Lock Your Smartphone with Android Device Manager

Article by George Norman (Cybersecurity Editor)

on 24 Sep 2013

Google’s Android Device Manager received a new bit of functionality: the online service can now remotely lock your smartphone or tablet.

When Google introduced Android Device Manager, the free online service could perform the following tasks: locate your smartphone, ring it, and remotely wipe it. A new feature for Android Device Manager has quietly gone live: remotely lock your smartphone.
Click here to get started with Android Device Manager and check out the new feature.


Android Device Manager Main Features


Locate your Android-powered device

Access Android Device Manager in your browser window and it will connect to your Android. Then it will display your Android’s location on a Map. In my case, it detected my device with an accuracy of up to 24 meters. This allowed me to see precisely where my Android is located.

Ring your Android smartphone or tablet
Click the Ring button and your Android will start ringing for 5 minutes, at full volume. The ringing will stop when you press the power button. Five minutes should be enough time for you to locate your Android. If it isn’t, just ring your device one more time.

Lock and reset device password
With Android Device Manager you can reset your existing password, PIN, or pattern lock. Your existing protection will be replaced with a new password – your device will be locked and only by using this new password can it be unlocked.

Erase data on your device
You can use Android Device Manager to remotely erase all the data stored on your device. This way, sensitive information will not end up in the wrong hands.

You can use Android Device Manager as a free online service; check it out by following this link.
Google explained that an Android Device Manager app will be released in the near future. A precise release date has not been provided.



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