Top 5 Find My Phone Replacements for Android

Probably the worst thing that can happen to your smartphone is you losing it. While the loss of the data mostly isn’t that terrible (due to local or cloud copies), the loss of the phone itself can frustrate more. And if you suppose the new owner can access your data there, you can’t help shivering.

Are there ways to prevent it? There are. Apple has long ago implemented Find My Phone service that efficiently protects your data from prying eyes and often helps to get your phone back or learn where your friends are. It’s so popular that Find My Phone became a common name for the class. But Android devices are not controlled from the center as firmly as iPhones. No wonder that often Android device manager can’t find my phone when it’s gone. 

So, you’ll need a third-party solution that helps you to remotely access your device even if it has been lost or stolen. The first rule that applies to all of these apps to Find My Phone is: do it now. When you don’t have your phone, it’s too late. So give it some time now and decide which Find my Phone for Android app is the most suitable for you.

Family Locator by Life360

Though formally this app has another mission, it can also be used as a tracker for lost devices. Its primary function is exactly what it says on the tin. Install it on every smartphone in the family, and each member will always be aware of where the others are. It also lets you exchange messages showing where each of the family is. Last but not least: you can have more than one circle in Family Locator, for example, one is for your actual family, another for your colleagues, and one more for the group you’re travelling with.

Its secondary function, though, is about what we need. It lets other members track your device, and if you lose or leave it somewhere, you can just contact them any other way and look where they see you. Not that it’s the best Find My Phone app per se. With it, you cannot remotely lock your phone or erase its data. But it’s free, and its control features are quite decent.

Find My Device by Google

Even the name hints that it’s Google’s version of FMP. And, due to a certain central control, it really does a lot. With it, you can make your phone ring if you just left it somewhere around. If you’re sure your phone has been lost, you can erase it remotely and send a message to the finder that lets them contact you (though no one grants they will). The power of Google Maps (including indoor maps of malls, railway stations, airports, and so on) is backing the service.

As good as it is, this app has certain limitations. First of all, it requires Google services. So, if you’re on one of the latest Huawei devices, or on something made for the domestic Chinese market, or just on Google-free Android – forget about it. Second, it cannot remotely turn on location services on the lost device if someone turns them off. But the pro is that this app is free, and chances are you already have it.

Cerberus

It’s one of the most famous Find My Phone services, and its terrifying mythic name is quite the choice. It always keeps an eye on your device, with its impressive features that cover most possible troubles. When Cerberus is installed on your phone, you can remotely reset or lock it, make it produce an alarm sound, show a message on its screen, edit it, and even access the front camera to see who’s using it at the moment. 

One of the most impressive tricks is that Cerberus may conceal its presence, so the thief won’t even be aware they’re in someone’s eye. The app, in the meanwhile, continues its clandestine activity and informs you of what’s with your phone, recording sounds from its mic. The app is paid, but $5/year for a single device seems quite a reasonable price. The only trouble is that you will have to download it from the Cerberus site because Google considers it’s violating its norms of permission policies.

Prey Anti-Theft

Here is another app that boasts the best versatility. A Prey account can be used on Android phones and tablets, iPhones and iPads, Windows laptops, Macs, or Chromebooks. It keeps track of your device and connects it to the remote server – so if it gets stolen or lost, you will get all the possible data on it to your Prey account. With it, you can also remotely lock your phone or laptop, start the alarm, and so on.

As for the Android version, it’s way smaller than Cerberus and consumes even less resources. But it has all it takes to locate your device (if the location services are on) and inform you on its location. If you have at least a little experience with Find My Device by Google, you’ll have no questions on how to use Find My Phone app by Prey.

Where’s My Droid

It’s the first and, in many users’ opinion, the best app for remotely controlling your Android device. Antilost features start when you just want to see where you have put it. And when it gives a sound, you know: this is the droid you’re looking for. But the force gets strong with this one when it comes to handling the phone you have actually lost. You can erase it completely, clear only the SD card, or leave it intact while erasing the internal memory. It will notify you about a new number or SIM card in your phone. And it all requires virtually no energy.

The premium version works real wonders: for example, you may remotely take pictures with the front camera, view location history, contacts, and so on. The subscription is quite affordable – losing a phone, anyway, is more of a loss.

Find Your Find My Phone!

There are other security solutions as well – say, those by device vendors. It’s hard to recommend Samsung’s or Oppo’s Find My Device to those other from Samsung or Oppo users. The same is with each manufacturer who cares enough to provide such services. On the other hand, there are more third-party solutions available regardless of your device brand as long as it runs Android.

And which Find My Phone app is your choice? Why do you prefer it to others? Have you experienced this unpleasant situation? Do you have any questions you’d like to ask? Leave a comment to speak to us, or to another comment, or to the readers.