from a computer using an Internet browser. Just select a function "Block".

You can also set a new password for your gadget, which will not be limited to a four-digit PIN code. In addition, you can set a message that will be displayed on the screen of a locked device. This could be your second number or the number of a friend whose courtesy you will use.

In this case, if your smartphone is in the hands of an honest person, he can call you from a locked device.

How to erase data from an Android smartphone?

If the device is not connected to the network, the information will be erased the moment it is connected.

When you no longer have any chance or hope that your device will be found, then, first of all, you need to protect your personal data stored on your smartphone. Using Android Device Manager, you can erase all data and restore it to factory settings.
Just click on the menu item "erase" and agree with the consequences of such a step.

Unfortunately, this is a rather harsh measure. By erasing data, you will lose everything: files, applications, documents, photos, music. Although the data that was intended to create an account Google posts will be restored later, other data will disappear forever.

Maps are often used for smartphones external memory(MicroSD), where various data is stored. The function of erasing information from the phone may not work on such a card.

Alternative: Lookout

Today, almost every operating system for mobile devices has additional features protection.

A good example is the Lookout package. In addition to built-in antivirus and phishing detection systems and malicious applications Lookout is able to track a lost or stolen phone. In order to be able to use this option, it is simply necessary to have GPS and the Internet on your device.

If lost, you need to go to the Lookout page and the position of your phone or tablet should appear on the map. In this case, you can set an alarm and send a message to your locked screen.

The Lookout service will send a message by email about the location of the device. All features are free.

If you want to lock or wipe your phone with Lookout, you must have a premium account. Within paid services There is also an option to take a photo of the person who is currently holding your phone. Additionally, Lookout will send an email the moment someone tries to remove the SIM card and turn on airplane mode.

Alternative: Avira Antivirus Security

Avira Antivirus Security is mainly used as an antivirus scanner. However, it does have a phone tracking feature. In order to use it, you must subscribe to the Avira service.

Sometimes in life, troubles happen. One of them may be the case when someone steals someone else’s phone for profit. It happens that, due to the condition of the device, you cannot get a lot of money - the phone may turn out to be old, broken, or inexpensive to begin with. But the former owner of the device is upset, if only because someone takes possession of all the personal files and data. Agree, it’s unpleasant.

In order to prevent such a development of the situation, you just need to block your phone. In this article we will talk about how to block your phone if it is stolen, as well as what actions you should take next.

We distinguish between the concepts of phone and SIM card

At the very beginning, I would like to distinguish between two concepts, and they need to be distinguished: this is the phone itself (physical device) and the SIM card that is installed in it. In order to prevent attackers from seeing your private correspondence, photos and other data, it is enough to have a security key (password) on your smartphone. If you have a device based on operating system Android or iOS, then without resetting all parameters, thieves will not be able to access your files. Therefore, if they perform such a reset, all the information you left on the device will be deleted. Even without complete blocking phone.

The function of this blocking is different: it is to prevent scammers from selling your phone. Read on to learn how this is done.

As for the SIM card, it is blocked so that scammers cannot make calls from your number and vice versa - no one calls your number. The card is also blocked if a copy is made from the operator (as victims of mobile thefts often do). Those who want to deactivate the card ask how to block the number. We'll talk about this in the next chapter.

Card blocking

Making your SIM card stop functioning is very simple. Just call the operator and ask to deactivate your number. To confirm the action, you will need the following information: 3-4 numbers to which calls were made most often, information about the status of the account, as well as information about the last replenishment of the balance. It is not necessary to name every penny - it is important to simply show that you are oriented, at least approximately. This is all the instructions on how to block a phone number. The operator will accept the application and disconnect the card from the network.

In this regard, it is worth noting the following: as a rule, attackers independently remove the card as quickly as possible from the stolen device. We will explain the reason for this a little further. At this stage, you understand how to block a number, it is not difficult at all. This action will not affect the phone, but will make the card itself a useless piece of plastic.

Blocking by IMEI

As for deactivating the device, the procedure is approximately the same. Just like blocking a phone number, you can ask to turn off the device itself. True, this requires more information than just the most popular numbers, balance and replenishment. It is important to know the secret 15-digit code that identifies each mobile phone. It's called IMEI. By communicating this value to the operator, you can render your device unusable.

Some operators provide instructions on how to lock your phone. MTS, for example, reports that this procedure must be done as quickly as possible - before the thief manages to remove the SIM card from the device. If you don’t have time, it will be more difficult to establish where the phone is.

