How to manage location history on android. How to find out the location of a person on an android phone or tablet. How to find a turned off Android phone through a computer
Google can track a lot of things. Your Timeline is a Google Maps tool that allows users to track places , which they visited any day. Your Timeline shows the routes they took to get there and the photos they clicked along the path that Google neatly stores off in Google Photos. The function claims that Your Timeline is private and only you can see it. With the same technology, Google informs you about traffic information in real time.
You may not be aware your functions timeline. Take it if you want to be tracked 24X7 or leave it if you don't want to be tracked. Maybe you're all right if you get tracked from time to time. The choice is yours! It's a known trait, we've read about it often, but still not many people use it. Some use it without knowing that they are using a feature that tracks their every move. This article will help you understand the features and how to activate or deactivate it as needed.
Enable location history
If you have a Google account, you can use the Timeline on your computer or Android mobile phone. Google is tracking your location from using Google Maps, which works on Android phone and web as well. Google also uses search and browsing information, GPS, Wi-Fi, cell towers, and device sensors such as gyroscopes and accelerometers to create a timeline. To access this feature, you must enable location history on your computer or mobile phone. It supports phones running Android 2.3 or higher.
To enable this feature on your computer:
Note: The steps for performing the various functions in this article are more or less the same, but the options may vary depending on the version of the desktop OS and device of the phone you're using.
- On your Android phone, go to Settings > Location Services > Location (ON)> location services.
If you haven't traveled, the page may be blank. However, if you have traveled, then you can scroll down to see the places you visited on specific days and times.
Timeline check
Your Timeline shows the locations you have visited on a day-to-day basis, as shown in the image below. This information is displayed on your page time scale on the desktop and in the Android app on the device.
To view all features and details, then it is recommended to check the timeline on the desktop. You will be able to view the world map with points on the places you have visited. You can zoom in to specific locations for detailed view and address. A timeline is also displayed if you walked, drove, or stacked at a specific location. If you are using Google Photos Timeline will show the photos you clicked along the way. If you name frequently visited places like - work, vacation and home in Google Maps, they will be labeled the same as in your timeline as well. You can also use the timeline feature which allows you to export geographic data as a KML file and look at it in Google Earth where it will play in animation
Timeline Editing
Google Timeline doesn't display accurate data all the time. Sometimes it shows the wrong location or doesn't show the place you remember visiting. If you encounter similar inaccuracies, you can select individual locations in your timeline to change the claimed location or remove it from the day without deleting all others. The steps to change the timeline on desktop, Android, or iPhone remain the same, but depending on the device, the options may vary.
Disable location history
If you don't want Google to track you all the time, you can turn off this Location History option.
To turn off Google Location History on your desktop:
- Go to page Timeline and click on the button Pause History location.
To turn off Google Location History on Android:
- On the phone, select Settings> Location> Google Location History and switch Off to disable location history.
To disable Google Location History for iOS:
- Open the Google app on your device.
- Select Settings> Privacy> location> History> Not a shop.
When you turn off location history, Google Maps stops collecting the places you visit with your device to add them to your Location History map.
Google warns that disabling location history will limit the functionality of some Google products such as Google Maps and Google Now. You should also be aware that lingering Location History does not turn off location data or location services for this device. It's good to prudently decide the services you want to enable or disable.
Deletion History Location
To delete all or some location data:
per page Timeline select icon Settings in the bottom right corner and select Delete Location History Range or delete location history.
Tracked sounds scary, but it's not because you can always disable or enable this option. You can also delete the entire history or delete details on a specific day or time.
Output
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Do you know that Google can automatically track the location of your android device while maintaining a complete route history. Unless, of course, you allow Google access to this feature, because you can always disable this option. We'll show you how to access and manage your device's location history. First of all, you should make sure location reporting is enabled on your phone or tablet. In case it is not enabled, you can enable it by going to Settings -> Location. Once this is done, you should also include in Google Location History if you want your location (or your device) to be saved. When location history is enabled, Google records your Android device's movement on Google Maps so you can view your location history at any time, Settings -> Location -> Google history location. A detailed map of your location is always available and you can choose to view history for 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days, 14 days, or 30 days. If you want, you can delete the location history, either all at once, or just a certain period of time (from 1 day to 30 days). All of this is also accessible from any computer at https://maps.google com/locationhistory (but you must be logged in with your Google account on the respective PC).
