Find Hub is Google's service, formerly called Find My Device, for locating, securing and erasing a lost Android phone, and it also finds tablets, Wear OS watches, Android XR devices, headphones and tracker tags. Set it up before you lose anything: sign in to a Google Account, turn on Location and turn on Find Hub, noting that some setup steps only work on Android 14 and up.
Here's the catch. Find Hub can find your phone even when it's offline, using a crowdsourced network of Android devices, but you only get the network's help if your phone has a PIN, pattern or password. Without a screen lock, Google says your phone still helps other people find their items, while you miss out on the best offline finding for your own. If your phone has no screen lock, that's the first thing to fix.
Set up Find Hub before you need it
Google's preparation checklist has eight steps, as of October 2026:
- Check that you're signed in to a Google Account.
- Check that Location is on.
- Check that Find Hub is on.
- Set up finding for offline devices and devices without power.
- Check that your device is listed on Google Play.
- Check that you can find your device.
- Install the Find Hub app.
- Create a 2-Step Verification backup code.
That last step is the easiest one to skip, so do it while you're in setup mode. You can also add headphones and other accessories from the same setup page, including headphones you've connected before.
How Find Hub finds an offline phone
Android devices in the Find Hub network use Bluetooth to scan for nearby items. When one detects yours, it securely sends the location to Find Hub, and your phone does the same for other people. Google says those locations are end to end encrypted with a key only you can reach by entering your phone's PIN, pattern or password, so they're private from Google and visible only to you and anyone you share the item with.
You choose how your phone takes part under Find your offline devices in the Find Hub settings:
| Setting, as of October 2026 | What it does |
|---|---|
| Off | No offline finding. You can still locate, secure and erase the phone and connected Fast Pair accessories while they're online |
| Without network | Stores only the most recent encrypted location of your phone and connected accessories with Google. No tracker tags, no wider network |
| With network in busy places only | Your phone helps others in busy areas, and with a screen lock you get help there too |
| With network everywhere | Helps find items in busy and remote areas, even when only one device has detected the item |
The busy-places setting uses aggregation: the network waits until several Android devices have detected a lost item, then shows the owner a location calculated from those reports. Google says that protects everyone's privacy in places like airports, but it can slow detection of Bluetooth trackers in remote areas, and that's what With network everywhere is for.
Older phones have a limit. If a device runs Android 8.0 or lower, it can't join the crowdsourced network, though it still stores encrypted recent locations for itself and connected accessories. On those phones the setting is under Settings, Google, All services, Personal and device safety, Find Hub, Store recent location.
What to do when your phone is lost
- On another device, like a friend's phone, sign in to Find Hub, either with Guest Mode or on the web.
- Select your device.
- Tap Mark as lost.
- If the device comes online, choose Secure Device or Factory reset device.
- If you believe it can't be found, contact your mobile provider to have it deactivated, which may need your IMEI number.
Think hard before you choose Factory reset device. Once a device is factory reset, Google says it's no longer available in Find Hub, so you can't track it after that. Google also notes that naming may differ between the Find Hub app and Find Hub on the web, so the buttons might not match word for word.
Why Find Hub can't see your phone
Find Hub may not locate a device if it has no power or has been switched off, has no mobile or Wi-Fi connection, has had its SIM card removed, was damaged, or was put in Airplane mode or had Wi-Fi turned off. That's exactly why the offline settings above matter.
If you get an email saying a device or accessory is out of sync, open Find Hub on an Android device signed in to your Google Account, select the item named in the email, tap Sync recent location and follow the steps on screen. When Find Hub can reach an online phone, it shows the battery level, the Wi-Fi network it's on and its Wi-Fi and mobile signal strength, which helps you judge how long you've got.
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Sharing tracker tags and lost luggage
You can share an accessory or tracker tag, like the one on your car keys, with up to 10 people so you can all locate it in the app. These steps only work on Android 9 and later, and for the shared owner's privacy it takes several minutes before the location shows after sharing. When you stop sharing, only the device owner can find it.
For a tagged item like luggage, you can share its location with a web link, for example with an airline. The location stays encrypted, but the key added to the link is accessible to anyone signed in with a Google Account, so only send it to people you'd trust with it.
Turning Find Hub off
If you don't want Find Hub at all, go to Settings, Google, All services, Personal and device safety, Find Hub, and set Allow device to be located to off. You can also delete all devices and their locations through the Find Hub app at any time. The same app handles sharing your real-time location with friends and family, with options to hide or block someone.
My verdict on Find Hub
Set it up today, not the day you lose your phone. Add a screen lock, choose With network everywhere if you're happy to help others, and make that 2-Step Verification backup code. I'd put it on the same first-day list as getting your assistant going, and here's how to use Gemini on Android if that's next. If it's an app misbehaving rather than a missing phone, my guide to clearing cache on Android is the better place to start.
Frequently asked questions
Is Find Hub the same as Find My Device?
Yes. Find Hub is the current name for Google's service, formerly Find My Device, that locates, secures and erases lost Android devices.
Can Find Hub find my phone if it's off?
It can use offline finding, including a stored encrypted recent location, but if the phone has no power or connection, Find Hub may be unable to locate it live.
Why does Find Hub need my screen lock?
The Find Hub network encrypts your items' locations with a key you reach through your PIN, pattern or password. Without one, you don't get help from the network.
What happens if I factory reset a lost phone in Find Hub?
When you factory reset a device, it's no longer available in Find Hub, so you can't track it after that.
How many people can I share a tracker tag with?
You can share an accessory or tracker tag with up to 10 people, on Android 9 and later.