In order for everything to happen as it should, you must promptly, immediately after the theft, again contact the operator and, by dictating the IMEI, ask to block the device. If you have time, the phone will stop functioning even when the SIM card is removed from it in the future.

What is IMEI and how to find it?

However, if you are wondering how to lock your phone if it is stolen, it is important to clarify one thing about this 15-digit code. There are two ways to find it. The first is to dial the combination *06#, which will show the code assigned to your device on the screen. It works on any device model. The second method is the original box in which the mobile device was sold. You can also find IMEI there.

Ideally, the victim of the scam will contact the operator and provide them with the code as soon as possible after the theft. Accordingly, for this she needs to have IMEI at hand. Which of us carries this 15-digit number with us? Many people don't even know about its existence.

Contact the police

Knowing how to lock your phone if it's stolen is only half the battle. In fact, the task of any owner is not only to make what was stolen useless, but also to return the thing. For this you need to contact the nearest police station, where you will receive a statement regarding the incident. Law enforcement officers will have to write down the IMEI number for further searches for the device, and at the same time they will take from you a description of the person you suspect, and perhaps find out some additional information.

The procedure for contacting the police is actually more important than searching for information on how to block lost phone. Therefore, both of these actions must be completed as quickly as possible.

Search for the criminal

The police (or rather, the district department) will accept your statement about the theft, after which they will begin to develop it in the so-called “K” department. This is where information regarding your case will be forwarded. The specialists of this unit receive instructions exclusively from the police, so you should not try to contact them directly.

Law enforcement will contact mobile operators and look for where the device with the number you specified in the application was registered. As soon as the signal from it is “detected”, an operational group will be sent there, which will find out how this or that person got this device.

Remember: the operator can find out the location of the device only after appropriate requests from the police. He has no right to do this on his own initiative. Therefore, you need to demand that your item be returned to you not from him, but from the police.

Programs to protect your device

Finally, if you use a smartphone, in addition to the question of how to lock your phone if it is stolen, you may also be wondering how to manage your device yourself. In this regard, Apple proposed an interesting solution by equipping phones with AppleID.

There are some for Android third party applications, which can take photos from a stolen phone and send it online, send messages to the screen, and so on. For simple phones Of course, such solutions will not work.

Content

A large number of modern portable devices (smartphones, tablets) use Android OS for control. This is a free and convenient software that supports many useful applications. One of them helps you find your phone through your Google account if you have lost your mobile phone or it has been stolen from you.

How to find a phone via Google

If you have already linked your device to your Google account, then you have the opportunity to search through your Google account from your computer. It is important that you log into your account from your gadget in advance. This is done in the settings menu through the “Profiles” item. There is a special section for Google where you simply enter your username/password. This is a very simple and reliable way to track the location of an Android phone via Google. For this, the well-known GPS geolocation system is used.

Google remote access

To perform searches or other actions on your smartphone, you must first gain remote access to it. For this you will need special program– Android Device Manager. The application is available for free download in the official Play Market. This tool will help you link your account to your gadget and add Google devices to it. You can install the utility on any mobile model running Android OS. To find a smartphone, it must have a GPS tracker turned on.

Google remote control

After installation Android applications Device Manager you will be able to remotely manage Google. A smartphone will be linked to your account and the menu will have several items with which you can perform certain actions on the device directly from your computer. You can:

• make the device emit a loud signal for searching if you lost it somewhere in the apartment;
• find your phone using your Google account if the GPS tracker is activated on it;
• block access to data, write a message that will appear when you try to unlock the device;
• completely delete all information from the device using a computer without the possibility of recovery.

Google search for Android phone

When performing the above steps, you can find your smartphone via Google. This can be done using a computer via the Internet in the same control menu from the account. The search function works only when the GPS tracker on the smartphone is turned on. If the device is outside the operator’s coverage area or is turned off, then it is not possible to search for the phone through a Google account from a computer. In order to see where your mobile is located you need:

1. Sign in to your Google account.
2. Go to the “My Devices” section.
3. Click on the desired device.
4. You will be able to see on the map where the system finds the device.
5. If it is clear that the smartphone is somewhere nearby, but you cannot see it, launch the signal function so that the mobile makes a loud sound.

Block your phone via Google account

In some cases, the gadget cannot be detected through a search from a computer. To prevent your number from being used and your personal data from getting to strangers, you should know how to block your phone through your Google account. This action is performed in the same menu where the signal is turned on or the location of the device is determined. You need to go to your Google account and select the blocking option.