5 Ways to Locate a Lost Cell Phone That Is Turned Off

Lost your phone and it’s powered off? Wondering, “How can I track it?” You’ve come to the right place.

Can You Track a Phone That Is Turned Off?
Yes, it’s possible to track a powered-off phone, but with limitations. When a phone is off, its network and GPS functions are disabled, making real-time tracking challenging. However, specialized hardware in Pixel 8 and 8 Pro allows tracking via Find My Device even when powered off or with a dead battery. Other devices don’t currently support this.

Services like Find My (iOS), Find My Mobile (Samsung), and network providers can show the last known location before the phone was turned off. Apps like MobileTracking Family Locator can also alert you to low battery levels, prompting action before the phone powers down.

1. Find My Device: For Android Devices with Find My Device Enabled

Google’s Find My Device is a powerful tool for Android users to locate lost or stolen phones.

Requirements:

Find My Device must be enabled in Settings > Google Services.
Location services must be active.
The phone must be signed into your Google Account with location services enabled.

Steps to Locate a Lost Phone:

Visit android.com/find in a web browser.
Sign in with the Google Account linked to the lost device.
Select the lost phone from the list of devices displayed at the top.
The last known location will appear on a map.

Tips: Use a device already logged into your Google Account to avoid two-factor authentication delays. For added security, select Secure Device to lock the phone remotely with a PIN or password, or choose Erase Device to wipe all data as a last resort.

2. Find My Mobile: For Samsung Devices with Find My Mobile Enabled

Samsung’s Find My Mobile service allows users to locate, lock, or erase their devices remotely.

Requirements:

Find My Mobile must be enabled in Settings > Biometrics and Security (or similar).
Location services must be active.
The device must be signed into a Samsung account.

Steps to Locate a Lost Samsung Device:

Go to smartthingsfind.samsung.com and sign in with your Samsung account.
Choose the lost device from the list of registered devices.
The last known location will be displayed on a map after a short processing time.

Tips: If Offline Finding is enabled in the settings, you can locate the device even without an internet connection. Act quickly once you realize the phone is lost.

3. Apple Find My: For Apple Devices with Find My iPhone Enabled

Apple’s Find My service helps locate iPhones, iPads, iPods, or Macs linked to your Apple ID.

Requirements:

The device must have Find My iPhone enabled and location services active.
It must be signed into your Apple ID.

Using Find My on an iPad or Mac with the Same Apple ID:

Open the Find My app on your iPad or Mac.
Select Devices or Items.
Choose the lost device to view its location on a map.
Click Directions to navigate to the location.

Using iCloud Location Tracking:

Visit icloud.com/find and sign in with your Apple ID and password.
Click All Devices to view a list of devices linked to your ID.
Select the lost device. If offline, its last known location will be shown on a map.

Using Find My App on Another Device:

Open the Find My app on another device.
Sign out the device owner by clicking the sign-out option in the top-right corner.
Sign in with your Apple ID and password.
Select the lost iPhone from the list of devices displayed below the map.
The last known location will appear if the phone is powered off.

Tips: If two-factor authentication is enabled without a trusted device, request a verification code via text or call to your trusted phone number. Like Samsung’s Find My Mobile, Apple’s Find My network can locate offline devices.

4. Google Maps: For Devices Logged into a Google Account

Google Maps’ Timeline feature compiles location data from a device, which can help locate a phone that’s turned off.

Requirements:

Location History and Location Reporting must be enabled on the device.

Steps to Locate a Lost Phone:

Visit www.google.com/maps and sign in with your Google Account.
Click Your Timeline from the left sidebar.
Select Today at the top of the screen.
A timeline of recent locations will appear.
Scroll through to find the last known location of the lost phone, displayed on a map.

Note: If Location History or Reporting is disabled, use Find My services instead.

5. MobileTracking Family Locator: For Loved Ones’ Mobile Devices

MobileTracking Family Locator is designed to keep kids safe both online and offline. By pairing the app with a target phone, you can track its real-time location and receive low-battery alerts (e.g., below 20%) to act before the phone powers off.

Key Features of MobileTracking:

Track a device’s real-time location.
Set geofencing to monitor safe zones.
Receive alerts for low battery or delayed location updates.
Remotely view, hear, and record the device’s surroundings.

Usage: Install the app on both your device and the target phone, pair them, and monitor the phone’s location and status to prevent it from powering off unnoticed.

Can We Track a Switched-Off Phone with an IMEI Number?

Network providers can use the IMEI to identify a phone’s last known location, but this typically requires legal authorization or a court order. End users must contact their wireless carrier to explore this option. Discuss the issue with a representative to see if they can assist.

Common Wireless Carriers and Contact Numbers:

Wireless Carrier	Number
AT&T	1-(800)-331-0500
Verizon	1-(800)-922-0204
T-Mobile	1-(877)-746-0909
Sprint	1-(888)-211-4727
TracFone Wireless	1-(800)-867-7183
Straight Talk	1-(877)-430-2355

Note: These are general customer service numbers. For specific inquiries, visit the carrier’s official website for accurate contact details.

Conclusion

Tracking a phone that’s turned off remains challenging, but apps like MobileTracking Parental Control allow you to monitor a child’s phone until it powers down. These apps also enable screen time limits to automatically lock the device after excessive use. By setting up parental controls, you gain peace of mind over your child’s online interactions, content, and communication, fostering healthy digital habits and essential online skills.