Note: This guide was made with Android 5.1 lollipop. But, I think everything should be relatively similar on other versions of Android.
How to Access and Manage Your Google Location on Android
Chronology ... Today, almost every mobile user knows that, under certain circumstances, Google can and does use smartphones and tablets to track the location of their owners, and also collects data about where these owners are, when exactly and for how long.
This kind of information is used by various Google online services, in particular for the so-called personalization of services, the study of consumer requests from users, etc.
Of course, such tracking is turned on, let's say, in the most favored nation mode, moreover, often the user, distractedly tapping icons and scrolling through the numerous screens of his smartphone, does not even have time to notice that he has already turned on this function.
Therefore, at first, some people are simply shocked by the news that Google knows everything about him with his own permission, and also sees and remembers everything, although the company never hid this.
Get acquainted with your routes in detail for at least the last few years, moreover, almost step by step, you (or someone else) can in the application Google Maps (chapter " Chronology") and / or directly on the Google website at the link https://www.google.ru/maps/timeline (also the "Chronology" section).
Log in with your Google account. The entire history of movements, whether it be hiking or trips, is displayed on the map. Information is provided daily, but you can view it both at a certain hour and for a certain period of time. The existing data can be exported.
Moreover, the user can even delete (at least it looks like this) all the information Google has painstakingly collected and stored about their movements. To do this, just find and click the button " ". To do this, on the computer, go to " Chronology "and press the button with the basket in the lower right corner of the screen, or go to Settings (standard button with a gear in the same place) and click " Delete location history«.
On an Android smartphone or tablet a little longer: open Cards , in " Menu " (3 stripes in the upper left corner) tap " Chronology ", then go to" Settings " (3 dots in the upper right corner), click " Access to my geodata " and there - " Delete history completely ". You can also delete data for a single day (select a date in the calendar, click the menu and then - " Delete data for the day «).
In addition, the user is given the option to remove from " Chronologies» individual entries. To do this, first select the date, then the point (or points) of the route, click / tap on it, in the menu that appears, select " Change" and than - " Delete entry«.
Note also that the option Delete location history” simply erases all entries saved in the “Timeline” at the time the button was pressed, but does not turn off the location tracking function itself.
If you do not want to share this data with Google anymore, then you can turn off tracking as follows:
- on computer: "Maps" -> "Timeline" -> "Settings" (gear button) -> "Disable location history";
- on an Android smartphone or tablet: "Maps" -> Menu -> "Timeline" -> Settings -> "Access to my geodata" -> there again "Access to my geodata" -> OFF (uncheck the top checkbox) -> OK.
If you use Google Maps often, you probably know (or maybe not) that they keep a detailed history of all the places you've been, whether you use navigation or not. We will tell you how to delete this data.
Google Maps saves your travel history in several different places: Timeline and Map History. "Timeline" is a very detailed description of where you've been, even if you didn't use navigation to get there (yes, your phone tracks your every move). "History of maps" - these are only those places that you used to navigate.
How to edit or remove individual entries from your Google Maps timeline
I'm using Android in this article, but the steps for iOS are exactly the same. To access your timeline, launch Google Maps and swipe right or tap on the three bars in the top left corner to open the menu. Select Timeline.
The default view is a minimap at the top of the screen and a view of your recent places at the bottom. To edit (or delete) any of these locations, simply click on the entry.
From here, you can edit the entry by clicking the "Edit" button, which will allow you to change the time and specify the exact location if it is inaccurate.
To delete an entry, click on the trash can icon in the upper right corner. A pop-up window will appear asking you to confirm the deletion of the entry.
How to Stop (and Delete All) Location History Tracking on Google Maps
You don't have to delete each entry individually. You can remove all your data from the timeline.
While in Timeline, tap the three dots in the top right corner, then select Settings.
It's actually quite difficult to completely turn off timeline because it can negatively impact other aspects of navigation. But if you want to remove entries from the timeline, then go to the bottom of the timeline settings page and turn off the "Location History Enabled" option.
You can turn off location history for a specific device or completely - just click the appropriate switch. The top toggle will turn off location history tracking on all devices, and the toggle next to the device name will simply turn it off on that particular device.
