Use Samsung Find Mobile to locate your tablet in real time
Samsung tablets come with Find Mobile, a built-in service that shows you your device's location on a map. If your tablet is powered on and connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data, you can see exactly where it is from any web browser or another device. This works even if your tablet is in silent mode or the screen is locked.
To use Find Mobile, go to findmobile.samsung.com and sign in with the Samsung account you used to set up your tablet. The map will show your tablet's current location. From the same page, you can make your tablet ring at full volume (useful if it's nearby but hidden under cushions or in a bag), lock the screen remotely, or erase all data if you believe it's been stolen.
Find Mobile only works if your tablet was set up with a Samsung account before it went missing. If you never created one or do not remember the login details, you will need to try a different method.
Key Takeaways
- Find Mobile shows your tablet's location on a map if it is powered on and connected to the internet, and you can access it from findmobile.samsung.com using your Samsung account.
- Google's Find My Mobile service works for any Android tablet, not just Samsung, and does not require a Samsung account.
- If your tablet is offline or the battery is dead, location services cannot pinpoint it, but you can still try retracing your steps or contacting places you visited.
- Enabling location services and keeping your Samsung or Google account active before your tablet goes missing makes recovery much more likely.
- If you believe your tablet was stolen rather than lost, contact your local police and provide them with the device's serial number and IMEI.
Set up Google Find My Mobile as a backup method
If Find Mobile is not available or you do not have a Samsung account, Google Find My Mobile works on any Android tablet. Go to findmymobile.google.com, sign in with the Google account linked to your tablet, and you will see its last known location on a map.
Google's service works differently than Samsung's. It shows the last location your tablet reported before it went offline, rather than a live location. If your tablet has been off for hours or days, the location may be old. However, if your tablet is currently powered on and connected to the internet, Google will update the location within a few minutes.
From the same page, you can ring your tablet, lock it, or erase it. You can also see which Google account is signed in and when the device last connected to the internet, which helps you understand whether the tablet is still in use.
Check your tablet's last known location if it is powered off
When a tablet is turned off or the battery is completely dead, no location service can find it in real time. However, both Find Mobile and Google Find My Mobile will show you the last location where your tablet was powered on and connected to the internet.
This information is often enough to narrow down where to look. If your tablet's last location was your workplace, your home, or a specific store, you can retrace your steps or contact that location to ask if anyone has turned in a lost device. Write down the address shown on the map before you leave, because the location may not update once you start searching.
If your tablet has been offline for more than a few days, the last known location becomes less reliable — your tablet may have been moved since then. In that case, contact the places you visited on the day it went missing, starting with the most recent location first.
Contact Samsung or your mobile carrier if you cannot access your accounts
If you do not remember your Samsung account password or the Google account linked to your tablet, you can still recover your account. Go to the Samsung account recovery page or the Google account recovery page and follow the steps to regain access. You will need to answer security questions or verify your identity using a phone number or backup email address.
If you have a mobile carrier (such as Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile) and your tablet has a cellular plan, call them and explain that your tablet is lost. Some carriers keep records of device locations and can help you locate it, though this service is not may provide. You will need to provide your account number and the tablet's phone number or IMEI (a unique identifier printed on the device or in the settings).
Samsung support can also help you verify ownership and may be able to information with recovery steps. Call Samsung customer service or visit a Samsung store with proof of purchase if you have it.
Retrace your steps if location services show nothing
If both Find Mobile and Google Find My Mobile show no location, your tablet may never have been set up with an active internet connection, or location services may have been turned off. In this case, retracing your steps is your best option.
Make a list of everywhere you went on the day your tablet went missing, starting with the most recent location and working backward. Call ahead to each place — coffee shops, stores, offices, restaurants, public transit stations — and ask if anyone has turned in a tablet. Describe your tablet's color, case, and any distinctive features. If you remember the last app you were using or any unusual settings, mention those too.
Check your home thoroughly as well. Look under cushions, in bags, on shelves, in the bathroom, and anywhere else a tablet might have been set down and forgotten. Ask family members or roommates if they have seen it.
Report your tablet as stolen if you believe it was taken
If you are certain your tablet was stolen rather than lost, contact your local police and file a report. Provide them with the tablet's serial number (found in Settings > About Tablet > Serial Number), the IMEI number, and a description of the device and case. The police report creates an official record that can help if the tablet is recovered or pawned.
You can also report the device as stolen to your mobile carrier if your tablet has a cellular plan. They can block the device from connecting to their network, which makes it much less useful to a thief. Ask them to add the IMEI to their blacklist.
After reporting the theft, erase your tablet remotely using Find Mobile or Google Find My Mobile to protect your personal data. This step is important even if you do not expect to recover the device.
Enable location services now to prepare for the future
If you have found your tablet or are preparing to prevent future loss, turn on location services so that Find Mobile and Google Find My Mobile will work if your tablet goes missing again. Go to Settings > Location and turn on location services. Make sure your Samsung account and Google account are both signed in and active on your tablet.
You can also enable a lock screen PIN or password so that if someone finds your tablet, they cannot access your data or turn off location services. Go to Settings > Security and set up a PIN, password, or biometric lock.
Keep a record of your tablet's serial number and IMEI in a safe place (such as a note in your email or a document at home). If your tablet goes missing in the future, you will have this information ready to give to Samsung, your carrier, or the police.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find my Samsung tablet if it has been turned off for weeks?
No, location services cannot track a device that is powered off. However, both Find Mobile and Google Find My Mobile will show you the last location where your tablet was powered on and connected to the internet. This information can help you narrow down where to search or which places to contact.
What if my tablet is in airplane mode?
Airplane mode turns off all wireless connections, so location services cannot send your tablet's location to the cloud. Find Mobile and Google Find My Mobile will show only the last location before airplane mode was turned on. If you turn airplane mode off, the location will update within a few minutes.
Do I need a Samsung account to use Find Mobile?
Yes, Find Mobile requires a Samsung account. If you do not have one, you can use Google Find My Mobile instead, which works with any Google account linked to your tablet. Both services require the tablet to be powered on and connected to the internet.
Can I find my tablet if the location services are turned off?
No, location services must be turned on for Find Mobile and Google Find My Mobile to work. If location services are off, these tools will show only the last location before they were disabled. This is why it is important to enable location services before your tablet goes missing.
What is the IMEI and where do I find it?
The IMEI is a 15-digit number that uniquely identifies your tablet. You can find it in Settings > About Tablet > IMEI, or it may be printed on the back of your tablet or inside the battery compartment. Write this number down and keep it somewhere safe in case you need to report your tablet as stolen.