Google's Find My Device Revolutionizes Offline Smartphone Tracking

Google has rolled out a game-changing update to its Find My Device app, allowing users to locate lost Android smartphones without an internet connection. The location signal will now be transmitted via Bluetooth to nearby Android devices, similar to how Find My works on iOS. Pixel 8 and 8 Pro devices can even share coordinates when powered off, a feature currently exclusive to Google but set to expand to other flagship models through collaboration with other manufacturers. The updated app is already live in the US and Canada, with support for Bluetooth trackers from Chipolo and Pebblebee coming in May, enabling users to track items like wallets and keys. Future compatibility with tags from Motorola, Jio, and Eufy is expected later this year, with the ability to grant access to multiple users. Find My Device also introduces unwanted tracker notifications on Android and iOS, limiting location requests to prevent misuse. JBL and Sony headphones will receive software updates for Find My Device integration, while users with a Nest hub will receive proximity alerts for lost items within their home. Google's development of its own Find My equivalent began in 2021, with plans to alert users to foreign Bluetooth tags to safeguard against tracking. The upcoming Android 15 will introduce the Powered Off Finding API, enabling Pixel device location even when powered down.