Protect your Android device from thieves with the Mark as Lost feature on Find Hub.

Need to lock a missing phone right now? Visit android.com/lock to instantly lock your screen using just your phone number, or track and erase your device at google.com/android/find.
Discover how Android’s latest security updates to Find Hub help you lock your phone’s screen, settings, notifications and personal data away from unauthorized hands.

How “Mark as Lost” protects you.

Losing your phone is stressful, but having your personal data compromised is worse. Thieves have evolved past simply snatching hardware. They often watch for your PIN before grabbing your device, hoping to access your accounts. The latest updates to Android's multi-layered defenses are designed to stop thieves right at the lock screen–even if they know your password or PIN.

Stolen PIN protection (Android 17+).

If your device is running Android 17 or up, you can secure your data with two-step biometric verification when you mark it as lost in Find Hub. Your Android device will need your PIN, pattern or password, as well as Fingerprint or Face Unlock authentication to get past the lock screen. Now, a thief will require your biometrics to change critical settings, such as disabling theft protection, accessing Passkeys, and changing your PIN. This means a stolen PIN is useless on its own.

Hardening screen locks and restricting quick access.

When you mark your Android device as lost in Find Hub, it locks the screen and blocks access to critical tools a thief could use to change settings or hide its location. The system now completely hides notifications, interactive widgets and Quick Settings when the device is locked. This ensures thieves cannot toggle Airplane Mode, turn off location tracking, or disconnect your phone from mobile networks.

AI motion-based theft locks.

Theft Detection Lock uses AI, motion sensors, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to detect sudden, erratic movements associated with suspected theft. If someone snatches your phone out of your hand and runs, rides a bike or drives away, the screen will automatically lock. If a thief takes it offline for extended periods to prevent remote tracking, Offline Device Lock steps in to secure your device automatically.

Making it harder for thieves to guess your device PIN.

We’re making it harder than ever for a thief to guess your lock screen information. On Android 17 and later, the number of attempts to guess your PIN, pattern, or password has been reduced, and the wait time between failed attempts has been increased. This locks out anyone who tries to rapidly guess your credentials.

Lock with your phone number.

If you lose your device and can’t remember your Google account password to log in to Find Hub, Remote Lock lets you quickly lock the screen from any browser. By entering your phone number and answering a quick security challenge at android.com/lock, you can buy valuable time to recover your account information, mark your device as lost and perform a factory reset.

Automatic protection against thieves.

For freshly reset or upgraded Android 17 devices, we are turning theft protections on by default. We are also extending these protections to all devices running Android 10 or above in high demand markets, such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and the UK. Once active, features like Remote Lock and Theft Detection will be automatically enabled, providing immediate protection if your device is snatched or stolen.

3 settings to turn on today.

You can take control of your device security right now by checking a few essential switches in your settings. Setting up these defenses ahead of time ensures that your phone stays protected the moment it leaves your possession:

1. Activate Theft Protection: Open your device Settings, tap Google, select the All services tab, and choose Theft protection. From here, make sure both Theft Detection Lock and Offline Device Lock are turned on.
2. Set up Remote Lock: Within that same menu, turn on Remote Lock and establish a secure challenge question so you can instantly lock your screen from any browser using only your phone number.
3. Turn off Auto-confirm unlock: If you use a six-digit PIN, navigate to Settings > Security and privacy > Device unlock (Note: Exact menu paths may vary slightly by manufacturer, such as Samsung Galaxy or other OEM devices), tap the gear icon next to Screen lock, and disable Auto-confirm unlock. Requiring the Enter key stops onlookers from guessing your passcode length.

Frequently asked questions.

How does the automatic screen lock work if my device is stolen?

Android uses a multi-layered security system to automatically lock your screen before a thief can access your data:

• Theft Detection Lock: Uses AI and motion sensors to sense sudden, erratic movements, such as someone snatching the phone from your hand and fleeing, to immediately secure the screen.
• Offline Device Lock: Automatically locks your screen if a thief disconnects your phone from the internet for an extended period, preventing someone from taking it offline to avoid detection.
• Mark as Lost: Once triggered remotely, this blocks access to notifications, widgets, and the Quick Settings menu.

How can I maximize my phone theft protection?

To ensure your data is secure before a theft occurs, configure these settings:

• Strengthen your lock screen: Choose a complex password or a strong PIN with six or more digits.
• Enable biometrics: Set up Fingerprint or Face Unlock to support identity authentication for sensitive Settings on Android 17.
• Turn on Theft Protection: In your security settings, toggle on Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock, and Failed Authentication Lock.
• Set up private space: Use this feature to isolate, hide and lock your most sensitive apps (like banking or healthcare) and files.

My phone is missing right now. How do I lock it remotely?

If you have already enabled Remote Lock, you can secure your device from any web browser:

1. Go to android.com/lock.
2. Enter your phone number.
3. Complete your pre-selected security challenge to instantly lock the screen.

Note: Your device must be connected to the internet, have an active SIM card, a verified phone number, and have Find Hub enabled.

How do I set up Remote Lock before my phone goes missing?

To ensure you can use the remote lock feature in an emergency, turn it on in advance:

1. Open your Settings app.
2. Tap Google, then select the All services tab.
3. Tap Theft protection > Remote Lock and toggle it on.
4. Set a security question and answer to verify your identity if you ever need to lock the phone.