How To Find Your Device Even When Your Phone Is Switched Off

 

A few years ago, it seemed nearly impossible to locate your device if it was dead or turned off. However, nowadays, it has become increasingly common and feasible to find your phone even when it's powered off.

Curious about how "Find My Device" works when your smartphone is not powered on? Well, let's delve into it because it's actually quite straightforward.

"Find My Device" utilizes reserve battery and special chips to accomplish this task.

Reserve batteries are commonly used in automotive applications. They store and provide a specific amount of power for a short duration after the main battery's power is depleted. While smartphones don't have a dedicated "reserve capacity" in the same sense, they rely on advanced battery management systems (BMS) that offer similar functionalities.

These BMS continuously monitor your battery's status and prevent it from discharging below a certain threshold. This threshold safeguards the battery from damage and ensures optimal performance. However, this protective mechanism can result in some remaining charge even after your phone's battery is drained.

In certain smartphones, the BMS enables components like Bluetooth (BT) and ultra-wideband (UBW) to remain active in a low-power state even when the phone is powered off. Although the phone is technically switched off, these essential elements stay active in a low-power state, enabling tracking features to operate for a limited period while consuming minimal battery life.

Let's consider the scenario where you use an iPhone (iPhone 11 and above with at least iOS 15.2). After you power off your device, specific wireless chips remain active in power reserve mode for up to 5 hours, allowing tracking to continue. This design ensures that your iPhone can transmit its location to Apple's Find My Network, which is a tracking network similar to Google's Find My Device.

 

The capability of low-power mode is not limited to iPhones. By utilizing the appropriate drivers, chips, and code, it is also possible to find switched-off Android devices. Some high-end devices have already incorporated this feature. In April 2024, Google made an announcement stating that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro could transmit their location to the Find My Device network even after being shut down.

The "Find My Device" feature utilizes location-sharing systems that rely on crowdsourcing. Devices with remaining power can transmit precise location data until their reserve charge is depleted. On the other hand, devices lacking specialized chips or reserve battery power can only transmit real-time location data before they are powered off.

Regardless, Google's Find My Device, similar to Samsung's Find My Mobile and Apple's Find My Network, now utilizes crowdsourced location data to assist in locating your devices based on their most recent known location.

Find My Device utilizes nearby devices as reference points. For instance, other Android devices or compatible accessories in close proximity can detect a lost device, providing an approximate location. This system works most effectively in areas with high foot traffic, where multiple devices can contribute to triangulating the last recorded position of your phone. 

 

Using the extensive network of Android devices worldwide, Find My Device can collaborate to locate your devices in various locations. By leveraging other nearby Android devices and accessories with Find Your Offline Devices enabled, you can pinpoint the location of your device. It is important to note that you can only report the locations of devices you encounter and access your device's location without revealing any personally identifiable information (PII) of the users. Likewise, others are unable to access your personal information.

Find My Device utilizes crowdsourcing when your device is offline. In the event that your device is powered off, it will retrieve its last-known location or real-time location data if it is in a low-power mode.

The capability to track devices that are turned off is expected to become more prevalent as manufacturers and chipmakers continue to introduce new technologies. High-end devices such as the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro already offer support for these advanced tracking features, and this trend is anticipated to persist. Additionally, if you have privacy concerns, you have the option to manage your involvement in these networks through settings.