Google's 'Find my device' feature to soon locate phones even when turned off

In an effort to make it easier to locate lost or stolen Android phones, Google is reportedly working on a new feature that would allow phones running Android 14 or later to work together even when the devices are turned off. This would be similar to the existing "Find My" feature on iPhones dating back to the iPhone 11.

Android 14 to introduce 'Pixel Power-off Finder' feature for seamless phone tracking

With this new feature, if a person's phone is lost or stolen, they would be able to track its location using another Android device (via 91mobiles). This would be especially helpful if the lost device's battery is dead or if it has been turned off.

Google is hoping that this feature will be widely adopted by Android phone manufacturers, which would make it easier for users to locate their devices regardless of the brand. The company has not yet announced when this feature will be released or which Android devices will be compatible with it.

What is the technology behind Google's 'Pixel Power-Off Finder'?

Based on leaked code, it appears that Google may be developing a way for the Bluetooth hardware in Android phones to remain powered even when the phone is turned off. This would allow Google to use ultrawide-band technology to locate the phone with a high degree of accuracy.

However, it is currently unclear which Android phones support this feature, if any. It is possible that it may be initially available on the Pixel 8 series before rolling out to other Android phones over time.