AirDroid Parental Control & Phone Tracker

Find your loved ones in real-time and remotely see & hear their phone surroundings; set geofenced zones and get instant alerts.

Parent Control

AirDroid Business

● All-in-one Android MDM Solution;

● Remotely Access and Control Android Devices;

● Kiosk Mode for Dynamic Business Needs;

● Monitoring, Alerts, and Automated Workflows;

● Device Location Tracking & Geofence Alerts.

Learn More
Try It Free

How to Find a Lost iPhone or Android Phone That Is Turned off

Elsa Updated on Dec 13, 2022 Filed to: Parent Control

"My phone is turned off, and I can't find it. How do I track it?". If that's the million-dollar question on your mind, you're in the right place.
To begin with, yes, you can track a phone that is turned off. There are different ways to do that, depending on the kind of device, whether Android or iPhone.

Each of these ways has its pros and cons and situations where they come into play. You can find a lost iPhone turned off using the Find My app or Google Maps (timeline).
So, how to track a phone that is turned off? Read on to discover more!

Part 1: Can You Track a Phone That Is Turned off?

Before answering the question, let's first talk about how location tracking works.

Triangulation is one such method and works on the locations of cell towers or mobile network masts. This service works by monitoring which mast you are connected to. When that phone moves, it will ping from a different mast. Using multiple masts, triangulates a position to narrow it down.

Another phone tracking method is GPS services. It is the most accurate monitoring form and can be shown in real-time. It uses satellite signals to ping the phone and provide a location. Phones also use A-GPS or assisted GPS when connected to Wi-Fi or data connections. It uses the cell site mast information to map the location more accurately when satellite coverage is poor.

When there is no connection, Bluetooth services help track a phone offline as long as it is switched on. Find my iPhone, Find My Device, or similar services use the last known phone location to help you.

Finally, you can use IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers to trace a phone. It only works through GPS services or physically matches the IMEI reported stolen. Generally, filing a police report may increase your odds of finding it.

So can you track a phone that is turned off?

Unfortunately, there is no simple method to track a phone that is turned off. But you can see recent activities before the phone is switched off such as the last known location and locaiton history. What's more, AirDroid Family Locator allows you to check whether the pairing phone has a low-charge current. So you can remind them to charge their phone before it switches off due to low power.

Part 2: How to Find a Lost iPhone That is Turned off

Apple has enabled their device users to track their phone when it is lost and turned off. All iPhone users must have an Apple ID and connect it to their devices. Only then can they find a lost iPhone turned off or initiate lost mode remotely. There are two ways to find a lost iPhone turned off; Find My App or Google Maps (timeline).

1Find the iPhone's Last Location with Find My App

Find My app is available for iPhone users with the latest iOS. When they connect their Apple devices (iPad, iPod, Mac, iPhone) with their Apple ID and turn on "Find My Network," they can find the iPhone's last location.

If you have an iPad or Mac sharing the same Apple ID with your iPhone;

Open the Find My app on your iPad or Mac.
Choose the item or device option.
Select the device you want to locate on the map.
Click "Direction" to open the device location on the map.

Note : If you have no device sharing the same Apple Id with the lost phone, you can also use Find My iPhone on iCloud website or other's device.

Use Find My App on Other's Device

The steps to use the Find My app on other device is similar to using it on devices with the same Apple ID.

Open the Find My app on another device ( if you don't have an iPad or Mac sharing the same ID).
Click on the sign-out option at the upper right corner of the screen to sign the device owner out.
Sign in to Find My iPhone with your Apple ID and password.
A list of devices with your ID will be displayed below the map on the screen.
Choose the iPhone you want to locate.
The last known location will be displayed when the lost iPhone is turned off.

Use iCloud Location Tracking

Go to the iCloud website and log in with your Apple ID and password.
Click "Find devices."
Click "all devices" to see a list of devices using your ID.
Select the device you want to locate.
The selected device will be displayed in the middle of the "Find My device" toolbar.
Since the device is turned off, it will appear as offline, but the last location will be displayed on the map.

2Check Location History with Google Maps

The Google timeline is an overview of all location data collected from the iPhone. This data can be used to find a lost iPhone turned off. The Google Maps timeline only works if location history and reporting are enabled. Otherwise, you can use the Find My app if the iPhone is connected to an Apple ID.

Go to the google timeline website.
Sign in with your Google account.
At the top side of the screen, click on "Today."
A recent timeline of the device location will be displayed.
Scroll through the timeline and identify the last known location of the lost iPhone.
Locate the lost phone on the map displayed on the screen.

