From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

I added a parking program to my phone and all of sudden Google started offering things. One of the offers was to track my phone when it was off.
I answered no. Is there a way I can check that the Samsung Android phone is not being tracked when it is turned off (powered down)?
--
<Bill>

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska


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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

On 2026-08-07 19:34, Bill Bradshaw wrote:

I added a parking program to my phone and all of sudden Google started offering things. One of the offers was to track my phone when it was off.
I answered no. Is there a way I can check that the Samsung Android phone is not being tracked when it is turned off (powered down)?

It is not possible to track a phone when it is off, unless one of the
features of the phone is including a low power passive tracker gadget
like those they sell to track suitcases in planes.
--
Cheers, Carlos.
ESEfc-Efc+, EUEfc-Efc|;
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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Bill Bradshaw wrote:

Is there a way I can check that the Samsung Android phone is
not being tracked when it is turned off (powered down)?

is that screen off, android still running in background

phone totally powered down by long press of power button

let's ignore any bluetooth trackable even when apparently off modes

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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

"Carlos E.R." wrote:

It is not possible to track a phone when it is off, unless one of the features of the phone is including a low power passive tracker gadget

Phones do exist with those beacons included (at least Pixel10 have it, wouldn't surprise me if other flagships now too) but let's ignore those
for this thread unless we know the phone in question has that feature?
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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Bill Bradshaw wrote:

Is there a way I can check that the Samsung Android phone is
not being tracked when it is turned off

What settings do you have within the 'Find Hub' app?
both for device settings, and offline devices

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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Bill Bradshaw <bradshaw@gci.net> wrote:

I added a parking program to my phone and all of sudden Google started offering things. One of the offers was to track my phone when it was off.
I answered no. Is there a way I can check that the Samsung Android phone is not being tracked when it is turned off (powered down)?

Andy mentioned the *Google* 'Find Hub' facility. See the 'Google
services' section of Settings.

*Samsung* also has their own 'Find My Mobile' facility. See Settings

Security and privacy -> Lost device protection (or search settings on

'Find My Mobile').

On both, you can disable offline finding. Note *offline* - i.e. not
connected to a network -, *not* powered down ('Power off' icon).
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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

On 07.08.26 19:34, Bill Bradshaw wrote:

I added a parking program to my phone and all of sudden Google started offering things. One of the offers was to track my phone when it was off.
I answered no. Is there a way I can check that the Samsung Android phone is not being tracked when it is turned off (powered down)?

The phone is not trackable when powered down.
--
"Roma locuta, causa finita" (Augustinus)
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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

On 07/08/2026 18:57, Andy Burns wrote:

Bill Bradshaw wrote:

Is there a way I can check that the Samsung Android phone is
not being tracked when it is turned off (powered down)?

is that screen off, android still running in background

phone totally powered down by long press of power button

let's ignore any bluetooth trackable even when apparently off modes

Any idea how this is done? From <https://oppostore.co.uk/blog/locate-a-Lost-Cell-Phone-that-is-Turned-OFF>:

"How to find lost phone which is switched off using IMEI number?

IMEI number is basically an identity code of the phone that helps
locating even when onerCOs phone is off. This 15-digit code comes with
unique form for every smartphone and is mostly written on the box or
inside packaging. It can be provided to the police to help locating the
phone if it is misplaced or lost."
--
Jeff
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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Jeff, others,

"How to find lost phone which is switched off using IMEI number?

IMEI number is basically an identity code of the phone

[snip]

A bit lower it says this :

[quote]
Can You Track a Phone If It Is Switched Off?

Yes, you can track the lost mobile phone if it's lost as well as switched
off with the Google Maps. Just by checking out the history of your device timeline, *you can track where your phone was active last time*.
[/quote]

(bolding mine)

Although the first line says "yes", the rest of it says "no" : You can
recover *where it was when it was on* using Googles services - but that
won't help in any way if the phone is moved after it has been switched off.

Bottom line : the answer to the OPs question seems to be "no".

