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Help Google can't find my phone

WiFi is simply one of several ways your phone can get online connectivity -- there's also cellular (involving your base cellular link via your account with your carrier and mobile data which is dependent on that cellular link), there's Bluetooth (limited range and limited bandwidth), and on a lot of phones a wired option via a USB-OTG Ethernet adapter/cable. Also, relative to Location is GPS, where the GPS chip in your phone connects via satellites above you.
So whether you have WiFi enabled or not is only one factor to consider. Basically, have a lock screen set up and enabled. That's an effective deterrent and gives you time to either track down your phone or wipe it remotely.
 
Information but did not exactly answer my question.
I do use a 4-digit code to unlock the phone. I do not use any biometrics because of complications and because I do not want my biometrics on any database.
I am at home.
I am not tech and have the simplest configuration. My Android 11 Samsung 32 5G can connect with the regular cell signal from Spectrum (I think Spectrum is using the Verizon towers), or it can connect to my home wi-fi network. BTW - Spectrum is my ISP and also my cellphone provider. I do not use Bluetooth and do not use USB or Ethernet. Google quickly found the phone when I turned off wi-fi and used the regular cell signal. The phone could not be found by Google when my phone was connected to my home network via wi-fi.
So again - is it normal that Google cannot find the phone when the phone is on my wi-fi? Or is there a problem?
If I lost phone or my phone was stolen (with wi-fi on), wouldn't Google be unable to find it?

And a new question - could I wipe my stolen phone if Google cannot even find it?
 
cwr64 said:
Information but did not exactly answer my question.
I do use a 4-digit code to unlock the phone. I do not use any biometrics because of complications and because I do not want my biometrics on any database.
I am at home.
I am not tech and have the simplest configuration. My Android 11 Samsung 32 5G can connect with the regular cell signal from Spectrum (I think Spectrum is using the Verizon towers), or it can connect to my home wi-fi network. BTW - Spectrum is my ISP and also my cellphone provider. I do not use Bluetooth and do not use USB or Ethernet. Google quickly found the phone when I turned off wi-fi and used the regular cell signal. The phone could not be found by Google when my phone was connected to my home network via wi-fi.
So again - is it normal that Google cannot find the phone when the phone is on my wi-fi? Or is there a problem?
If I lost phone or my phone was stolen (with wi-fi on), wouldn't Google be unable to find it?

And a new question - could I wipe my stolen phone if Google cannot even find it?
Click to expand...
It sounds like your phone wasn't able to talk to Google's servers when it was on your home Wifi, so that could be your issue that you described.

That said, if your phone is somewhere that it can't connect to a known WiFi hotspot it should connect via cell service, which you say works, so you should be all set (provided you don't lose it in your own house :p).
 
ocnbrze said:
maybe try and reboot your router and see if that helps with at least google being able to find your phone when it is connected to your house wifi.
Click to expand...

For what it's worth...I would change the 4 digit passcode on your phone, to at least 7 or eight digits. Security is everything on phones, as it's way too easy to get hacked.:)
 
ocnbrze said:
i begged to differ on hacking.

agreed on the passcode and phone security.
Click to expand...


My son's friend works for the Gov't. That's as far as I'm going with that. He gets paid to hack into cellphones. All he was willing to tell me was that they are easy, even iPhones. He said that "precaution" was the key. Don't use ANY public wifi, and if it's a pain in the butt to open your phone, then you did the right thing.
 
grunt0300 said:
My son's friend works for the Gov't. That's as far as I'm going with that. He gets paid to hack into cellphones. All he was willing to tell me was that they are easy, even iPhones. He said that "precaution" was the key. Don't use ANY public wifi, and if it's a pain in the butt to open your phone, then you did the right thing.
Click to expand...

I sometimes use public WiFi, but I'm always using a secure VPN.
 
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