Google Updates the Find My Device App to add Contact Tracking

Published by Shivani Bhore on

Find My Device

Google has added a new “People” function to its Find My Device app, which lets users follow the whereabouts of authorised contacts in real time. The locations, addresses, distances, and last updated times of contacts are shown in this update, which is a part of the March Pixel Drop. Originally designed to help find misplaced Android devices and peripherals, Find My Device now provides a strong argument for daily use.

Features

The functionality gives the Find My Device app a single map view by integrating with Google’s current location-sharing services.

With this update, Google’s Find My Device, which was originally introduced last year, becomes more similar to Apple’s Find My app, which has been around for a while for iPhone users.

The update is now available if you use Android. Staying in touch is made easier with this function, whether you’re meeting a friend in a crowded place or checking on a family member.

This feature improves the functionality of the program by enabling you to monitor other users (who are sharing their location with you) in addition to locating your own devices.

The system notifies the user with a warning when it detects a questionable message, giving them the opportunity to complain or block the sender.

Safety and Privacy

The business created this function to provide customers control over who may view their whereabouts and for how long, taking privacy and security into consideration. To protect privacy, Google also sends you reminders about sharing settings on a regular basis. The most notable change is that it puts Google’s Find My Device app in line with Apple’s Find My app, which similarly has a split-screen UI that shows a map with options to view people or devices.

Google New update

Make sure the Find My Device app is up to date in order to utilise this feature. Open the Find My Device app on your Android device when it has been updated, then select the newly added “People” tab. You’ll now see a list of contacts who have given you their location, along with a map showing where they are right now. The same menu also allows you to set your own location-sharing preferences.

However, given that as of March 2025, Google’s Find My Device app has 740 million downloads on the Google Play Store, this latest improvement becomes important. It was first released in 2015 under the name Android Device Manager, and in 2017 it changed its name to Find My Device. Even while they are offline, users can use this software to find, secure, or remove misplaced Android devices, such as phones, tablets, smartwatches, headphones, and other accessories.