Let’s face it, smartphones have become an integral part of daily life and we all keep lots of personal and even sensitive information on these easily misplaced devices.

Losing – or having your smartphone stolen – is a panic-inducing event. Luckily there’s tech that can help you recover your precious phone or, in case it’s in the hands of a thief, protect your personal data from being accessed.

If you have an Android smartphone, you should set up Android Device Manager as it can help you find your missing phone and remotely erase all your personal data.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up Android Device Manager and use it to find your missing phone, make it ring loudly and remote lock or erase it.

How to set up Android Device Manager

To use Android Device Manager to find or erase you phone, you’ll need to check three settings: Android Device Manager has to be turned on, location access for your Android device has to be enabled, and your device must be associated with your Google account.

1) How to switch Android Device Manager on

To switch on Android Device Manager, go to Settings > Google > Security > Android Device Manager > switch on Remotely locate this device and Allow remote lock and factory reset.

You must be signed into you Google account on your phone to use Android Device Manager.

2) How to switch location access on

If you have turned off location access on your Android phone in the past, you’ll need to switch it back on to use Android Device Manager. Here’s how: go to Settings > scroll down and tap Location > switch on location access.

3) Confirm that Android Device Manager can locate your device

With Android Device Manager and location access enabled on your Android device, you need to confirm that Android Device Manager can locate your phone. Go to the Android Device Manager website and sign in using your Google account.

Your device, or list of devices if you enabled Android Device Manager on multiple devices, should show on a card over a Google Maps screen.

If you don’t see your device here, check that Android Device Manager and location access are both switched on.

How to find your phone using Android Device Manager

If you’ve misplaced your phone, or suspect it has been stolen, you can use Android Device Manager to see where it is on a map and also when it was last used – provided your phone is switched on and has a mobile data or Wi-Fi connection that is.

If your phone is off or not connected to the Internet, it will show up on Android Device Manager next time it is switched on or connects to a data network.

There are two ways in which you can use Android Device Manager to find your missing phone:

1) Use the Android Device Manager website

Go to the Android Device Manager website and sign in with your Google account. Android Device Manager will display your phone’s location on a map and show you when it was last online. If you have more than one device connected to Android Device Manager, click on the arrow next to the current device to see and select a different device to locate.

2) Use the Android Device Manager app

If you have more than one Android device, you can use the one still in your possession to locate the missing device.

First, install the Android Device Manager app on the device you want to use to find the missing one. Once you’ve signed in with your Google account you can select the device to find by swiping along the bottom of the screen (if you’re using a smartphone) or by tapping the arrow next to the current device (if you’re using a tablet).

Just like the webpage, the Android Device Manager app will show you where your missing device is.

Remotely ring, lock, or erase your Android device

Now that you know more or less where your missing phone is, Android Device Manager gives you a few options for recovering it or preventing your personal data from falling into the wrong hands.

If you’ve simply misplaced your phone and are within earshot of it, you can use Android Device Manager on the web or the app to make your phone ring loudly for a full five minutes – even if it is set to vibrate or silent. This should give you enough time to pinpoint your phone and dig it out from underneath the sofa cushions.

If you can’t get to your missing device quickly and want to safeguard it, you can use Android Device Manager to remotely lock your phone with a password. Remotely locking your phone also gives you the option to display an alternative phone number where you can be reached by someone finding your lost phone. Now anyone who finds your phone can call you right from the lock screen – provided they’re a Good Samaritan of course.

Your last – and most extreme – option is to remotely erase all your personal data from your missing phone. This is the same as a factory reset and will wipe your entire phone, so use it only if you feel there is a real risk that someone might access your personal information.

Note that Android Device Manager will not delete data stored on an SD card, so we recommend not saving any personal or sensitive information on your device’s SD memory card.

Use Google to track your phone’s location

If you have linked your Android phone to Google, you can also go to Google.com and type “find my phone” to see a Google Maps history of where your phone has been. As with Android Device Manager, an active data connection is needed.

Photo by Ervins Strauhmanis