How to track your mobile phone on IMEI. How to find a stolen phone - methods that work

Reading time: 5 minutes

In this article, we will consider the situation when you lost or you have been stolen the phone and how to find it on IMEI, as well as what settings you need to spend in the Teelfone itself immediately after purchase.

If the phone has been lost (stolen), you can return it in several ways, including using the IMEI identification number. However, the latter is not always effective, it will be described in detail below why. We will also consider in detail how else you can calculate the location of the device and try to return it yourself.

What is IMEI, how to find the phone

IMEI is an identification unique device number, which is assigned to it at the factory. You can find IMEI of your device in several ways:

Note that there will also be two phones with two SIM codes.

To find the device on IMEI, you need to contact the police, write a statement. Note that you will need not only to know the identification number of the device, but have all the documents for it, a commercial check, box.

Before this, you should call your operator and ask to block the SIM card. Some operators in the presence of an application to law enforcement agencies can track the phone or completely block it, depriving the attacker the ability to use it even when changing the SIM card.

If the phone is not blocked, the police can make the appropriate requests for cellular communication. Those in turn check if your phone is online when and where it came into contact with the base station. So the cellular operator can calculate which stations your phone has been "lit up" lately.

Why it is impossible to find the phone on IMEI yourself

It is impossible to find the smartphone on the IMEI smartphone, since access to the station switching center, i.e., only the cellular operator has access to all stations. Consequently, all applications that provide supposedly the service for finding the phone on IMEI are fraudulent.

Another thing is information services that provide access to your own IMEI database of lost or stolen phones. If you register in one of them the identification number of your stolen device, there is a small chance that you will get it back for the remuneration. One of the similar services is Lostolen.

Using the standard feature of the remote management of Android

For modern devices running Android, the possibility of remote telephone control appeared. Its activation allows you to:

block the device and delete all the information from it,
determine the location of the phone.

You can use remote control in the case when the function that opens access to the geodan has been activated in advance. You also need to add a Google account and log in to your ID.

The remote control setting is carried out in the following way:

Check if the location function works, you can at the address android.com/deviceManager. Entering the account, you must detect your device.

Otherwise, re-check whether the remote control function is active and whether access to the geodan is opened.

Application Lost Android

This program offers a wider functionality for remote control by the device. To start using it, you need to install the client utilities from Google Play, after which the Personal Notes application will be installed in the smartphone. Further:

Activate the program and provide it with the device administrator.
Sign up using your Google Account.

After that, the following functions will be available to you:

inclusion on the stolen phone sound, display and vibration;
search device on the map, and if the GPS on the phone will be turned off, the user can activate it remotely;
blocking device via the Internet;
sending messages with the requirement of returning the apparatus;
view and save snapshots, contacts;
when replacing the SIM card on the device, the owner receives the appropriate notification.

Special service for Samsung phone owners

SAMSUNG devices are available for the name of the location and verification of the number. To do this, register with the Find My Lost Phone service. You need to be prepared for the verification of the device during registration can take up to several days. Going to this service, you need to enter your IMEI, after which the location of the device will appear on the map.

How to find stolen iPhone or iPad

To be able to find the lost or stolen device from Apple, in it in advance, in advance to "Find iPhone" service. To do this, in the settings of the device, you must go to the "icloud" section and activate the corresponding switch.

All mobile phones have one unpleasant property - get lost. In addition, they are sometimes steal. And with this, unfortunately, nothing can be done. More recently "sow" android-device outside the house meant to part with him forever without hope for a refund, because, unlike iOS, there were no search functions on android. Today they are, and therefore, the chances of returning the loss no longer zero. And it's time for us to meet them.

Let's talk how to find a lost phone on Android through Google and using third-party applications and services.

In the event of a missing mobile gadget, the functions of modern versions of Android allow not only to determine its location on cellular towers and satellites, but also to lock it remotely. And if there is no hope for a refund (stolen) - erase the personal data of the owner.

For this, the following conditions must be completed.:

The device must be enabled (it is not necessary that your SIM card is in it).
It must be tied to your Google Account.
It should work the "Remote Control" function.
It should be activated by transferring geodata and included Internet access.
The phone should be defined in Google Play.

If you have disabled the function of installing the location (geodata) for saving battery savings, you will not have a chance to find a lost or stolen phone. Search through the satellite really consumes a lot of energy, but in the city it is not necessary to use it. Include the definition of the location of the device via cellular tower - this option is more economical.