You can also delete your location history if you wish. There are two ways to do this: "Delete all location history" or "Delete part of location history". These are the last two options on the timeline settings page.
To delete the entire location history, click on this item. A warning will appear stating that this action cannot be undone, and this may affect applications that use your location history. If you agree, check the "Yes, delete" box and click "Delete".
If you want to delete the location history only for the period, then select the "Delete part of the location history" option. Specify the start date of the period and the end date and click "Continue".
The warning will appear again, check the "Yes, delete" box and click "Delete".
How to delete navigation history
Deleting your navigation history is a little trickier because there's no one-click option to delete everything - you can only delete individual entries.
First, launch Google Maps. Open the menu by swiping right or tapping the three bars in the top left corner. Scroll down the menu, there you will see the "Settings" item, click on it.
Here, find and click on the "History" item.
Here you will see all the routes that you used while navigating. It is not possible to clear all the data at once, so you will have to delete them individually by pressing the X on the right side.
After clicking on X, you will receive a small warning that this entry will be removed from the history of Maps. Confirm the deletion by clicking on the "Delete" button.
Mobile devices are often lost when left in crowded places. Often, cell phones fall out of bags, pockets, or are simply stolen by intruders. How to find android? Using the functions of the system, you can locate the smartphone, lock the device, delete personal information.
How to find a lost Android phone through a computer
Modern communications make it easier to find an Android phone, make it possible to control a mobile phone from a distance. If the device is lost in the mountains, where there is no cellular connection, is discharged and turned off, the possibility of access to the gadget is reduced to zero. How to find an Android phone? The device is more likely to be detected quickly if it:
- is on;
- has access to the Internet;
- equipped with a geolocation function.
How to find a turned off Android phone through a computer
The ability to find a lost device is significantly limited if the cell phone is not working. How to find a turned off Android phone through a computer? This will help the service offered by Google - Android Device Manager. A prerequisite for using the service is constant access to the Internet or GPS navigation. It also requires a Google account.
Google search for android phone
Gadget owners usually create a Google account. Using an account, you can download games, updates, register on sites, install useful applications. One of the functions of a Google account is to determine the location of a stolen or lost smartphone, even if it is turned off. The system is equipped with a device manager. Enabling this feature makes it easier to locate the device if it is stolen or lost in the future. Versions 5.0 and higher do not require this activation. This setting is enabled by default.
In order to find your Android phone by Google account in the future, you need to activate the device manager. Your actions:
How to find a phone on android? To do this, you need to follow the link www.google.com/android/devicemanager, activate your account, if this has not been done before. Then the system itself will find the smartphone registered to this account. A control panel will appear in front of the user with suggestions for further actions regarding the cellular - a test call, blocking, deleting personal data. In addition, the owner of the smartphone will see a map indicating the location of the gadget.
Android phone tracking software
There are special programs that make it possible to remotely search for android. They work in the same way as the device manager from Google, while they have features in terms of performing functions, interface, and other nuances. Tracking an Android phone in this way is possible with:
- Lost Android - the program is notable for the fact that after installation it appears in the list as Personal Notes, has a shortcut to an ordinary notepad. If a hacker steals a cell phone, they most likely will not guess that this application is on it.
- Lookout Security & Antivirus - in addition to tracking the location of the device, it provides full protection for the gadget from unwanted access, viruses, spyware. It is possible to recover lost data.
- Where's My Droid - controls the smartphone, makes it call itself, sends its coordinates to a given number. The Pro version allows you to take hidden pictures. The person who holds the stolen gadget in his hands will not know that he is being photographed. The resulting snapshots are then sent to the specified address.
Video: Android remote control
Losing an android phone is unpleasant. Even more unpleasant if the phone is stolen. In this article, we will talk about applications that will help you lock your Android device in case of loss, remotely delete information from it, or even issue a short message with information to “intruders”.
Here we need to make a reservation that most applications for finding a lost tablet or phone only work if the device has an Internet connection. In addition, in order to find a lost Android phone, the device must have the functions of geolocation search, location determination, as well as the remote system management function activated on the device.
So, let's begin. The easiest way to find a lost android phone is through the Google system. If your phone or tablet is linked to your Google account, simply go to google.com/android/devicemanager and enter your Google account login details.
