Google confirms "Find My Device" with powered-off tracking will come to more Android phones
2 min. read
Published on
Share this article
Improve this guide
Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help MSPoweruser sustain the editorial team Read more
Key notes
- Google’s “Find My Device” will offer powered-off tracking for some future Android phones (beyond Pixel 8 series).
- Collaboration with phone makers is underway to determine implementation for “premium devices.”
- Service works with Android 9+, tracks phones, tags, and accessories, and uses Nest devices for in-home location.
There is a piece of good news for Android users who are afraid of misplacing their phones. Google has confirmed plans to expand its recently revealed “Find My Device” service to include powered-off tracking functionality for devices beyond the Pixel 8 series.
Google has confirmed to Android Authority that this capability will also come to other phones.
This means you’ll soon be able to locate your lost Android phone even if it’s switched off or has a dead battery, similar to Apple’s Find My network. While details are still emerging, Google is collaborating with other phone manufacturers to bring this feature to “additional premium Android devices.”
Currently, Pixel 8 and 8 Pro achieve this feat through specialized hardware that keeps the Bluetooth chip operational even without power. Whether existing flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S24 will receive this capability through software updates is yet to be seen.
The new “Find My Device” experience requires Android 9 or later and works with various devices beyond smartphones. This includes tracker tags, compatible accessories, and headphones from brands like JBL and Sony.
For those who tend to lose their phones at home, the Find My Device app can also leverage Nest devices to pinpoint their location. Additionally, a “Find nearby” button will be added in May to help you locate Bluetooth tags in your vicinity.
So, the next time you lose your Android phone, fret no more! Google’s expanding “Find My Device” functionality will bring you peace of mind.
