Last year, Google announced the Android Find My Device network to help users find lost or stolen devices. However, concerns about tracking with devices like AirTags led Google and Apple to collaborate on a solution, which caused a delay in the implementation of the Find My Device network.
See also: Apple: How many items can be tracked in Find My?
The delay was due to the fact that Google needed Apple to build protections into iOS for trackers used with Android. Now, with Apple preparing to release these new anti-tracking features with the iOS 17.5, Google doesn't have to wait any longer and is moving quickly to launch the Find My Device network.
The release caught the attention of Android expert AssembleDebug. In the latest Google Play Services beta, v24.12.14, a new feature called Find your offline devices appeared in the Settings menu.
This new feature takes users to another page where they can choose to detect devices without a network, with a network in high-traffic areas, or with a constantly available network. Users also have the option to disable the feature entirely. By default, the feature is enabled and set to “all areas.”
See also: Find My: Can be abused to steal passwords
The new feature isn't ready for action yet. We'll have to wait a little longer for it to become fully functional. This is likely to happen after the official release of iOS 17.5 for iPhones , which is expected soon. Once it goes live, the new Find My Device network will help users locate their lost items like headphones, luggage, keys, or anything else, using a variety of third-party Bluetooth tracking tags. The big advantage of the Find My Device network is that it allows users to locate a device even when it's offline. Currently, the Find My Device feature requires that the lost or stolen Android device be connected before you can locate it. The Find My Device network via Google Play Services will be used on all Android phones to locate lost devices. This means that there will no longer be a need for mandatory connection. Devices like phones, smartwatches, trackers, and headphones will be supported.
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You will have the option to leave the network but still track lost devices using their recently saved locations. Alternatively, your device's location information will only be accessed if other devices on the network also locate the lost device
Source: phonearena