Next, you will be asked to choose from three actions: determine the location of the device on the map, make the phone ring (this is useful for those who lose the phone within the apartment), or if you are absolutely sure that the phone was stolen (and Google map confirms this) , you can use the function to delete data from the phone memory.
But, there is a possibility that the data from the flash card will not be deleted (Google will warn you about this). It all depends on the phone model, it may work out.
This feature can also be successfully used by parents to get information on where to find a child with your (or his) phone.
One of the most interesting additional applications for finding a lost Android phone is Android Lost. It is easy to download the program, it is free, without any registration. In addition, the icon on the desktop will not give itself away, as it is called Personal Notes.
Is it possible to find an android phone? Of course, in case of loss or loss, we act in the same way as in the first case: we go to the androidlost.com website and enter the Google record. On the Control tab, you can control the phone - make it ring or vibrate.
You can also determine the geographic location of your android phone using GPS data (even if the search on the phone is turned off) or the mobile network of the SIM card. If the SIM card was changed, and geolocation is completely disabled (for example, the device is turned off), you can try to find the place where the phone was active the last time.
From a computer, you can view all messages on your Android phone, send a new message from an already lost phone, or display some kind of inscription on the monitor.
But the most useful, especially for those whose phone is actually stolen, is the ability to get a photo of the intruder through the front camera.
It is enough to send a message to the phone, the answer to which will be OK, something that does not arouse the suspicion of the robber. For example, a pop-up message stating that an update to the application of such and such is installed on the lost phone. The criminal presses OK, and the camera receives his photo.
Modern mobile devices are quite high-tech and their work is unthinkable without the use of the Internet. The most popular Android mobile platform from Google is no exception. Considering the fact that a very large number of people use Android smartphones, it is not surprising that the question often arises, how can find a lost or stolen phone or remotely erase the information on it.
How to enable find my phone on android
The lost phone search function appeared in Android in 2014 and it works for all users without exception by default. The necessary condition is only creating a google account and entering information about it in the device itself. You can create a Google account on both your phone and PC. I wrote how to do it on a computer. The mailbox in the Gmail service is your Google account.
To check how phone search works, go to link and enter your account password. If location detection is enabled on the phone (I usually turn it off to conserve battery power), then the map will show the location of your phone.
google map
Using your Google account, you can not only see the location of your phone, but also see when it was last connected to the Internet, and also activate a sound signal on your phone ( call) and remotely clear the smartphone's memory (start the process of a hard reset on android).
remote dial or block
The call function is relevant if you really lost the device and cannot find it, for example, in an apartment or somewhere else. The beep will help you locate it by ear.
How to remotely lock the phone and delete all data from it?
You can block your phone and delete data as a last resort if you know for sure that it fell into the wrong hands and you do not want private information - sms, photos, whatsapp correspondence and more to be read by a third party.
In order to be able to remotely clear the smartphone’s memory, you need to in advance give permission to it in your phone settings. This is usually done in the section "Security" - "Device" - "Administrators"
On my phone it looks like this:
After I allowed Android remote control in the phone settings, then in the section device manager there was another item "Block"
Now I can remotely lock my smartphone if it is lost or stolen. In the lock settings, you can set a password, the text that will be displayed, for example, “return the phone to the address. Moscow, Chistoprudny Boulevard, 2-16” and provide a phone number to contact you.
lock settings This is what my phone screen looks like when I remotely locked it:
The screen will not be unlocked until you enter the password correctly.
If you are accessing remotely clear the contents of the smartphone keep in mind that the data on the card may not be deleted (but this is not certain). The probability of deletion or not deletion depends on the specific android version and phone model.
Conclusion
This method of finding a lost or stolen phone is not a panacea. It is enough to make a HardReset on the smartphone and completely clear the memory, including from Google accounts and other things - the phone will return to working condition again. This search method is designed for quite banal cases - the phone is really lost, for example, in the grass, in a room, in a garden, etc.
There are cases when people found other people's phones and continued to use them without changing anything. for example, as described.
In this regard, the protection of apple devices is made much more serious, if you lost your iphone, and the “find my phone” function was active on it, then through icloud you can completely “ scorch" device. That is why, stealing an iphone is completely pointless, because you simply cannot sell it or use it for its intended purpose.
