How to Locate a Lost Cell Phone That Is Turned Off [Tested Methods]

When you lose your phone, you have about 12 hours on your cell phone’s battery life before it dies. With time not on your side, it’s best first to seek the help of the police. Then go ahead and use the methods that our tech team has tried and tested when trying to locate a lost phone that is turned off.

Can You Track A Phone That Is Turned Off?

You can track only the last known location of a lost phone that is turned off. Still, there are tools that help you find lost devices.

You’re not alone whether you’ve ever had your smartphone lost or stolen. About 160,000 cell phones are lost or stolen every day in the US. There’s only a 7% chance of recovering a lost phone. For this reason, cell phone brands and IT companies are now devising methods for locating lost cell phones even when turned off.

That’s why it’s now possible to track someone’s phone that is turned off. iOS and Android devices work with Assisted-GPS (A-GPS) with the help of a data connection. A-GPS picks information from local cell towers. This function then enhances the location of a cell phone connected to a cellular network. As such, it can accurately locate mobile devices by people with permission to access it.

Cell phones can use nearby cell towers and public Wi-Fi without a data connection to estimate a device’s location. In addition, iPhone can use the Bluetooth feature to send location info to Apple when the device is turned off. Moreover, cell phone manufacturers equip cell phones with security measures. For example, Google Find my device app, iPhone Find My, and Samsung Find My Phone, among others.

These services allow users to locate their cell phones even when turned off. Let’s go further and see how to locate a lost cell phone that is turned off using various methods.

Track Phone by IMEI Number or Serial Number

The IMEI number is a unique 15-digit serial code allocated to every GSM phone. If your phone gets lost, you can’t access the IMEI number. So, the best time to access it is now while you still have it.

The easiest way to know your phone’s IMEI number is by dialing *#06#. This number will display the IMEI number, which you can copy for future use.

Also, go to your phone’s settings and click “About Phone” to check the IMEI number of an Android phone. On iPhone, go to Settings > General and tap “About”. It will be the serial number, IMEI/MEID, or ICCID. This number also exists on the back or under a removable battery.

Using the IMEI number or serial number is handy when using authorities to track the lost phone or if you’re using a Bluetooth tracker and the phone has moved further than the tracking range.

How to Find a Dead iPhone

If you have a newer iPhone running iOS 13 or later, the new Find My app update will help you locate a lost iPhone.

Requirements:

• Find My app is enabled;
• Find My Network is enabled;
• Send Last Location is enabled.

How to find a dead iPhone, Steps:

1. Log in to iCloud.com.
2. Go to the Find iPhone feature and sign in again.
3. Click All Devices and tap on the device you want to locate.

Select the lost device and click play sound. The phone will ring at the highest volume if it is still on. You will also see its location on a map even if it’s turned off. If the device can’t be found, it will display “Offline” with the last known location. Select “Notify me when found” to receive an email when the phone goes online again.

Find Your iPhone Using Apple Watch

Apple watch can also find lost iPhones when powered off, in airplane mode, or low power mode.

1. Go to the Find my devices app on your Apple Watch.
2. Tap on the lost iPhone. If your device can be located, it will show you its location on a map. You will also see the approximate distance and the last time it connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network.

If the device can’t be located, Apple Watch will display “No Location.” Select “Notify when found” to get a notification when it’s located.

How to Lock a Lost iPhone

As soon as you realize your device is missing, it’s important to find it using iCloud.com before the person who has it pulls out the sim card. These steps will help you lock a lost iPhone.

1. Log in to your account on iCloud.com.
2. Click the “Find My iPhone” icon. Once your phone appears on the map, click “Remote Lock” to prevent anyone from using the phone.

Alternatively, select Lost Mode or Lost.

Follow the instructions and then tap Activate. This feature prompts you to set a passcode to unlock the phone once you find it. However, if you lose the passcode, you will need to take it to an authorized apple repair center to unlock it.

How to Find Lost Android Phone

To find a lost Android phone with a dead battery, use Google Find My Device.

Requirements:

• you should have logged in to your Google account on the lost device;
• the device should have internet access;
• location history and location reporting should be turned on the device.

How to find lost Android (steps):

1. On a browser, go to android.com/find.
2. Sign in to your Google account.
3. Select the lost phone on the icon at the top of the screen.

You can track cell phone location for free on Google Maps and then see the device’s location. You can then lock the device and sign out of your account. This option allows you to locate the phone even when it’s turned off and locked.

Nevertheless, you can erase it if you no longer want to find the lost device. This action will remove all content from the phone. After which, you’ll no longer be able to locate it.

Use Google Timeline

Google Maps timeline uses your location history to show you the places you visited and the routes you took. If you have a Google account, you can find your Google timeline on a mobile phone or computer.

Google timeline works on both iPhones and Android phones.

Requirements:

• Google Maps app on iPhones;
• Turned on location history.

To find your phone using Google Maps timeline:

1. Go to phone number information on a mobile or computer browser. You may have to log in to the Google account linked to the phone you want to find.
2. Tap on your name or profile picture to open the drop-down menu. Then tap on “Your Timeline”.

The Timeline opens with options to see a particular day, month, or any day on the calendar. All you need is to swipe left or right on the calendar and tap on a day.

Google timeline will display where you’ve been and whether you were walking, driving, biking, or using public transport. These features allow you to see where you could have lost your cell phone.

Conclusion

Finding a lost cell phone that is turned off is not easy. As soon as you realize you’ve lost your cell, it’s best to start by contacting the police and then using the different phone locating methods outlined here.

To make sure that you always find your phone if it ever gets lost or stolen, ensure the settings to find your phone, like “Find My Device” on the Android device manager and Find My on iPhone, are turned on. In addition, enable “Find My Network” and “Send Last Location on iPhone”.

In addition, it’s best to be a step ahead by installing third-party apps like mSpy or uMobix before you lose your phone. This way, recovering your phone will be a breeze.