How to enable geodat transmission on android:

Run the options "Settings".
In the "Personal" menu, tap the location "location line.
Mark the Flag of the search method "by network coordinates".

How to find out which devices are connected to your Google Account:

Open any browser (on a PC or Mobile Device - No matter), go to Google.com and log in and log in with your account.
Open the newly used devices. This list must have a search phone.

How to enable remote device management on Android:

Run "Parameters" (Settings).
Tap "Protection" (Security) in the "Personal" menu.
In the right pane, select "Device Administrators".

Check the checkbox near the Android Remote Control item and open it.

In the window "Activate the device administrator?" Click "Enable".

How to find a phone on Google Play:

Go to Google Play through any browser, open the "Settings" section (Button with the gear icon).
Look at the "My Devices" list. All Android phones tied to your account, tablets, clock, etc. must be present in this list.

How to locate the lost Android gadget

The actions described below are performed through a computer or other mobile device connected to the Internet.

Open the browser and log in under your Google Account.
Go to the main page of your account and in the "Phone Search" section, click "Start".

Select a lost device from the list and enter your password to enter the account. Once in the search section, click the "Find" button.

The location of your device will be displayed on the location map.

Other available features:

Phone sounder. When the device is activated, the device will call for 5 minutes (even at zero volume), attracting the attention of people. However, it helps more if you do not remember where it was put, but in case of losing or theft, the sounds can worsen the situation. Also, not all devices are supported.
Lock. Return to the previous page and open the "Lock the phone" section. If you wish, change the standard message. Click "Block".

Call the phone using Google Hangouts Messenger. To go on the selected word.

Exit the account on the device. To exit, press the corresponding button.

Delete custom data from the internal memory of the gadget (excluding memory card). Choose this option, if you are confident that the phone got into other people's hands and an attacker can take advantage of the information on it to anyone in harm. For example, it will begin to send malware according to your contacts or access electronic wallets. If you agree to delete, click the "Yes, Erase" button, but the search on the map, blocking and the transverse will not be available after that.

Services like "Search for Phone Search" Google are developing and manufacturers of mobile devices. The principle of operation and the set of opportunities they have the same or a little more. For example, Samsung offers users of their smartphones the following:

Determination of the location on the map.
Remote blocking.
Erasing confidential data.
Correspondence (loud playback of the call melody for 1 minute to attract attention to others).
Access to call log.
Notification of the removal of the owner's SIM card.
Remote translation of the device in "Emergency Mode" - Reducing the brightness of the screen with the disconnection of most functions and applications to save battery. For a lost phone as long as possible remained in the visibility zone.

Find My Device from Google - Mobile application for finding lost devices

To simplify the search for lost or stolen Android gadgets, you can use the mobile application available for free download from Google Play. It has the same set of functions as the Gugloservis "Search for Phone". Namely:

Allows you to locate the gadget on the map.
It nickname it (makes sober on the maximum volume of 5 minutes).
Blocks use.
It allows the owner to exit the Android account and remotely erase custom data.

Find My Device is designed to install on a device that will be used to search, and not on the one you want to protect against loss.

The availability of application functions are the same as for "searching for the phone" through the browser Gugalvis.

Phone search services by cellular subscriber and IMEI

Plnet (Phone-location.org)

The Russian PLNet web service allows you to locate a lost gadget and by phone number, and on IMEI (international mobile device identification code, which is assigned to each device in the factory). The search is made by satellites and cellular towers and works in the following networks of Russian, Ukrainian and Kazakh cellular operators:

Beeline.
Megaphone.
Kiology.
Kcell.
Vodafone.
Altel.
Tele2.
Velcom.

The main functions of the service are paid. For free, unlike Google, it allows you to find out only the country, the region and the city in which the desired device is located. More accurate coordinates - for 500 rubles and after registration. In addition, a real-time device tracking is available on a paid subscription, the history of its movements and the search by IMEI. In the latter case, you should also specify the SIM card number with IMEI, which the owner has enjoyed to the phone's loss. If you did not have time to record it, while the phone was with you, look at the stickers on the box.

The service has similar devices for determining the location of devices, with the exception of searching for IMEI. For paid subscribers, printing history of displacements is also available. The service of one-time definition of the exact coordinates by phone number costs 900 rubles.

The service works in the networks of the following cellular operators:

Beeline.
Megaphone.
Kiology.
Kcell.
Tele2.
Velcom.