Many owners of mobile gadgets ask the question of how to find a lost Android phone. Sometimes you just lost it at home, other times it could be stolen. Do not despair, as there are ways to find a lost android phone from a computer. Users can resort to functionality, as well as use other third-party programs.
Phone search using Google
The developer of this operating system provided the ability to find your mobile android devices if they were lost. However, for this, remote control must be activated on the phone, and you must also be logged into your Google account. If you have not already done this on your smartphone, then be sure to activate this function, since only it will later help you find your phone via the Internet on your PC. To enable remote discovery, follow these steps:
- Go to the general settings of your gadget.
- Find the "Security" submenu and then enter it.
- Scroll down to Device Administrators. Go to this point.
- Check the box next to "Remote Control".
This completes the settings on the smartphone. Now that your phone has been stolen, it can be found. It should be borne in mind that the stolen Android phone must be turned on. A switched off phone cannot be tracked using this system. To determine where your mobile phone may be, you need to do the following:
Users also have access to the "Call" function. You can not only find a stolen phone, but also block the device or completely erase data from it. If you delete the data, attackers will not be able to use the accounts and other information contained in the phone's memory. If someone has found your phone, you can send them a message through the "Block" feature.
What should I do if I lost my phone? First of all, use the service from Google, as this is the easiest and most convenient way to find a mobile phone. To find the smartphone must be turned on and connected to the global Internet. Otherwise, the service will show the time and place of the last detection.
We use additional software
One way to find a stolen gadget is to install special programs that, in essence, provide an analogue of the service described above. There are dozens of applications in the official Play Market and the Internet that will quickly find a lost smartphone. Consider the most popular of them.
talk log
The company of the same name has developed a special application that allows you not only to determine the location of the phone, but also to track calls and SMS messages. To do this, you need to go to the official website of the developers, and then create an account. On the "add device" tab, you will be given a unique link to download the application.
- Install and run the program on your smartphone. Be sure to allow your location to be determined.
- Restart your smartphone.
- Go to your personal account on the official Talklog website, and then find the "Location" tab.
- The system will provide the coordinates of your phone. The program determines the location of the smartphone according to GPS and GSM.
The only significant drawback of this application is that it is paid, however, during the first 12 hours, the user has access to absolutely all the functionality of the program.
This program is almost identical to the one described above, with the exception that it is absolutely free. Don't know how to find a phone? Then download the application to the device, while allowing it to administer. So you can go to the official website of the program, where you need to log in with your Google account.
Now let's figure out how to track the device? Select "Get Location" from the list of commands. After that, a map with the location of the smartphone will appear on the screen.
The application has a huge functionality, which includes:
- smartphone lock;
- creation of a sound or vibration signal;
- reading recent conversations;
- the ability to take a picture using the front or rear camera;
- read Wi-fi connection data and much more.
For the program to work, the phone must be in the network coverage area and be turned on.
Where's My Droid
An alternative application with a fairly wide functionality. The user will also have to put it on his smartphone, after which it will be possible to perform various manipulations with the lost device from a remote phone or computer. The developer's website has a user-friendly interface that allows you to take a picture of the camera, send a signal to your phone or determine the location.
An additional advantage is that the developers are constantly improving the application, as well as adding new features to it.
Avast Anti-Theft
One of the most popular programs that allows you to protect your phone is Avast Anti-Theft. The key feature is that once installed and configured, it is almost impossible to trace. It doesn't show up anywhere except in the list of installed programs. The attacker will not even guess that he is being monitored.
The developers have also created a convenient and intuitive web interface where you can perform such a variety of actions as call, send a message, erase all data and much more.
The search is carried out through Google maps. It is possible to turn on a satellite map, as well as track the route of the phone when moving.
The described applications are an excellent answer to the question of how to find a stolen phone.
If nothing helps
How to find a lost Android phone if all search methods through a computer do not work is an equally popular question. Here it is already necessary to contact either the telecom operator or law enforcement agencies. They have all the necessary equipment that will allow you to track the device almost anywhere. You must have a really good reason to contact law enforcement.
Pre-prepare documents on the purchase of the gadget, which must also contain IMEI - a unique identification number for your smartphone. Be sure to take the box and receipt from the store with you. All this will serve as proof that you are the owner of the lost device.
