How to find a lost smartphone or tablet

Android Phone

Google offers a similar service, known as Android Device Manager, for smartphones and tablets running Google Android. Switch this on by opening Settings and then tapping Security. Choose Find my device and enable protection. Allow Remotely locate this device and Allow remote lock and factory reset are switched on. You’ll need Remote Controls and Location services switched on.

If you want to track your Android smartphone or tablet, open a web browser on a PC and head to google.co.in/android/devicemanager. You’ll be asked to enter the Google account you use on your handset and the password. Once logged in, you’ll be taken the Device Manager Screen – a map of your location, with a box in the top left-hand corner. The name of your device is at the top of this box. If you have more than one Android device, click the triangle icon to the right of this name to activate the drop down and then select the device you want to locate.

You can either make the device emit sounds so you can find if it’s in close proximity, or you remotely lock the device or erase all the data by clicking the options.

Windows Phone

You can also track Windows Phone devices. The function is turned on by default and you can’t switch it off. However you can opt to save the phone’s location periodically so if it runs out of battery it’s easier to find. To do this, select the Settings app and then scroll down and tap Find my phone and tick box next to Save my phone’s location.

Now to track your device, visit account.microsoft.com/devices and sign in with your Windows username and password. From the list of devices displayed, click the one you want to locate and Press Find my Phone. Its location will be displayed on the map on the screen and from the left-hand side you can choose to ring it, lock it or erase the data on it.

iPhone or iPad

You will need to make sure Find my iPhone is on for this to work. From the Settings Menu, tap iCloud and select Find my iPhone and make sure the slider next to it switched on. Make sure you've set a password so if anyone comes across it, they can’t stop Find my iPhone working.

Now to locate your iPhone or iPad use a web browser and visit icloud.com/find. Enter your Apple ID and password. A map of your location will be loaded. From Devices at the top of the screen, click the drop down menu and select which Apple device you want to find – if you have more than one they will be listed here – and its location will be pinpointed on the map

A pop up will appear in the top right-hand corner with three option. Play Sound will mean your iPhone or iPad makes a noise until it unlocked (great for tracking down where you’ve left your smartphone in the home). Lost Mode allows you to remotely lock the device, display a message on the screen for example with a number to contact if the device is found. It will also prevent access to any credit card details you have registered with Apple Pay.

Finally, Erase iPhone/iPad will allow you remotely remove all of your personal content from the device. To activate any of these, simply press the relevant option on the pop up.