topic Re: Just curious: Is there an App that can trace a device when device is off? in Get Support

Just curious: Is there an App that can trace a device when device is off?

makkahn28 — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 06:35:58 GMT

I was wondering, is there an App that can allow ppl to track their device if it was shut off, in case device was lost or stolen?

Just curious

Re: Just curious: Is there an App that can trace a device when device is off?

MoreYummy — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 06:42:50 GMT

There is none unfortunately. Only when its online and under your control.

Re: Just curious: Is there an App that can trace a device when device is off?

makkahn28 — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 06:49:41 GMT

@Jeremy_M, I sent you an private message on something

Re: Just curious: Is there an App that can trace a device when device is off?

gunter — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 07:28:43 GMT

If a phone is off, it can't transmit a signal. The closest best I'd say is cerberus in the case your phone is lost or stolen

Re: Just curious: Is there an App that can trace a device when device is off?

aip0401 — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 07:40:35 GMT

Not exactly. If you have an iPhone, you can configure it with Find My iPhone to automatically send its location when the battery level is at a critical state (Settings -> iCloud-> Find my iPhone). I'm not sure for Android devices though.

I suppose an alternative would be if you could somehow attach something like a Tile that can still send a location or a signal even though your phone is dead.

Re: Just curious: Is there an App that can trace a device when device is off?

daredogg — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 11:27:19 GMT

@aip0401 but if your iPhone is off, the find feature won't do a thing. I do like your idea of sticking a Tile on your phone, especially if you're prone to losing things. If someone stole your phone, however, they'd throw the Tile away, and immediately shut off your phone, so it can't be traced.

Re: Just curious: Is there an App that can trace a device when device is off?

will13am — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 12:47:26 GMT

It would be tough for any app to track a device in the off state. If it could, then the device would not be off. Since the introduction of doze in android 6.0, the need to turn off the phone overnight to preserve the battery has been eliminated. If the screen is kept off, my phone has comparable battery life to a flip phone. As for tracking app, the tracking capability in the OS itself is pretty good already.

Re: Just curious: Is there an App that can trace a device when device is off?

stonechucker — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 14:06:22 GMT

I thought that both Find my iPhone, and Find my Android had the ability to show you the last known location of your device(s). Wouldn't that just make sense?

Re: Just curious: Is there an App that can trace a device when device is off?

daredogg — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 14:30:56 GMT

@stonechucker yes, that's true... the last known location will be shown with the date & time it was last found. I was just saying if your phone is off, using the find my iphone app wouldn't help you much.

Re: Just curious: Is there an App that can trace a device when device is off?

aip0401 — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 15:51:20 GMT

@daredogg Oh, of course. The feature is just so you can see where it was last at just before the battery died.

If the thief was intent on using your phone though, you still have the ability to place it in Lost Mode on iOS, which will allow the device to immediately fire off its location once it's turned back on (as well as lock the phone).

The limiting aspect would be if your battery completely died, was never plugged in and was moved a significant distance from where it was taken. In that case, nothing really can help you on that. All you'll know is the last known location just before the battery died.