Enable these settings to protect your Android phone from theft

For years, Android anti-theft protection was more reactionary than proactive. Users are all too familiar with traditional warnings and protocols, like protecting your phone when entering your PIN, using location services, and avoiding easy-to-guess passwords. Fortunately, anti-theft tools are finally getting better at preventing theft with the help of AI and Google’s built-in anti-theft suite.

If your phone is snatched from your hand, for example, new motion detection theft detection will quickly lock it. If a thief cuts your connection by removing your SIM card or switching to airplane mode, the offline device lock feature triggers a countdown, locking the screen in a short time. These are nifty new features that avoid annoying false positives with usage limitations and active usage controls.

Best of all, you don’t need to dig deep into your device settings to find and enable theft protection measures. As long as your device is running Android 10 or newer, the feature is integrated into Google Play Services. Keep in mind that some entry-level or budget smartphones running Android Go Edition with little RAM, Android tablets, and devices without the full range of Google Play Services may lack some or all of the features of Google’s security suite.

The main settings to look for are in the Google Theft Protection menu. Settings menus are not universal with Android phones, so there may be some degree of variation between devices. For Samsung users, the command is usually Settings → Security & Privacy → Lost Device Protection → Theft Protection.

Google Pixel phones are similar, but slightly different: SSettings → Security & Privacy → Device Unlock → Theft Protection. The most important feature is the theft detection lock, and it’s best to start there. This uses motion and sudden disconnect indicators (like your phone being grabbed and moved quickly) to automatically lock your phone’s screen. After turning it on and confirming it, your device will now respond to aggressive or sudden movements.

Next, enable Offline Device Lock so that your screen remains protected if a thief disables your mobile data or Wi-Fi by enabling Airplane Mode. The lock will trigger shortly after disconnection and will not require a local connection to do so. Finally, configure remote locking. This allows you to lock your phone from anywhere by visiting android.com/lock, entering your phone number and following the prompts. Google’s Find Hub app is no longer your only backup option, and remote locking works even if the thief moves the phone to another network.

You’ll never take full advantage of theft protection features if you don’t use a PIN, biometrics, and a password more complicated than your first name. Additionally, Google explicitly requires a screen lock for identity verification and other device protection tools, so you might as well set it up properly. On Pixels and newer Android phones, Identity Check can periodically recheck using your biometrics or PIN, especially when you’re off your usual beaten path and away from work or home.

Enable theft detection lock and offline device lock so that your phone locks automatically and stays that way, even if the thief takes it offline. If they try to turn it off or keep it in airplane mode, your data remains safe behind the screen lock, completely protected. On Samsung Galaxy phones, there is a dedicated theft protection page that also links to Samsung’s tools in the event of a lost device.

Make sure remote lock is turned on and your phone number is verified, so you can lock your phone from any browser as soon as you realize your phone is missing and you didn’t leave it on top of the car or inside the refrigerator. Hey, it happens.