Both plnet, and OM-TEL, and other similar resources are still suitable for surveillance for loved ones (children, spouse, etc.). In the search for stolen smartphones, they are unpleasant, because an attacker, if it is not deprived of mind, immediately replace the owner's SIM card to his own. In this case, the service will show the place of the last registration of your SIM cards in the operator's network. Or will not show anything.

- Tools for testing serial numbers and IMEI various mobile devices for the subject of whether they are in the database of lost and stolen. Supports all models and brand phones.

The SNDeepInfo user can add IMEI itself or serial a lost or found device to the service base, leaving your email to communicate. At the request, you can also specify the amount of remuneration for refund. Registration or payment for this is not needed.

The service works like the previous one, but IMEI is running only. With it, you can, for example, find out if the phone bought from hand is stolen from the previous owner. And also make a code of your device to the database.

IMEI phone search services The author also considers low-onedy, because with their help it is impossible to know the location of the device, no one uses them at the moment. They are designed for honest people who, in case of finding a lost by someone, the apparatus will begin to search for its owner. Law enforcement agencies do not use such databases - they have the opportunity to gain the necessary information directly at cellular operators.

Applications for countering thefts of smartphones

CM Security: Protection and Antivirus

In addition to antivirus, firewall and system optimization tools, the control module is included. It includes:

Cerberus is a program to protect the device from theft with an extended feature set. Among them:

Remote monitoring of phone movement through the application site.
Remote blocking.
Correspondence.
Transferring messages to the lost phone.
Remote screenshots.
Shot of the photo and video of the attacker's face. Recording sound through the microphone.
Erasing user data from internal memory and SD card.
Remote device control via the console interface using commands.
Automatic switching on geodata transmission if it is turned off.
Locking power off so that the thief is unable to turn off the machine and thereby interfere with its search.
Creating your own user rules, etc.

The bulk of the Cerberus functions only works in the paid in the version. Even more of them are available upon receipt of root rights.

So, you lost your beloved gadget, in which your entire life is hiding. What to do in this situation? Answer one: Search. And of course, according to IMEI, we will deal with details in the process. It remains only to understand what this very imei is. With this issue and begin.

What is imei

So looks like a sticker with IMEI code on the box

Each mobile phone is assigned its own identification number by which it is registered on the network. This number must be assigned to production and, in theory, change it if not impossible, then quite laborious. It is to ensure security - so that by staging the smartphone, the attacker could not change its IMEI - his assignment algorithm is constantly changing. At the very beginning, when mobile phones were just started to do, there were 14 characters in the code, and in 2004 there were 15 of them. It consists of this code from the identifier, reference to the place and date of the assembly, and so on that the user knows no need.

IMEI can be seen if carefully view boxesIn which your device was packaged when buying. It is also possible find on the phoneIf you raise the battery, but this method is not suitable for devices with a fixed battery. Finally, you can dial on the keyboard a certain keyboard shortcutSo that the identification code appears on the screen.

IMPORTANT: Code for checking IMEI - * # 06 # and challenge.

Stole a phone. What to do?

Nobody is insured against the thief

If you have stolen the phone, first of all it is necessary to write statement in the police. Well, or say goodbye to your device, because it is important to remember - the search for the phone according to IMEI can only be carried out by this organ. The fact is that, according to our legislation, only police can send a request to the phone tracking operator.

When the phone goes into the network, this happens precisely using the identification code, and the base station "knows" that a particular phone entered the network using two factors: a SIM card signal and an IMEI of a particular device. but determine the location of the smartphone only by IMEI Mobile communication provider can not.

Only the operator can tell where the lost telephone is located, and it can only make it on request of the competent authorities.

In order to write a statement to the police In connection with the alarms of the smartphone, you need to specify your passport details, provide documents for the purchase of a smartphone (check, warranty card, etc.), as well as IMEI device. The district police department transfers the case to the division, which is engaged in such issues, and it is in turn - a request to the operator. As you can see, this is not the case, since the police are not a bureau of finds, and the criminal intent still needs to be proved.

In fact, your gadget will actually look only if his loss occurred as a result of a criminal offense, for example, robbery attack, etc.

That's why any other suggestions find the phone by IMEI - via satellite, online, free or somehow differently, first, doomed to failure, and secondly, by default are fraudulent. There are also no programs for searching for IMEI phone, if it is not only a database of stolen apparatuses, created in order to, for example, do not buy such a device with hands.

Why can't IMEI online phone

Imagine: your phone was stolen. What thieves do in this case? Right: SIM card - to the nearest trash can, the device itself is turned off. It would seem how to track the phone in IMEI? But myths that this is possible, very survivors, and not in vain.

