Use Samsung Find Mobile to locate your tablet remotely
Samsung Find Mobile is Samsung's built-in location service that works on most Samsung tablets. If you set it up before your tablet went missing, you can log into the Find Mobile website from any computer or phone and see your tablet's location on a map, lock it remotely, or erase its data to protect your information.
To use Find Mobile, go to findmobile.samsung.com and sign in with the Samsung account you used on your tablet. The map will show your tablet's last known location. The accuracy depends on whether your tablet has GPS, cellular data, or only Wi-Fi — GPS is most precise, while Wi-Fi location is less exact but still narrows the search area.
If you did not set up Find Mobile before losing your tablet, you cannot set up it now. In that case, move to the next method.
Key Takeaways
- Samsung Find Mobile shows your tablet's location on a map if you signed into a Samsung account before it went missing.
- Google Find My Mobile works on any Android tablet and does not require a Samsung account, only a Google account linked to the device.
- Your wireless carrier can sometimes pinpoint a cellular-enabled tablet if you call them with your account details and device information.
- If your tablet has a SIM card, you can call or text it to see if someone answers, or ask your carrier to send a text message to trigger a sound.
- Retracing your steps and checking with places you visited last is often faster than waiting for a remote location service to work.
Use Google Find My Mobile if you have a Google account on the tablet
Google Find My Mobile (also called Find My Device) works on any Android tablet, including Samsung models. Unlike Samsung Find Mobile, you do not need a Samsung account — only a Google account that was signed into your tablet before it went missing.
Go to findmymobile.google.com from any web browser and sign in with the Google account. The map will show your tablet's location. You can also lock the device, make it ring at full volume to help you find it nearby, or erase all data if you believe it has been stolen.
This service works even if your tablet is turned off, as long as it was powered on at least once after you set up the Google account. Location accuracy varies the same way as Samsung Find Mobile — GPS gives the best result, followed by cellular data, then Wi-Fi.
Contact your wireless carrier if your tablet has cellular service
If your tablet has a SIM card and is on a cellular plan, your carrier has records of which cell towers your tablet connected to most recently. Call your carrier's customer service line with your account number and device information (the IMEI number, which you can find on your original receipt or bill).
Some carriers can pinpoint your tablet's location within a few city blocks, though they usually do this only in theft or emergency situations. Be prepared to explain why you need the location — carriers are more likely to help if you report the tablet stolen rather than straightforward lost.
If your tablet is still powered on and connected to the network, the carrier's location will be more recent and accurate. If it has been off for hours or days, the last known location may be old.
Call or text your tablet to trigger a response
If your tablet has a SIM card and cellular service, try calling the phone number associated with that SIM. If someone has found it and powered it on, they may answer. If no one picks up, the call will go to voicemail and confirm the device is still active on the network.
You can also ask your carrier to send a text message to the tablet's number. Some carriers can configure the message to trigger a loud alert sound even if the tablet is in silent mode, which helps if the tablet is nearby but hidden — under a couch, in a bag, or in another room.
This method works only if the tablet is powered on and has an active cellular connection. It does not work on Wi-Fi-only tablets.
Retrace your steps and check common locations
Before relying entirely on remote location tools, physically search the places you visited most recently. Check your home thoroughly — under cushions, in bags, on shelves, and in rooms you do not use often. Many tablets are found this way within an hour.
If you used your tablet outside the home, call the places you visited: your workplace, a coffee shop, a library, a gym, a store, or a friend's house. Ask if anyone turned in a Samsung tablet. Many businesses keep lost items for 30 days before discarding them.
Check your car, including under the seats and in the door pockets. If you used a ride-sharing service, contact the driver through the app and ask if they found it.
Report your tablet stolen if you believe it was taken
If you are certain your tablet was stolen rather than lost, file a police report and keep the report number. Give this number to your carrier and to Samsung or Google when you contact them — it strengthens your request for location information and may speed up their response.
After filing a report, use Find Mobile or Find My Mobile to lock and erase your tablet remotely to prevent someone from accessing your personal data, photos, or financial information. Once you erase the device, you will no longer be able to locate it, so do this only after you have decided the tablet cannot be recovered.
Prevent future loss by setting up location services now
If you recover your tablet or get a new one, set up both Samsung Find Mobile and Google Find My Mobile before you need them. The setup takes a few minutes and requires only that you sign into the accounts you already use.
For Samsung Find Mobile, go to Settings > Accounts and Backup > Accounts, sign into your Samsung account, and turn on Find Mobile in the security settings. For Google Find My Mobile, make sure a Google account is signed into your tablet — it activates automatically.
You can also enable location services in your tablet's main settings so that GPS, Wi-Fi, and cellular location all work together. This does not drain the battery significantly on modern tablets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I locate my Samsung tablet if I never set up a Samsung account?
Yes, if a Google account is signed into the tablet. Use Google Find My Mobile instead of Samsung Find Mobile. If neither account is set up, you will need to rely on your carrier (if the tablet has cellular service) or physical search.
How accurate is the location shown on the map?
Accuracy depends on how your tablet connects to the internet. GPS is accurate to within 30 feet in most cases. Wi-Fi location is usually accurate to within a few hundred feet. Cellular location is less precise and may show a location several blocks away from the actual device.
What if my tablet is turned off?
Google Find My Mobile can show the last location before the device powered down. Samsung Find Mobile may also show a recent location. Neither service can locate a tablet that has been off for an extended time, so physical search and carrier contact become more important.
Can I erase my tablet remotely if I think it was stolen?
Yes, both Samsung Find Mobile and Google Find My Mobile allow you to erase all data remotely. Be aware that once you erase the device, you will no longer be able to locate it, so use this option only when you have decided recovery is unlikely.
Will the person who found my tablet know I am trying to locate it?
No. Using Find Mobile or Find My Mobile to view the location, lock the device, or send a sound does not notify the finder. Erasing the device also happens silently. The finder will only know if they try to use the tablet and find it locked or wiped.