Plan ahead in case your phone goes missing

If you bought your phone from Google Fi or the Google store, plan for the unexpected. You can take some steps to make it possible to find your phone, and remotely lock or erase it, if it should ever get lost or stolen.

Step 1: Set up Find My Device

With Find My Device, you can locate your phone on a map, as well as lock it or wipe your data or make it ring. You just need to make sure Find My Device and location access are turned on before your phone goes missing. They're turned on by default, but it's a good idea to make sure.

Step 2: Set a screen lock

You can secure your phone by setting a screen lock. Each time you turn on your device or wake up the screen, you'll be asked to unlock your device.

You can add contact info to your lock screen for anyone who finds your device.

Step 3: Back up your photos, music & more

You can use your Google account to back up photos, videos, files, and music from your phone.

The Unlimited Plus plan includes 100 GB free storage with Google One. Learn more.

If you enabled 2-Step Verification, be sure to save your backup codes.

Step 4: Enroll in Google Fi device protection

To find if loss or theft coverage is available for your device and area, refer to the cost of Google Fi device protection.

Step 5: Add a recovery email to your Google Account

In addition to a recovery phone number, it’s also important to add a recovery email in case:

• Your phone goes missing.
• You can’t log in to your Google Account.

Add a recovery email on web

1. Go to your Google Account.
2. On the left navigation panel, click Personal info.
3. Under “Contact info,” click Email.
4. Under “Recovery email,” click Add recovery email. You might need to sign in.
5. Follow the steps on the screen.

Add a recovery email on Android

1. Open your device's Settings app.
2. Tap Google Manage your Google Account Security.
3. Under “Ways we can verify it's you,” tap Recovery email. You might need to sign in.
4. From here, you can:
   • Add a recovery email.
   • Change or delete your recovery email.
5. Follow the steps on the screen.

Add a recovery email on iPhone or iPad

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open the Gmail app .
2. At the top right, tap your Profile picture or Initial Google Account.
   • If you don't use Gmail, go to myaccount.google.com.
3. At the top, tap Security.
4. Under “Ways we can verify it's you,” tap Recovery email. You might need to sign in.
5. From here, you can:
   • Add a recovery email.
   • Change or delete your recovery email.
6. Follow the steps on the screen.

For more details on how to add recovery emails, refer to Set up a recovery phone number or email address.

If your phone is missing now

Learn what you can do if your phone is currently lost or stolen.