Regards,
Rudy Wieser



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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

R.Wieser wrote:

Although the first line says "yes", the rest of it says "no" : You can recover where it was when it was on using Googles services - but that
won't help in any way if the phone is moved after it has been switched off.

For Pixel 8/9/10 phones there's more to it than that; even after the
phone is switched "off" or has shutdown due to low battery, there is a
low power processor which in the background transmits pre-encrypted
bluetooth beacons giving the phone's ID. Other android phones which are nearby can receive these and relay them to google, along with the
location of that phone, which is a proxy for the location where the lost
phone is at a later time.

Bottom line : the answer to the OPs question seems to be "no".

However it seems that Samsung phones haven't got that functionality, so
"no" may wel lbe the correct answer.
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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid> wrote:

On 07/08/2026 18:57, Andy Burns wrote:

Bill Bradshaw wrote:

Is there a way I can check that the Samsung Android phone is
not being tracked when it is turned off (powered down)?

is that screen off, android still running in background

phone totally powered down by long press of power button

let's ignore any bluetooth trackable even when apparently off modes

Any idea how this is done? From <https://oppostore.co.uk/blog/locate-a-Lost-Cell-Phone-that-is-Turned-OFF>:

"How to find lost phone which is switched off using IMEI number?

IMEI number is basically an identity code of the phone that helps
locating even when one?s phone is off. This 15-digit code comes with
unique form for every smartphone and is mostly written on the box or
inside packaging. It can be provided to the police to help locating the phone if it is misplaced or lost."

I would take this article with a grain of salt. Note that the header
of the paragraph mentions "switched off", but the actual paragraph only
talks about "misplaced or lost", i.e. not neccesarily switched off.

Also the (14 April 2022) article is outdated. For example the "Method
2: Using Google" no longer works, because the 'Your Timeline' data is
now (since quite a long time) on the *device* instead of in your
account, so you can only use 'Your Timeline' when you have the device
which does the tracking (i.e. your phone/tablet) in your hand.
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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Frank Slootweg wrote:

I would take this article with a grain of salt. Note that the header
of the paragraph mentions "switched off", but the actual paragraph only
talks about "misplaced or lost", i.e. not neccesarily switched off.

Here it is from the horse's mouth

<https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/9338817#zippy=%2Cstep-find-offline-devices-and-devices-without-power>

If "step 4" doesn't automatically open up, then click on the twisty to
expand it ...

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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

On Fri, 7 Aug 2026 09:34:31 -0800, Bill Bradshaw wrote:

I added a parking program to my phone and all of sudden Google started offering things. One of the offers was to track my phone when it was off.
I answered no. Is there a way I can check that the Samsung Android phone is not being tracked when it is turned off (powered down)?

With my Pixel 10 I can check with the Find Hub (Find my device): <https://www.google.com/android/find/>

But since Samsung insists in replacing Android software with it's own I
don't know if that's an option for you. I expect that Samsung has its
own Find Hub.
--
s|b
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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Andy,

For Pixel 8/9/10 phones there's more to it than that; even after the
phone is switched "off" or has shutdown due to low battery, there is
a low power processor which in the background transmits pre-
encrypted bluetooth beacons giving the phone's ID.

Carlos mentioned something similar. Just don't lose you phone in any kind
uf rural area (BLE is rather short-range).

Lets see how many dumb thieves get caught-out by it. :-)

Regards
Rudy Wieser


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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

On 2026-08-08 19:08, R.Wieser wrote:

Andy,

For Pixel 8/9/10 phones there's more to it than that; even after the
phone is switched "off" or has shutdown due to low battery, there is
a low power processor which in the background transmits pre-
encrypted bluetooth beacons giving the phone's ID.

Carlos mentioned something similar. Just don't lose you phone in any kind uf rural area (BLE is rather short-range).

Yes, the tracker device or internal system is very low power. With a
button cell it lasts about 2 years. It listens for BT, or actually, BLE,
in close proximity, meters, and then asks the other device, which is
fully active, to please transmit my location to the tracking centre.

