Android: Turn On or Off Find My Device

Find My Device works by keeping a background location and Bluetooth signal active on your phone. Android reports this signal to your Google account so the phone can be located from google.com/android/find or from any other device signed into the same account.

To check or change the setting, go to Tap on Settings ➔ Tap on Security & privacy ➔ Tap on Device finders ➔ Tap on Find My Device ➔ Enable or disable Use Find My Device. Turning it on lets the phone report its last known location even when the screen is off. Turning it off removes that tracking, which can be useful for privacy but also means the phone cannot be located if it is lost or stolen.

If Find My Device still shows the phone as offline while the toggle is on, the issue is often the phone's general Location setting or a missing internet connection rather than this feature itself. Battery optimization settings for Google Play services can also delay how often the location updates. Disable Find My Device only when you are certain you no longer need remote tracking, for example right before resetting a phone to sell it.