The fact is that even in the turned off the gadget remain Working processes: The battery consumption control is involved, a network processor, which periodically submits low-frequency signals with a radio frequency module, but does not climb into a network, and waits for the alarm or connecting to the USB port, and static memory. Everything else sleeps, including a radio module itself. Hence, no satellite, no basic station - yes, no one - This phone does not "see" and cannot find it.

On the other hand, as soon as a new SIM card is inserted into the stolen phone and it will try to register on the net, it is thanks to IMEI in the system that the stolen phone appeared there. In Europe and the United States, such a device is immediately blocked, so the pocket or a lover will save not much joy from theft. But in the Russian Federation there is no such system yet, but perhaps.

However, protect your phone from thieves or at least make their life is not so sweet, you can, and in subsequent articles we will tell you how to do it.

Most people who use mobile devices have repeatedly lost their phone or. And it is not always possible to find it yourself. Pretty easy way to find a lost phone is to search by IMEI. Of course, this method is not yet known, therefore this article was written. Hope she helps you find a lost phone.

Find the lost phone in today's conditions is not so easy as it seems. This has already been convinced by many people who have ever lost mobile devices. It is now that any worldwide network user can find their lost telephone with its IMEI. But it is also not easy to do.

What is imei

IMEI is an international mobile equipment identifier. Each phone receives its unique code (it is compiled with 15 digits), which is called IMEI.

In other words, IMEI is something like a serial number that is broadcast by the operator when authorizing the phone on the network. IMEI is used to lock or search for a lost or stolen device, as well as for. But, IMEI lock in one operator will not forbid it in another network.

How to know imei devices

To view the serial number of the phone, you need to dial * # 06 # and press the call button. As already known, the serial number is a set of 15 digits.

How to find a phone with IMEI

After you recognized the serial number of your device, it will be possible to find it with the help of different projects that provide this feature. This is if you yourself want to find a lost phone. With the help of the site http://trackerplus.ru/imei. You can add IMEI to the database. This will help you find your device in the future. You only need to enter the serial number in the desired field, specify an e-mail and select the status corresponding to the current.

After adding your serial code to the above service, it will be able to provide good enough help. How it all works:

After adding your IMEI to the site, a person who found your device will be able to contact you;

When buying a phone, you can find out all the information you need about the device;

Police, if your device finds, can find out what exactly you are the owner of the phone and return it to you.

With a healthy mind, a person who lost the phone immediately contact the police. But, not in all cases they will be able to help you in finding the phone. But, knowing IMEI phone, make it it will be much easier. In general, it is quite difficult to find the stolen device. You can not always find out its location. Therefore, in most cases, you have to turn to the police with an official statement. But, 100% guarantee that your phone will find, no one will give you. Therefore, watch your device, and try not to lose it, and law enforcement agencies once again. To maximize the phone protection, you can use different programs that can help find the missing device.

The scan of the current question is: how to find the lost android phone, and very cool and steep ways.

All smartphones work through android or iOS. The IOS protection system is known to everyone and is carried out using a special program that allows you to track and find a phone. But what to do android holders? Is there protection here and is it possible to find the lost phone? Tell further.

How to find a lost android phone when the phone is lost

Unfortunately, situations often occur when the phone was stolen or lost, and the question arises how to find the lost android phone. Many of you will immediately go with a statement to the nearest police station, but at the same time they know that the option of a positive result is minimal.

Now I will tell you about reliable and efficient ways to find a smartphone, rather than an appeal to the organs. In order for you to find a smartphone and track its location, difficult actions will not need. However, you need to register a Google account. If your data is not made in the phone, you will not be able to find.

You need to independently activate the "Remote Control" item, other words set all the parameters. To do this, go to "my location" in the smartphone settings item and put a tick on "Allow tracking coordinates".

As you can see, everything is easy and simple. Google's company is very serious about the problem of protecting personal information, therefore, putting a check mark, your smartphone will always be in connection with the case of loss.

How to search through a computer

There is an Android Device Manager service specifically for squinting through a computer, but if the gadget is turned off or all settings were reset, then the possibilities are not so functional. However, no one claimed that the thieves would be masters of this case, right? To search the device in this way, you need to do the following on the computer:

Go to a special link of remote control https://www.google.com/android/deviceManager.
Enter login and password, and then log in to the account. If you still do not have an account, then you must create it, as it is very useful and necessary (after creation, just enter the account through the smartphone).
Then everything happens in automatic mode, and you will see the window with the following information.

