Protect your data against theft

Minimize the impact of phone theft by protecting your data and your device with security features.

Important: You're using an older Android version. Some of these steps work only on Android 15 and up. Check your Android version.

Theft protection

Important:

To turn on Theft protection features:

  1. Go to Settings .
  2. Select Google.
  3. Tap All services and then Theft protection.

To manage features on a supported Android device, select this link.

Turn on Theft Detection Lock

Theft Detection Lock uses AI, your device’s motion sensors, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth to detect if someone unexpectedly takes your device and runs away. If Theft Detection Lock detects your device is taken from you, it automatically locks your device's screen to protect its content. For example, if someone grabs the phone out of your hand and they run, bike, or drive away, the Theft Detection Lock may activate.

Important:

  • When the device’s screen is locked, Theft Detection Lock is not active.
  • To limit interruptions during regular device use, Theft Detection Lock may not trigger when:
    • Your device has either a stable Wi-Fi connection, Bluetooth connection, or both.
    • If there were repeated locks in a short period of time.
  • To protect your sensitive data if your phone is stolen, Theft Detection Lock uses device sensors to identify theft attempts. This feature is being rolled out gradually to ensure compatibility with various devices, starting with Android devices that cover 90% of active users worldwide. Visit your Theft Protection Settings page periodically to check if your device is supported.

To turn on Theft Detection lock:

  1. Go to Settings .
  2. Tap Google and then All services and then Theft protection.
  3. Turn on Theft Detection Lock.
    • If the setting for “Theft Detection Lock” is grayed out, your device doesn’t support this feature.

Turn on & use Remote Lock

If your device is lost or stolen, to quickly lock your screen, you can use Remote Lock with a verified phone number.

Important: To use Remote Lock, you must have:

  • A screen lock
  • An active SIM card on your device
  • Device with a verified phone number
  • Find My Device turned on
  • Your device online

If your device is offline when you send a lock screen request via Remote Lock, its screen locks automatically once it’s online. After your device's screen is locked remotely, it can only be unlocked locally with your screen lock. The device’s screen can be locked remotely twice in a 24-hour period.

To turn on Remote Lock:

  1. Go to Settings .
  2. Tap Google and then All services and then Theft protection.
  3. Tap Remote Lock.
  4. Turn on Remote lock.
    • To complete activation, you need a verified phone number.
    • If your phone number isn’t verified:
      1. Tap Verify number.
      2. Turn on Automatically verify phone numbers.

If you lose your phone or suspect it was stolen:

  1. Go to android.com/lock.
  2. Enter your phone number.
  3. Complete a reCaptcha challenge.
  4. Ask for the device to be locked.
    • Shortly after, the phone screen locks.

Tip: To wipe, secure, or erase your device data remotely after you lock your device, you must sign in to Find My Device. Learn how to use Find My Device.

Turn on Offline Device Lock

After your device goes offline, Offline Device Lock automatically locks your device screen to protect your data. For example, if someone steals your phone and turns off the internet to prevent you from finding it with Find My Device, your device locks after a short period of being used offline.

Important:

  • Your phone must be unlocked when it loses internet connectivity.
  • The screen can be locked twice in a 24-hour period.

To turn on Offline Device Lock:

  1. Go to Settings .
  2. Tap Google and then All services and then Theft protection.
  3. Turn on Offline Device Lock.
Additional theft protection features

To protect your data from thieves and unauthorized access, Android theft protection includes additional features that are designed to protect your data. These include:

  • Failed Authentication Lock: Locks phone screen after consecutive failed authentication attempts across the device when signing into apps or operating system functions protected by user logins.
  • Protect sensitive settings: Restricts unauthorized access to sensitive administrative operations by requiring PIN, password or biometric authentication for actions like disabling Find My Device or extending screen timeout.
  • Private space: Hide and organize apps in a separate space. Learn how to hide sensitive apps with Private space.

Important:

  • Some of these features work only on Android 15 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.
  • By default, Failed Authentication Lock and protect sensitive settings are turned on and require a lock screen.
Use a strong PIN or password

To ensure that unauthorized individuals won’t have easy access to your data and information, use a strong PIN with six or more digits, a pattern with complicated sequence, or a password that you don’t use on other websites or applications.

Even if you use biometrics, you’ll still want a strong password in case an unauthorized individual tries to override your biometric protections. Learn how to set screen lock on an Android device.

Use biometric authentication

Biometric authentication, like fingerprint or facial recognition, provides both security and convenience. Devices with biometric recognition makes it harder for unauthorized individuals to access your phone and, at the same time, does not impede user experience. Users are strongly encouraged to set up biometrics for authentication. For the specific setup steps, please refer to your device manufacturer for additional information and assistance.

Pin & unpin screens

This can be useful in times when you share a device with someone you don’t fully trust, or you’re in a public place. You can pin a screen to lock your device to only one app and it remains in view until you unpin with your PIN, or pattern, or password.

When you pin a screen, you can use the device but only for a selected app. Learn how to pin and unpin screens.

Enable additional security for your apps

Many apps provide additional security when you:

  • Add a PIN or password.
  • Use biometrics (fingerprint, face recognition).
  • Use two-step verification to unlock your device.

For apps with sensitive or important information, like finance, payment, or social apps, search for additional security options to add under the security or privacy settings.

Use passkeys to log in to websites & apps

For websites that support them, passkeys are a secure way to sign in without a password. Learn how to sign-in to your applications and websites with passkeys.

Use Find My Device

If your Android device is stolen or you’re not sure if it’s been taken, you can find, secure, or erase its data remotely. If you've added a Google Account to your device, Find My Device is automatically turned on.

  • You can lock the screen and log yourself out of your Google Accounts on the device.
  • You can view the location of your device using the Find My Device app or webpage. If you're unable to retrieve it, you can mark it as lost.
  • You can erase your device data and factory reset your device.

Before your device is lost or stolen, make sure you’re signed in to your Google Account and ensure that your Location setting is on and Find My Device is enabled. Learn how to use Find My Device.

Backup & restore your data preemptively

If you lost your device to theft, you may also lose important data that you cannot replace. To protect against this, you should enable device backup to ensure your data is preserved and you can factory reset your device without losing your data. Learn how to back up and restore data on your Android device.

Find your phone’s IMEI number

Your phone has a unique serial number, and a unique IMEI number assigned by a mobile network operator. This can be helpful for your mobile network operator to find your phone or pause services in case it is missing. If you report a stolen phone, Law enforcement may also ask for your serial number and IMEI number. Learn how to find your phone’s IMEI number.

To find your IMEI number:

  1. Go to Settings .
  2. Select About Phone.
Set up a SIM PIN

If your device is lost or stolen, an unauthorized individual can use your SIM card within your device to control your phone number. To prevent your SIM from being used without your authorization, protect your device SIM with a PIN.

You’ll be asked for your SIM PIN whenever you turn on your device or the SIM is inserted into a different device.

To set up a SIM PIN:

  1. On your Android device, tap Settings and then Security & Privacy and then More Security Settings.
  2. Tap SIM Lock and then Lock SIM.

Tip: Some carriers have a default PIN, which is available to the public. For stronger protection, it’s recommended to change it.

Hide notification content from the lock screen

Information from notifications in the lock screen might give unauthorized individuals information they can use to access your data. To prevent this, you can control what notification content is shown on the lock screen. Learn how to control notification on Android

To hide notification on lock screen:

  1. On your device, tap Settings and then Security & Privacy and then More Security Settings.
  2. Tap Notifications on lock screen.

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