Back in August, Samsung brought an update to their Find My Mobile app, which enabled the ability to locate your phone, watches or earbuds, even when they lack an active internet connection.
This meant that If, for instance, someone has stolen your phone and turned off the data and WiFi antennae, you might still be able to track it down.
Initially launched in in the U.S. and South Korea, the feature is now available to Samsung Galaxy phone users in the UK.
When this feature is enabled, Samsung says other nearby Galaxy devices with the same feature enabled will “scan” for others that allows each phone to report on another’s location when lost.
Called Offline finding, the app’s new feature basically leverages a community network to locate nearby Galaxy devices. So, if your phone is not connected to Wi-Fi or cell towers, nearby Galaxy devices will help Find My Mobile pinpoint its location.
You just need to enable Offline finding so your phone can be detected by other devices. You’ll then be able to help others find their phones, too.
For privacy concerns, Samsung isn’t offering Offline finding by default in the Find My Mobile app. You have to dive into the app’s settings to turn it on.
Samsung is sending notifications to Galaxy owners and users of the Find My Mobile app, letting them know the app has updated. They can tap the notification to open an “Offline finding” menu and enable the feature if desired.
