Google has launched its new Find My Device feature, offering a new streamlined way for Android device owners to track their phones, tablets, and even everyday items like keys and luggage.

The feature leverages a network that spans over a billion Android devices and offers a secure way to locate lost items, ensuring peace of mind for users worldwide.

Google Find My Device Feature: How It Works

The feature allows for the location of offline devices. Users with compatible Android phones or tablets, including Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, can find their devices even when they’re offline, turned off, or have a dead battery by ringing them or viewing their location on a map within the Find My Device app.

Starting in May, users will also be able to track everyday items such as keys, wallets, or luggage equipped with Bluetooth tracker tags from brands like Chipolo and Pebblebee.

These tags integrate seamlessly with the Find My Device network and are designed to work with unknown tracker alerts, safeguarding against unwelcome tracking efforts across both Android and iOS devices.

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A “Find nearby” button has also been incorporated to help users pinpoint the precise location of lost devices or tagged items when close. The app’s integration with home Nest devices further simplifies locating devices by indicating their closeness to these in-home gadgets.

For shared items like house keys or luggage, the Find My Device app now offers the option to share tracking responsibilities with friends and family, ensuring your family and close ones can help track down missing items too.

How is Google ensuring privacy and security with the new feature?

Google has built the Find My Device feature with several security and privacy protections, including end-to-end encryption for location data, ensuring that only the device owner and authorized individuals can access it. Crowdsourced location reports maintain user privacy by only sharing the lost item’s location and timestamp without revealing the identities of nearby Android device owners.

Additional safety measures include aggregation of location reports, at-home privacy protections, and rate limiting to mitigate real-time tracking risks. Furthermore, the system alerts users to potential unwanted tracking, enhancing overall security.

When is Google’s Find My Device feature rolling out in India?

The rollout of Find My Device is underway globally, starting with users in the U.S. and Canada. It’s compatible with devices running Android 9 or later, and Google plans to extend support to headphones from JBL, Sony, and other brands through future software updates, broadening the ecosystem of Find My Device-compatible products.

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