As you can see in the example, here through the computer you can remotely block the smartphone by pressing the corresponding button. You can also call or clear all data from the memory of the device.

If the phone lost home

Under forgetfulness or its own scattering, a person can easily lose the phone at home. In this case, you can call yourself with this program via the Internet.

For several minutes, your phone will call, and it does not completely depend on the installed mode. Thus, even in a silent state, the phone will call loudly, and you can easily find it.

We send a message to the lost or stolen phone

If you lost the gadget, and the person who found him wants to return the owner, because even in our time there are responsible people among us, then this can be contributed. You can send a message by number that will come to the screen of the lost smartphone. We use the same service and the "Configure Lock and Delete Data" button.

In the window that appears, you can do the following:

Enter a password with which you can block the device.
Send a message by reading which a man will return a mobile phone.

If there is no possibility to return the gadget, it is recommended to protect your personal data. To do this, click the "Clear" button. In this case, everything will be deleted and the phone will go to the standard factory settings.

Additional programs

In addition to remote access, there are many other programs with similar functionality. The best of them is Lost Android. It is installed in the phone as well as other programs, that is, with the help of the playing market.

Useful Tip: After installation, the program will be displayed as Personal Notes with a view of a regular notebook. This is done so that the thieves are not suspected. So do not worry if you do not detect this program as it is recorded in the market.

After running this program, give it administrator rights. To do this, press the corresponding button. How to do this can be seen from the screenshot below.

Then go to the official application site and log in again through Google. Enter login and password, and then go to the account. All available features are listed there.

These two methods listed by me, through Google and the program, allow you to find even the disconnected smartphone. This is achieved by the fact that Google services record the moment when the device has been turned on last time, respectively, the location.

Find the phone on IMEI (via satellite) and by sim card (by mobile phone number)

Here I have a hurry to disappoint none of these methods will not give results even through the computer by phone number. According to IMEI, only law enforcement agencies can track through the computer, and then the most advanced. Those who in the provinces may not hope to this way.

Of course, through a computer by sim card, you can define extremely blurry data type "Your phone is located in the city of Ivanovo." Configured search services will not provide correct and accurate information, only the police own such technologies.

By phone number, it is also unlikely. Because as soon as the phone finds and want to leave it, immediately throw out the sim card than tracking difficult. You can not even find through the computer if it is enabled (phone), mobile operators do not bother themselves with such actions, although they are required.

Do not waste data on these ways, but about them below, at the end of the article.
Protection with Avast! Anti-Theft for Android
In case of loss, you can pre-configure the phone. To do this, I found a very interesting program that attracted my attention. That's what you need to do:
Download Antivirus Avast! Mobile Security and open it.
Go to the settings menu and set the mark in the "PIN Protection" and "Deletion Protection". If a person detects the antivirus, then until it enters the PIN code, he will not be able to get rid of it.
Then create an AVAST account.
We turn to the official service of Anti-Virus and click Create Account Now, put the mail and drive the password.

From now on, your phone is protected.
Customize the AVAST application! Anti-Theft in the gadget
The Advanced Settings menu in this program features the following features:
Protective, that is, what needs to be done if it is lost. You can block the gadget, set the alarm, block access to the settings, notify the low battery charging.
Lock text, delete information and GPS tracking. Here you can enter the text that will be shown on the phone screen. Now your device is fully protected.

Last method
If previous methods did not give results for one reason or another, for example, you forgot the login and password from the Google account or did not create an account at all, that is, one more, as they say, in the extreme case.
By phone number it is impossible to find your smartphone. But you as a victim you can come to the police station, write a statement and attach evidence that this is really your phone. Among them are the following:
Warranty card.
Check about buying.
Box from the gadget.
IMEI code.

Tip for those who have not lost the phone: be sure to write down your IMEI code. You can find it using the * # 06 # command.
Based on the past text, find the phone on the IMEI address is not very simple, more precisely this is 0.5% as statistics shows, and every year less. But if you decide to go this method, I do not envy you, it is very difficult, the only one is the police.

Finally
That's all, dear friends! I listed the most reliable ways to search for a stolen phone. In conclusion, I want to give two main and useful advice:
If possible, turn on the Internet on the smartphone to access data in case of disappearance.
Install the lock on the screen. This is done like this: Security - Encrypt the device - Configure the type of blocking - password or pattern.

I hope my tips will be useful to you and you will find an answer in the article on how to find the lost android phone, although it is better not to deal with this situation at all. Subscribe to my blog, leave comments and share links in social networks.