Use Samsung Find Mobile to locate your tablet remotely

Samsung tablets come with Find Mobile, a built-in service that lets you see your device's location on a map from any web browser or another device. To use it, you need a Samsung account set up on your tablet before it goes missing — if you haven't created one yet, you can set it up now on any Samsung device and add it to your tablet the next time you have access.

Go to findmobile.samsung.com and sign in with the Samsung account linked to your tablet. The map will show your tablet's last known location. If the device is powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data, the location updates in real time. If it's off or offline, you'll see the last spot where it connected.

From the Find Mobile dashboard, you can also ring your tablet at full volume (useful if it's nearby but hidden under cushions or in another room), lock it remotely to prevent someone from accessing your data, or erase it completely if you believe it's been stolen and won't be recovered.

Key Takeaways

  • Find Mobile shows your tablet's location through findmobile.samsung.com if you signed in with a Samsung account before losing it.
  • Google Find My Mobile works as a backup if your tablet runs Android and you signed in with a Google account.
  • Your carrier may offer location services if your tablet has cellular service, though this usually requires a call to their support line.
  • If your tablet is off or never connected to the internet, location services cannot pinpoint it — physical retracing of your steps is your best option.
  • Setting up Find Mobile and Google location services now prevents you from being locked out later if your tablet goes missing.

Set up Google Find My Mobile as a backup

Samsung tablets that run Android can also use Google Find My Mobile, which works independently of Samsung's service. This is useful because if one service fails or your tablet is signed out of one account, the other may still work.

On your tablet, go to Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account > Security. Scroll down to "Your devices" and make sure your tablet appears in the list. If it does, your tablet is already registered. To find it, visit google.com/android/find from any browser, sign in with the same Google account, and your tablet will appear on the map.

Like Find Mobile, Google's service shows real-time location if the tablet is on and connected, and displays the last known location if it's offline. You can also ring it, lock it, or erase it from this dashboard.

Check with your carrier if your tablet has cellular service

If your Samsung tablet has a SIM card and cellular service (rather than Wi-Fi only), your mobile carrier may offer location tracking. Call your carrier's customer service number — usually on your bill or the back of your SIM card — and explain that your tablet is lost.

Carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile can sometimes ping your device to narrow down its location, though this service varies by carrier and plan. They may ask for your account number and the tablet's phone number or IMEI (a unique identifier). The carrier cannot always pinpoint an exact address, but they can sometimes tell you which cell tower last connected to your device, which helps narrow the search area.

This option works best if your tablet is powered on and has an active cellular connection. If it's been off for hours or days, the carrier's last ping may be hours old.

Retrace your steps if the tablet is offline

If your tablet has been off for a long time, never had a Samsung or Google account set up, or was never connected to the internet, location services won't help. In this case, mentally walk through the last places you remember having it: your home, your car, a store, a friend's house, or your workplace.

Call those locations and ask if anyone has turned in a Samsung tablet. Check your car thoroughly — under seats, in door pockets, and in the trunk. Look in bags you were carrying that day, and ask family members or roommates if they've seen it. Many tablets are found within a few feet of where they were last used.

If you remember the approximate time you lost it, check your email or text messages from that day to see what you were doing. This often jogs your memory about which room or location you were in.

File a report with local police if you believe it was stolen

If you've searched thoroughly and believe your tablet was stolen rather than misplaced, file a report with your local police department. You don't need to visit in person — many departments accept reports online through their website or by phone.

Have your tablet's serial number ready (found in Settings > About tablet > Serial number, or on the box it came in). The police report creates an official record and may help if the tablet shows up at a pawn shop or is used fraudulently. Some carriers will also replace a stolen tablet under insurance if you have a police report number.

After filing, use Find Mobile or Google Find My Mobile to erase your tablet remotely so your personal data cannot be accessed, even if someone powers it on later.

Prevent future loss by enabling location services now

The best time to set up Find Mobile and Google location services is before you need them. Both services require your tablet to be powered on and signed into the correct account — if your tablet is lost before you set them up, they won't help.

On your tablet, go to Settings > Accounts and add a Samsung account if you haven't already. Then go to Settings > Google and confirm your Google account is signed in. Both accounts should appear in your device settings. Once they're set up, location services work automatically in the background.

You can also turn on Find My Mobile notifications in Settings > Samsung account > Find Mobile so you receive alerts if someone tries to access or erase your tablet remotely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find my tablet if it's been powered off for days?

No. Location services only work when your tablet is powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data. If it's been off, the last location shown is where it was when it last connected. If it's been off for weeks, that location may be very old and not helpful. Retracing your steps is your best option in this case.

What if I never set up a Samsung account on my tablet?

You can still use Google Find My Mobile if your tablet is signed into a Google account. If it's not signed into either account, location services won't work. Going forward, add both accounts to any new tablet so you have two ways to find it.

Will Find Mobile work if someone turns off location services or Wi-Fi?

If someone deliberately disables location services or Wi-Fi, Find Mobile cannot update the location in real time. However, it will still show the last known location before those services were turned off, which may narrow your search area. If the tablet is completely powered off, location services stop working entirely.

Can I find my tablet if it's in airplane mode?

No. Airplane mode disables all wireless connections, so Find Mobile and Google Find My Mobile cannot communicate with your tablet. The last location shown will be from before airplane mode was turned on.

Does Find Mobile work outside my country?

Yes. Find Mobile uses GPS and internet connectivity, so it works anywhere your tablet has a signal. If your tablet is traveling internationally, location services will show its position as long as it's powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or a mobile network.