Android Device Manager Allows You to Find Lost Phones

News
By Jane McEntegart
published

Android Device Manager is now available in app form.

Back in September, Google finally gave Android users the ability to wipe and locate their lost or misplaced smartphones. It was a feature iPhone users had enjoyed for years and filled a substantial gap in the Android user experience. Now, Google is bringing the feature to the Google Play Store as an app.

 

Previously, users who wanted the benefit of the features from Android Device Manager had to visit a specific webpage and enable the setting on their phone.

The app is called Android Device Manager and is compatible with both smartphones and tablets. All you need is Android 2.3 or older to run the application and you'll be able to lock, wipe, locate or ring any Android device associated with your Google account.

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Jane McEntegart
8 Comments Comment from the forums
  • biohazrdfear
    Oh this isn't new at all.../sarcasm.
    Reply
  • pacomac
    I wonder where they got this great idea.../more sarcasm.
    Reply
  • Memnarchon
    "All you need is Android 2.3 or older to run the application"

    Oo. What's that suppose to mean? It doesn't run on new devices with android 4.x or newer???
    Reply
  • dotaloc
    Previously, users who wanted the benefit of the features from Android Device Manager had to visit a specific webpage and enable the setting on their phone.
    The horror!
    Reply
  • schultzter
    12163527 said:
    "All you need is Android 2.3 or older to run the application"

    Oo. What's that suppose to mean? It doesn't run on new devices with android 4.x or newer???

    Because newer devices already have the functionality built-in!
    Reply
  • DiaSin
    Um.. I have been able to track my tablet since I bought it a year ago. This feature already existed as an extension of Avast! Mobile for rooted devices.
    Reply
  • hytecgowthaman
    just now try that work ringing thanks its helpful for without gps mobile.
    Reply
  • teh_chem
    12165370 said:
    Um.. I have been able to track my tablet since I bought it a year ago. This feature already existed as an extension of Avast! Mobile for rooted devices.
    Yes, but this is now a built-in capability to Android without requiring root. That was my issue with all of the "track my phone" apps that supported remote lock and wipe; they all required root. Requiring root was understandable, but in my case I couldn't use my phone with root because I also use it for work, and my work requires all devices to be un-rooted (also for obvious reasons).

    12163335 said:
    I wonder where they got this great idea.../more sarcasm.
    So what? All companies constantly look to one another for ways they can implement new features (or features existing in other companies) to have an edge. Do you honestly think a company would say, "oh, well, has had this great feature forever, so WE can't implement it because we'll look like we're copying them!" Get real. Not only that, but Google was getting a lot of social pressure to better-support device security for remote device track/lock/wipe in the case of theft. Personally, I'm glad to have this option officially supported by Android, I couldn't care less if it was a 1:1 copy, I'm thankful to have this capability when I need it.
    Reply