Google announced the launch of the updated Find My Device network in the United States and Canada. This crowd-sourced network can help users locate their Android devices and everyday items that have gone missing. The Find My Device network includes over one billion Android devices and is compatible with devices running Android 9 and newer, similar to Apple’s Find My network.
Using the Find My Device network, users will be able to locate their Android phones and tablets by making them ring or viewing their location on a map, even when those devices are offline. The previous Find My Device service required lost phones to be connected to the internet for location tracking.
The updated network also allows Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro users to find their devices even if they are turned off or have run out of battery. Starting in May, Android users will be able to locate everyday items, such as keys or wallets, as Google integrates Bluetooth tracking tags from Chipolo and Pebblebee into the Find My Device app.
Google states that Chipolo and Pebblebee manufacture Bluetooth tracking tags specifically for the Find My Device network and will be compatible with unknown tracking alerts across Android and iOS to help protect users from unwanted tracking. Users can expect to see compatible tags from Motorola, Jio, and Eufy later this year.
This announcement comes as Google and Apple announced last year that they would work together to lead an industry-wide initiative to alert users about unwanted tracking from Bluetooth trackers. The new Find My Device network also integrates with Nest smart home devices, showing how close the lost device is to Nest devices.
Google stated: "The updated Find My Device network is secure by design and private by default. The multi-layered protective measures integrated into the Find My Device network help maintain your safety and the privacy of your personal information while keeping you in control of the devices connected to the Find My Device network." It added: "This includes end-to-end encryption for location data, as well as aggregated reporting of device location, which is a security feature that provides additional protection against unwanted home or location tracking."
Google also clarified that the Find My Device network will soon work with headphones from Sony, JBL, and others.
