Why Google Find My Device Not Working: Reasons & Solutions

Find My Device may not work due to various problems. The Android device may be turned off, the battery may be dead, or the internet connectivity may be weak.

On the other hand, you may have used the wrong Google account or selected the wrong device on the Find My Device platform. All these reasons mean you won’t see your device when using Google to find it.

I got you, losing a phone comes with anxiety and uncertainty. It’s even more stressful if you’re a parent searching for your child using their phone.

That’s why you need to know the reason for the issue and always have alternatives for Google Find My Device.

We’ve prepared this guide with our Android expert Alex Dushyn to walk you through the steps to discover why Google Find My Device is not working and the solutions that could reunite you and your phone or child.

Issue 1: Device Not Showing in Find My Device

A common complaint from forums: “My phone, a Pixel 8a, which is one of my devices within my Google account, has disappeared from Find My Device… Same on the web and via the app. Until yesterday it had always shown up regardless of where I was accessing Find My Device.”

Expert answer: There is a chance that your phone doesn’t appear in Find My Device because it’s not checked on Google Play devices. This means it will not appear as a device and, therefore, cannot be found by Google Find My Device.

To check your device in the Google Play menu:

1. Open Google Play using this URL: http://play.google.com/.
2. Log in with the same account as your device.
3. Click on your profile icon in the top-right corner.
4. Click Library & devices.
   
5. Click Devices. You will see the devices that are signed in to your Google account. Drag the devices to the left to see “Show in Menus”. Make sure all devices are checked under show in Menus.
   

Issue 2: Find My Device not Showing Location

If the missing device is turned on but Find My Device is not showing the location, it’s because of the turned-off location services, Wi-Fi, or mobile data.

A common complaint from forums: “I lost my phone and tried using Find My Device to locate it, but the location isn’t showing up. It only says the device’s location is not available. I had mobile data turned on, and my phone should be on, so I don’t understand why it’s not working.”

Expert Answer: Google relies not just on an internet connection, but also on the phone’s GPS and cellular network to pinpoint the device’s location. Thus, if the location is turned off, the device’s location is unavailable on Maps. Google Find My Device will show you a small notification saying, “Location turned off.”

Ensure that your phone’s location services are always turned on. This way, it can transmit the smartphone’s location data to Google at all times.

A common complaint from forums: “I’ve been trying to use Find My Device to track my phone, but it’s not showing its live location. I can only see the last location, and it says it’s connecting to the device. I don’t understand why this is happening. My phone was on when it got lost.”

Expert Answer: Google will not show your current device location if Wi-Fi and mobile data are turned off or the Airplane Mode is turned on. In both cases, it will indicate that it’s trying to contact the device network, and the phone’s signals to Find My Device are prevented from being transmitted.

However, Find My Device will tell you if it captured a recent location and the timeline of the last location. You will need the device’s PIN to view the recently stored location.

Always have Wi-Fi and mobile data turned on. If someone steals your device with the screen locked, it will take time for them to flash or factory reset it, giving you time to locate the phone.

Issue 3: Find My Device is Not Updating Location

A common complaint from forums: “I’m trying to locate my phone using Find My Device, but the location isn’t updating. It’s just stuck on the last known location. I don’t understand why it’s not refreshing or giving me any real-time updates. If something is preventing it from tracking, I wish it would at least tell me what’s going on instead of leaving me guessing. This is frustrating when trying to find my lost phone!”

Expert Answer: When all you can see is the last seen location, but Find My Device is not updating the location, it’s likely the phone is switched off. When someone steals a phone, the first thing they do is switch it off to prevent tracking. In this case, you’ll have to wait for the phone to come back online.

In the meantime, remotely lock the Android device directly on the Find My Device platform on another phone or on a PC.

If you have a Google Pixel 8 or 8 Pro, you may still be able to track the phone in high-traffic areas. When the person with the stolen phone enters a location with many people, the smartphone will receive signals from nearby Android devices to help pinpoint its location.

Note that Offline finding is currently only available in the US and Canada.

Use the Secure Device feature on Google Find My Device for other Android devices to lock the phone and remove Google Wallet. You will also be signed out of your Google account, but you can still track the phone when it comes back online.

Issue 4: Find My Device Showing Wrong Location

A common complaint from forums: “My phone got lost in my workplace. I’ve been trying to pinpoint its exact location, but it keeps pinning different positions within our office. It shows it’s online, and I don’t think it’s stolen, but I can tell the location is wrong. Any ideas on what could be the issue?”

Expert Answer: When Find My Device is showing the wrong location, it’s due to a poor internet connection. Although Find My Device can connect to the phone, it’s not getting the location data it needs to refresh the Android phone’s position on Maps.

In addition, the phone could be moving in a low-network area, like an underground train, or a remote location with intermittent cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity.

If this is the case, you can track the phone’s location, but the process is slow due to a poor signal. However, it beats having no location to work with when you’re trying to find a lost phone or want to know your child’s whereabouts.