Part 3: How to Find Lost Android Phone Which Is Switched Off

1Find the Phone's Last Location with Find My Device

Find My Device is an excellent service Google provides for Android phone users to track their lost or stolen phones. However, you need to sign up before using it.
To find a lost phone that is switched off;

Go to Android.com/find on your web browser.
Sign in with the Google account connected to the lost device.
The device will be displayed at the top of the screen.
Click the lost phone, its last location will be displayed on the map.

Note : Google Maps and AirDroid Family Locator is also a good option for Android users. If the lost phone is a Samsung Galaxy Series, Find My Mobile is another nice choice to track the Samsung phone.

2 Find the Lost Phone Before Powered off

AirDroid Family Locator is an app that aids in keeping kids safe, building healthy online habits, and providing parents with control over their child's phone usage. If you have installed the app and paired it with the lost phone, you can track its real-time location and will get alerts if the phone is low-power. So you can take action before it's powered off.

The app is easy to use and set up. You will have a full activity report breakdown of usage to see what apps your child has accessed and the screen time of specific apps.

Key Features

keep them safe with live GPS mapping and you can also get instant alerts for specific zones.
Get alert if the kid's phone has a low battery or has not been updating inactivity for a while.
Remotely watch, hear and record what is happening around your kids.
Screen mirroring and casting allow you to check your child's phone in real time.
Sync notifications and incoming SMS messages to your phone.
Screen-lock the phone after a certain period and set time limits on phone usage.
Apps & games blockers and allows you to set a schedule for when your kids can access certain apps.

Part 4: Take Action before Phone Is Lost

Prevention, they say, is better than cure. It would be best if you took action before your phone is lost. These actions will help you increase the chances of your phone recovery when it is lost.

1Add Alternate Contact Information to Your Phone's Lockscreen

The additional contact information on the lock screen shows the details of the device owner in case the phone is lost or an emergency. Most phones have the same way of adding additional contact information to the lock screen.

Swipe up on the home screen to access the device icons.
Go to settings and tap display.
Go to "advanced" to open more display options.
Scroll to the lock screen and tap it.
Tap "add text on the lock screen."
Type in the information and save it.

2Always Charge Your Phone Fully

There is no foolproof method of finding a lost phone that is switched off. It is easier to locate a phone that is online than offline.

Hence, always ensure that your phone is fully charged at all times. Plus, the contact information added to the lock screen will only be seen if the phone is still on.

3Take Care of Your Phone

The majority of phones reported stolen or missing are out of carelessness. You need to handle your phone with care. Please don't leave it lying around carelessly.

Also, know where your phone is at all times. It will help you keep an eye on it if you need to retrace your footstep.

Phones should be kept in pockets, purses, or clutches. At home, have a designated place to keep your phone. Preferably on the nightstand or a side stool.

4Enable Lost Mode

The lost mode locks the phone and displays a message with contact information and a call button on the screen. You can enable the lost mode for both iPhone and Android.

Enable Lost Mode (iPhone)

You can enable lost mode on your iPhone through iCloud or the Find My app.
Sign in with your Apple ID on the iCloud website.
Select "Find my iPhone."
Select "all devices" from the options.
Select the device you want to activate lost mode on.
Choose lost mode from the options displayed at the bottom.
A message containing the contact information will be displayed on the lost phone for finders to contact the device owner.

Enable Lost Mode (Android)

Go to Android.com/find on your web browser.
Sign in with the Google account connected to the device.
The device will be displayed at the top of the screen.
Click the lost phone, and it will get a notification.
The phone's location will be displayed on the map.
Choose "secure device." The phone will be locked.
You can add a message/phone number to be displayed on the screen.

5Alert The Police

If you think your phone is stolen, not misplaced, you should file a police report. Although it may not be considered a high-priority case, it can help in other ways. The device is added to a blocklist and wouldn't work with any carrier within the country.

The police may also help you track the lost phone via IMEI number.

Conclusion

The question of “ can you track a phone that is turned off” is still a firm no. However, with apps such as AirDroid Parental Control, you may be able to monitor your child's phone until it turns off. While they also allow you to set screen time locks so that your child's phone is turned off from being used if they've been on it for too long!

Setting up parental controls lets you have peace of mind over your child's online content, interactions, and communication. It also helps build healthy online habits that will set them up with the online skills and mindfulness they and you need.

Was This Page Helpful?