Starting today, Google’s new Find My Device (FMD) network is rolling out in the US and Canada. It will first help locate missing Android phones and tablets. Headphones will be included shortly. In May, it will begin to support third-party Bluetooth tags for Find My Device.
The new FMD network, introduced by Google, relies on more than a billion devices with Android 9 or newer to locate lost items. It was first revealed at Google I/O 2023 but didn’t meet its initial summer launch goal.
Before, the Find My Device app needed your missing phone to be online (with Wi-Fi or cellular data). Now, even without an Internet connection, the service can find devices using Bluetooth.
The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are trackable even when they’re turned off or the battery has run out. Google attributes this to “unique Pixel components.” The company is also collaborating with various Android manufacturers and chip producers to bring this feature to high-end devices.
In May, you can look out for Bluetooth tracking tags that work with the system, around the same time iOS 17.5 is anticipated to introduce alerts for unidentified trackers.
Chipolo and Pebblebee are set to launch their FMD gadgets next month. Brands like eufy, Jio, Motorola, among others, plan to bring out their own devices “later this year.”
JBL, Sony, and more brands will soon update their headphones to be compatible with the Find My Device network. As for adding this feature to Wear OS smartwatches, Google hasn’t provided any details today.
This feature is available through the Find My Device app, where you can see a list of your devices. Choose a device and hit “Find nearby” to make it emit sounds and give clues like “Device is close,” “…very close,” and “It’s here.
“Connecting may take a bit of time, during which Google displays a Material You design that “fills up as you approach the device.”
Another cool feature is that Find My Device will utilize your Nest speakers and screens as reference points. The FMD app can indicate how close a “lost device is to your Nest gadgets at home,” such as “last seen near Living Room.”
Google is starting the Find My Device network today in the US and Canada. Look out for notifications in your email and on your device about this.
- Without network: “Your device won’t be part of the network. But you can still find your offline devices through their last known locations when they were connected.”
- With network in high-traffic areas only: “Find using last known locations or the network in places like airports or crowded walkways. Your device’s location data is used to locate a lost item only if other devices in the network also notice the item.”
- With network in all areas: “Find using last known locations or the network, even in places with few people. If your device is the only one to notice a lost item in the network, its location data may be used to help find it.”
What we think?
I think Google’s new Find My Device will be a game changer. It can find things without the internet, which is awesome. Even phones off or with dead batteries can be tracked, thanks to special parts in Pixels.
It’ll soon work with other gadgets and even keys with Bluetooth tags. Being able to use it in crowded places or anywhere really ups the game. Can’t wait to see it in action!