Android’s Find My Device Network With Offline Tracking Is Here, but its full integration is expected on the coming upgrade, Android 15
After a year of waiting, Google has finally activated Android’s Find My Device network. This network is only available to Google Play Services beta testers and enables offline device monitoring for smartphones, tablets, and tiny AirTag-style trackers.
The Android’s Find My Device network was initially introduced at I/O 2023. It’s essentially the Android version of Apple’s Find My Network—participating devices utilise a low-power Bluetooth signal to detect, locate, and report the whereabouts of other devices.
If you turn off cell connectivity on your smartphone and unintentionally leave it on a bus, you may still follow its whereabouts using anonymised, automated reporting from other Android devices.
Android’s dedicated Find My Device network also benefits third-party tracking gadgets like AirTags. In the past, firms like Tile had to create specialised tracking networks that were both limited and unreliable. But today, these firms can rely on Android’s network, which has considerably more consumers.
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Google intended to deploy the Find My Device network in the summer of 2023. However, the business postponed this rollout while collaborating with Apple to build additional anti-stalking capabilities.
These anti-stalking tools were introduced in Apple’s latest iOS 17.5 beta and will soon be available to all iPhone users.
Google has discreetly activated its Find My Device network. According to AssembleDebug, this functionality is enabled by default and does not require any flags to function.
However, it needs the Google Play Services beta, which is inaccessible to the general user. This looks like a staggered server-side deployment. It is not limited to any particular version of the Google Play Services beta, and it may take several days to reach all qualified beta testers.
If I had to predict, Google would most likely return to Find My Device at I/O 2024 and debut the functionality with Android 15. If we’re lucky, this launch will be followed by a slew of compatible AirTag-style tracking gadgets. Some manufacturers, notably Chipolo, jumped the gun in 2023 and are already selling Find My Device-enabled monitors.
Google may also use the Find My Device launch to introduce its new anti-stalking technologies. In any case, we expect to hear a lot about Bluetooth trackers and stalking during the coming year.
To restate, the Android Find My Device network is presently only available to Play Services beta testers. This functionality will be released alongside Android 15, while the iOS 17.5 release schedule may cause a delay. Things are still up in the air, but we’re finally launching Find My Device.
HOW TO ACTIVATE FIND MY DEVICE ON ANDROID
The integration is only partially functional on devices registered in the Google Play Services beta. As a result, you might be unable to discover it. The feature is unavailable because Google has yet to release the new Find My Device app. However, here is how to activate a portion of the feature.
Go to Settings > Security and Privacy.
Then, hit Device Finder and select Find My Device.
- Now, tap on Find your offline devices.
- Here, select With network in all areas.
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