Advice: Turn On the Location Accuracy

When Location services are not set to high accuracy, Google Find My Device will rely only on the phone’s GPS. But when location accuracy is turned on, it will use information from all available wireless signals, including Wi-Fi, mobile network towers, and GPS.

To ensure Location accuracy is turned on:

1. Go to Settings > Location.
   
2. Tap on Location Services > Location Accuracy.
3. Push the slider next to Improve Location Accuracy to the right to turn it on.
   

Issue 5: Find My Device Fails After Restart

Some devices turn off specific settings after restart. It can include location services, Wi-Fi or mobile data, and Find My Device itself. So, if the locator app doesn’t work to track someone, you need to check all the settings anew.

Here’s the complete HeyLocate guide on the Find My Device setup.

Still, it can be a big problem when you’re searching for your own lost phone, as one Reddit user noticed.

“I recently discovered a concerning issue: after restarting your device, “Find My Device” will fail to detect your phone’s location, even if location services are turned on. This seems like a significant flaw, and Google should address it promptly.

It’s especially worrying because billions of people rely on Find My Device in the event their phone is stolen. With Android devices, a simple restart could prevent Find My Device from detecting the phone, potentially rendering it useless when it’s most needed”.

Unfortunately, a potential solution involves remote unlocking the device, which makes it easier for a thief to use it. So, this issue is still unresolved.

Additional Reasons to Find My Device Not Working

Apart from the common issues plaguing Android users on Find My Device, the service can fail for several other reasons.

Device is Incompatible with the App

The minimum required operating system for Find My Device is Android 5.0; for Find My Device Network, it is 9.0. If your Android device has Android 8 and earlier, the app cannot track a phone offline via Bluetooth. This includes phones like Amazon Fire and some Android smartphones from ASUS, BlackBerry, HTC, LG, Huawei, Motorola, and Nokia.

Check your phone’s operating system to confirm it can use Google Find My Device and its Network. Open Settings > About Phone > Software information to see the current operating system.

Wrong Google Account

You must have a Google account to locate lost items in the Find My Device Network. When tracking a device through the web, use the same Google account as on the lost phone.

Google Play Services Not Updated

Find My Device relies on Google Play Services. If it’s outdated or corrupted, the tracking feature might not work properly.

Battery Saver Mode Restrictions

Some Android devices restrict background location services when Battery Saver mode is enabled.

VPN or Custom DNS Interference

A VPN or a modified DNS setup might interfere with Google’s ability to track the phone properly.

What to Use Instead of Google Find My Device

If you can’t solve the problem with Google Find My Device, you’ll want to find another option to find the missing or lost device. There are several Find My Device alternatives available.

Use Your Mobile Brand Locator

Some mobile phone brands have their own locators, such as Samsung’s SmartThings Find and Xiaomi’s Mi Find My Phone. This feature is turned on automatically when you log into your mobile brand account.

All you need is for the phone to be turned on and connected to the internet. Then, go to your account on the Samsung/Xiaomi website and check the location tracking feature.

Track By Phone Number

A mobile number tracker is another great option for locating a phone if Find My Device is off.

The Scannero mobile number tracker is the best for tracking a phone’s location and sending a message to a lost phone. You can use it to ask someone about their whereabouts or to create a message offering a reward to the person who finds your lost device.

To use Scannero, you require an account, subscription, or a cheap trial. After this, you can use any feature.

Try Scannero.io

Track Kids Using uMobix

If your child’s device is not showing on Find My Device, you better consider using parental control app to track a child’s phone location in real-time.

Usually, you need to install the app on your child’s Android phone. The uMobix parental control app allows you to access an online dashboard with a location-tracking feature. The app updates its location every five minutes, making it great for live tracking.

uMobix lets you create safe and dangerous zones and will notify you when your child (aka their phone) enters or leaves them.

Try uMobix

See Last Location on Google Maps

Google Maps has a location history feature that will prove helpful if Find My Device is offline. Nonetheless, the feature must be enabled before the phone gets lost. When enabled, it will help you see the phone’s timeline.

To see your phone’s last known location, open Google Maps on another phone. Log into your Google account and then click Your Timeline. You will know that day’s locations. Clicking on a date opens the calendar, allowing you to see all past locations.

When Nothing Helps: Report the Device as Stolen

When you’ve tried troubleshooting and seeking alternative methods but can’t locate the phone, you may have to report it as stolen. Remember to use the factory reset feature on the platform to ensure no one has access to your data if you cannot locate it.

When you report the missing phone, the police will ask for the IMEI number. You can find it in the phone’s original packaging. Alternatively, you can contact your mobile provider, who may have the phone’s IMEI.

The police will work with your mobile operator to track the phone’s location as it moves from one cell tower to another. Nevertheless, the process can be painfully slow. It can be better to have your mobile provider block the phone so it does not access any mobile network.

Conclusion

Find My Device not working can be pretty stressful. There are multiple reasons, but the best thing you can do is prepare your phone to be found by Google Find My Device and other tools.

Ensure that Find My Device is enabled, and you can track the phone offline with a network in all areas.

If you rely on the app for tracking your child, better use a dedicated parental control app like uMobix or a one-time phone number tracker like Scannero.