Affiliate Disclaimer Find My Device is a great choice for tracking lost devices. However, if you can’t use it to find a missing device, you need to find a solution fast. We got you, so we compiled a set of Find My Device alternatives.
You can start with your mobile phone brand locator, if there is one, or Google Maps timeline to see the phone’s last location. But if you have not enabled these features, a phone number tracker will save you much time.
1. Mobile Phone’s Brand Locator
Most mobile phone brands rely on Google Find My Device, but there are some that have own locators. The most effective ones are those by Samsung and Xiaomi. These are great when you lose a phone and can’t use the Find My Device phone locator.
SmartThings Find For Samsung
SmartThings Find is the best Google Find My Device alternative for Samsung users. This service is installed on your Samsung and is enabled once you create a Samsung account.
If you lose a Samsung phone, all you need to do is sign in to your Samsung account on the SmartThings Find website. The service will display the phone’s current location.
You can click on the track location feature to see the phone’s live location every 15 minutes.
If your phone is offline or switched off, you will see its last known location. This will give you an idea of where to start your search for the missing device.
SmartThings Find vs Google Find My Device
The Find My Phone features from Samsung and Google are both great at finding missing phones. Both services will track the phone’s live location, lock it remotely, and play sound on the lost device.
However, SmartThings Find can extend the phone’s battery life, while Find My Device cannot. Still, the first one is for Samsung devices only.
Mi Find My Device for Xiaomi
Mi Find My Device is a location-tracking feature by Xiaomi. It functions like Google Find My Device by accessing the phone’s location and sending it to the Xiaomi cloud.
Mi Find My Device works on Redmi, Poco, and Mi phones running Android 11+.
To use it, log in to your Xiaomi account on the Xiaomi cloud:
- remember to log in to the same account as the missing device;
- click Find Device and choose the lost phone;
- you can view the device’s history, put it in lost mode, or use the wipe data function to erase all data from the phone.
Google Find My Device vs Mi Find My Device
Mi Find My Device and Google Find My Device have many similarities. Both services can play sound, put the device in lost mode, and erase data on the missing device. Nonetheless, you can locate a Mi phone when you erase data, while Find My Device will not locate the lost phone once you factory reset it.
Still, Mi Find My Device works only for Redmi devices.
2. Google Maps as Find My Device Alternative
Google Maps has a Timeline feature. It creates a location history of your phone, so you can use it to find the last location when it was turned on. Thus, it’s ideal if your phone does not appear on Google Find My Device, although it doesn’t show live location.
To use Google Maps Timeline to find your phone:
- Open the Google Maps app and sign in to the Google account of the missing device.
- Click Your Timeline on your profile, then tap Today to open the calendar.
- Click on the date of the last known location to see where your phone was online. It’s a good place to start your search for a lost or stolen phone. Furthermore, if you’re using it to track your child, you can find out when their phone was last online.
Google Maps vs Google Find My Device
Google Maps Timeline keeps a log of your routes, which makes it easy to retrace your steps. Thus, you can only see the past, but Google Find My Device can map the phone’s movements in real-time.
If Find My Device is not working, it may not show the missing phone’s current or last known location. That’s why using Google Maps Timeline can show you its past locations, which can help you retrieve it if it’s lost rather than stolen.
3. Use Phone Carrier’s Locator
You can use your phone carrier locator to find a missing device. If you’re on AT&T, check the Secure Family App. For T-Mobile users, the FamilyWhere app is an excellent alternative to Google Find My Device.
Go to your network provider’s website, log in to your account, and see the location tracking options available. If you already have a relevant app, you should be able to track your device.
Phone Carrier Locators vs Google Find My Device
Phone carrier locators use geolocation data from the carrier’s network, unlike Find My Device, which relies on the phone’s location services. Find My Device and phone carrier locators cannot track switched-off phones. However, they can lock a device remotely.
4. Find Someone by Phone Number
If you’re searching for a Find My Device alternative to track your family member’s location, a phone number tracker is your better option.
You don’t need to install or enable any features. Go to an online phone number tracker like Scannero, create an account with a cheap trial, and find any phone by mobile number.
This platform sends a text message to a phone number, and when the person with the device clicks it, Scannero gets the phone’s position on Google Maps.
Besides, Scannero lets you send a prepared message to your lost phone with an option to offer a reward and an alternative phone number to call for someone who finds it.
Scannero vs Google Find My Device
Scannero can track a phone without installing and enabling an app. However, you require the Google Find My Device service to be enabled and working on a phone to track its location.
Scannero requires sending someone multiple messages for live location tracking, while Find My Device updates the real-time location automatically.
But Scannero also has an option to send a message to a lost phone.
5. Use Parental Control for Continuous Tracking
Parental control tools are perfect for continuous tracking without Find My Device. These apps and monitoring platforms give you access to a child’s phone location at all times. In addition, you can get features like geofencing to create a virtual fence around a child’s movements.
After testing various parental control apps, I concluded that uMobix is the best Find My Device alternative.
You need to install it on your child’s Android device to see their mobile activity on the online dashboard. uMobix updates the location every five minutes and keeps a history of visited places for 30 days. Therefore, you can see your child’s current and past movements.
Besides, use the geofence feature to create dangerous and safe zones for your child. uMobix will notify you when your child enters and leaves these zones.
uMobix vs. Find My Device
uMobix and Find My Device can track a phone’s live location. uMobix is centered around phone monitoring, while Find My Device focuses on location tracking. uMobix also tracks the phone’s activities, such as calls, text messages, social media apps, and internet browsing.
Find My Device Alternatives Comparison
So, what alternative to choose?
| Feature \ Tool | Mobile Phone Brand Locator | Google Maps | Phone Carrier’s Locator | Phone Number Tracker | Parental Control App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location Tracking | Updates phone’s location automatically | Past locations | Live location (own and family members) | Someone’s location at a particular moment | Regular updates on kid’s location |
| Lost Mode | Locks phone with PIN, pattern, or passcode | – | Locks phone remotely | – | – |
| Play Sound | Ring the phone at the highest volume | – | – | – | – |
| Erase Data | Factory resets device remotely | – | AT&T Secure Family only | – | – |
| Suspend Service | – | – | Suspends service on lost phone | – | – |
| Geofencing | – | – | Can create landmarks and check-ins | – | Can create virtual fences |
| Phone monitoring | – | – | – | – | Monitor calls, text messages, social media, and internet browsing |
Conclusion
With so many Find My Device alternatives, SmartThings Find is the best option for Samsung users.
On the other hand, Scannero is an excellent choice for most people who want to track someone but Find My Device is not enabled on the target phone.
If you’re searching for ways to track your child without Google Find My Device, opt for a professional parental control app like uMobix.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The best alternative to Find My Device is your mobile phone brand or phone carrier’s locators. For example, SmartThingsFind for Samsung and FamilyWhere app for T-Mobile.
Most features for tracking lost phones work through integrated locators like Find My Device. It doesn’t require your phone number but Google account credentials. With a phone number, you can send a message to the lost phone and ask to return your phone for a reward.
When you don’t have a Google account, it means you can’t use Google find My Device and Google Maps. Then try your mobile brand’s locator, like Find My Mobile for Samsung or Mi Find My Phone. They require an account for their websites.
Monday-Sunday: 5:00am - 8:00pm (PT)
Leave a Comment