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Lost Device Protection

Lost Device Protection helps the user prepare for a missing phone and act when it happens. Kiren guides the user to Google's Find Hub service, which locates the phone and protects the personal information on it.

Find Hub can be used from another Android device, or it can be opened in a browser on any other phone, tablet, or computer. No additional app is needed when using the browser.

What it can do

With Find Hub turned on, a missing phone can be:

  • Found on a map, with directions to its approximate location.
  • Made to play a sound to find it nearby. The phone rings at full volume for five minutes, even when it is on silent or vibrate.
  • Tracked down with Find nearby, when available, which guides the search for a phone that is close by.
  • Protected with Mark as lost, which locks the phone and shows a message and contact number on the screen.
  • Erased remotely, removing the personal data on it, if it cannot be recovered.

With offline finding enabled, the Find Hub network can also help locate the phone using nearby Android devices.

Getting ready in advance

Find Hub must be turned on before the phone goes missing. Checking it takes a minute:

  1. Open Settings on the phone and make sure it is signed in to a Google Account.
  2. Tap Google, then All services if shown, and Find Hub. On some phones Find Hub is under Security. On older versions it may be called Find My Device.
  3. Make sure Allow device to be located is on.
  4. In the phone's settings, open Location and make sure Use location is on.
  5. In the Find Hub settings, open Find your offline devices and choose a network option to help locate the phone when it is offline. Network finding needs Bluetooth on and a PIN, pattern, or password set.

Setting names can vary by phone and Android version. For more help, see Google's guide to preparing a device.

Where to find it in Kiren

Open Kiren, swipe to Activity, and tap Device Health. Then tap Lost Device Protection, subtitled "Find, lock or erase your device".

Tap Learn about Find Hub to open Google's guidance.

To find a missing phone, open find-device.kiren.com/android in a browser on another phone, tablet, or computer. Kiren keeps this link pointing to Google's device-finding service. Bookmarking it makes it easy to find when it is needed.

If the phone goes missing

  1. Open find-device.kiren.com/android in a browser and sign in with the Google Account used on the missing phone. The Find Hub app on another Android device works as well. On a borrowed device, choose Sign in as guest.
  2. Select the phone to check its location. If its current location is unavailable, Find Hub may show its last known location.
  3. If it seems to be nearby, choose Play sound or use Find nearby, if available.
  4. If it cannot be found right away, choose Mark as lost. Add a contact number and a message to help whoever finds it get in touch.
  5. If it cannot be recovered, open the device's settings in Find Hub and choose Factory reset. Try the other recovery options first: erasing cannot be undone, and the phone is no longer available in Find Hub afterward.

For detailed instructions, see Google's guide to finding, securing, or erasing a lost Android device.

Good to know

  • The phone needs power and an internet connection to be locked or erased remotely. Offline finding can still help locate it when it has no Wi-Fi or mobile data connection.
  • A screen lock should stay set on the phone. Device Health helps check this. See Device Health (Android).
  • Access to the Google Account should be kept. A backup method for 2-Step Verification should be stored somewhere reachable without the phone.
  • The Google Account should stay on the phone. Find Hub relies on the account for its protection features. The account password should be kept private.
  • Erasing may leave data on an SD card. A factory reset removes data from the phone but may not erase a removable memory card.