Your phone is switched off, how do you locate it?

Phone without battery or switched off

Most of today's phones have a Lithium battery that provides a greater or lesser amount of electricity. A phone battery can live for many years but is highly dependent on its use.

A phone left for hours will automatically lose battery power. When you lose your phone during the day, your phone will lose battery power until it shuts down if you can't find it.

If your mobile phone is stolen, there is a good chance that the person has turned your phone off to make it even harder to locate it, as an off smartphone is always more difficult to locate than an on phone. However, there are still a few solutions that could help you find it or at least secure it.

Steps to follow to locate a switched-off phone

Applications for locating a phone

If you have previously enabled location via icloud for iPhones or allowing your location via google for Androids, it is likely that you can find your device via the following applications:

• Find your iPhone :

  You have the possibility to locate your phone thanks to the " Locate " application which is in every iPhone. This application only works if you have preconfigured it with iCloud. It will allow you to see the last location of your phone on a map.

• Find your Android:

  If you have an Android phone, there is the application "Find my device" which allows you to locate your smartphone if you have previously agreed to be located by Google.

Use the IMEI number to locate the phone.

As said before, locating a switched-off phone is very complicated and no, the gendarmerie or your operator cannot trace your switched-off phone. However, to avoid any malicious use, it is advisable to block the IMEI number via your operator's site.

The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number is a 15-digit number that uniquely identifies a phone. With this number you can block all incoming and outgoing calls and text messages. This does not allow you to find your phone, but rather to secure it.