See how to track a lost or stolen cell phone using Google Maps

THE Google Maps is one of the most used location and route applications in the world, but its features go beyond that. It is possible to track a stolen or lost cell phone using the tool, following the route taken by the smartphone and monitoring all movement in real time.

To activate this function, just follow a simple step by step. The first of these is, clearly, downloading the Google Maps app, available for iOS (iPhone) and Android cell phones. Then a few more steps are needed.

First, open the Google Maps app on your phone. Then click on your profile icon, located to the right of the search bar.

Then select the “Your Timeline” option.

After reading the summary of the Timeline feature’s functions, press “Continue”.

You will be directed to your Google account settings, under “Activity Control”. There, scroll down and press “Activate” in the “Timeline” option.

You can then read the resource guidelines. If you agree, scroll down and press “Activate”. After that, the “Timeline” is already activated.

From there, Google Maps will keep a history of the places he passed. If your cell phone is lost or stolen, you will be able to check the route of your device. This can be done by logging into your Google account on another device.

In this case, just follow the same step by step described above. When accessing “Your Timeline”, the app will show the history of the routes your cell phone has taken.

Sharing real-time location

It is also possible to track a cell phone on Google Maps using real-time location. To do this, you can share it with one or more people before leaving home. If your cell phone is stolen or stolen, that person will be able to follow the route taken by the device in real time.

To share your location, follow these steps:

Open the Google Maps app on your phone. Press your profile icon, next to the search bar, as in the previous steps. Then press the “Share location” option.

On the next screen, you will be able to select which Gmail contact you would like to share your location with. Just press the icon that corresponds to that person and wait for them to accept the invitation.

You can choose how long the location will be shared, depending on your needs.

You can also share your location with someone else who doesn’t have a Gmail account. Just press “More options”. There, you can share it to WhatsApp contacts, for example, and wait for the invitation to be accepted. Once this is done, the real-time location is shared.

For this feature to work properly, your cell phone must be turned on and connected to the internet.

Discover other anti-theft features for cell phones

This is not the only anti-theft or anti-loss feature for cell phones. In May this year, Google announced a series of new features for Android to protect users against device theft.

Among the new features is the use of AI (artificial intelligence) to identify when the device is stolen and automatically generate a screen lock. Additionally, it is possible to update the factory reset, create a private space to hide confidential applications, activate biometrics to access and change Google account settings, among others.

For those who have iOS cell phones, such as iPhones, other features can also be activated to protect the device against theft and theft. This is the case of blocking the Control Center, activating Stolen Device Protection and protection in case of a stolen cell phone while it is unlocked. See some of these iPhone anti-theft tips in an article previously published on CNN .

Learn how to remove your personal information from Google search

This content was originally published in See how to track a lost or stolen cell phone using Google Maps on the CNN Brasil website.

Source: CNN Brasil