So it is feasible that some phones (not all) when powered off still
power up this tracker device. They must tell this in the instructions,
though.

Lets see how many dumb thieves get caught-out by it. :-)

:-)
--
Cheers, Carlos.
ESEfc-Efc+, EUEfc-Efc|;
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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

R.Wieser wrote:

Lets see how many dumb thieves get caught-out by it. EfOe

Historically, police in the UK have refused act even if you tell them
where your stolen phone is. They've been given new powers to enter
premises without a warrant and seize devices when they've been
geotracked, but no sign of them using those powers ...

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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Andy,

Lets see how many dumb thieves get caught-out by it. ??

Historically, police in the UK have refused act even if you tell
them where your stolen phone is.

Thats not what I ment. In the past dumb thieves have been caught by not switching their smartphones off, allowing police to place them in the direct vincinity of a break-in (by way of the famous-and-abhorred "drag-net"
requests to phone companies).

I guess that even the dumb thieves now know to switch their phones off while they are breaking-in. But as their switched-off phones now might be advertising themselves to other phones ...

Regards,
Rudy Wieser


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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

On Sat, 8 Aug 2026 18:35:22 +0100, Andy Burns wrote:

Historically, police in the UK have refused act even if you tell them
where your stolen phone is. They've been given new powers to enter
premises without a warrant and seize devices when they've been
geotracked, but no sign of them using those powers ...

In Belgium, police don't act either. Not that long ago a guy got his
very expensive camera equipment stolen. There was an AirTag in his bag,
showing it was located in the apartment across of him, with only 4
people living there. Still, police can do nothing.
--
s|b
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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

Frank Slootweg wrote:

I would take this article with a grain of salt. Note that the header
of the paragraph mentions "switched off", but the actual paragraph only talks about "misplaced or lost", i.e. not neccesarily switched off.

Here it is from the horse's mouth

<https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/9338817#zippy=%2Cstep-find-offline-devices-and-devices-without-power>

If "step 4" doesn't automatically open up, then click on the twisty to expand it ...

FTR, I don't doubt your/the_Pixel story in any way, I doubt the OPPO
story.

As Carlos explained, what an item-tracker can do with a button cell, a
phone can do when it's (not quite) 'powered off' with a near-empty
battery.
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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

s|b <me@privacy.invalid> wrote:

On Fri, 7 Aug 2026 09:34:31 -0800, Bill Bradshaw wrote:

I added a parking program to my phone and all of sudden Google started offering things. One of the offers was to track my phone when it was off. I answered no. Is there a way I can check that the Samsung Android phone is
not being tracked when it is turned off (powered down)?

With my Pixel 10 I can check with the Find Hub (Find my device): <https://www.google.com/android/find/>

But since Samsung insists in replacing Android software with it's own I
don't know if that's an option for you. I expect that Samsung has its
own Find Hub.

As I mentioned before [1], Samsung devices have *both*: The Google
'Find Hub' facility *and* the Samsung 'Find My Mobile' facility. (I
tested both today (online, not offline) and they work fine.)

[1]
Message-ID: <1155iu3.g7k.1@ID-201911.user.individual.net>
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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

On 08/08/2026 20:06, Frank Slootweg wrote:

Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> wrote:

Frank Slootweg wrote:

I would take this article with a grain of salt. Note that the header
of the paragraph mentions "switched off", but the actual paragraph only
talks about "misplaced or lost", i.e. not neccesarily switched off.

Here it is from the horse's mouth

<https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/9338817#zippy=%2Cstep-find-offline-devices-and-devices-without-power>

If "step 4" doesn't automatically open up, then click on the twisty to
expand it ...

FTR, I don't doubt your/the_Pixel story in any way, I doubt the OPPO story.

Looks like it should be doubted. From <https://www.carlcare.com/ng/tips-detail/track-stolen-phone-with-imei-number/>

"Is it possible to track a phone if it is turned off?

No, IMEI tracking requires the phone to be turned on and connected to a cellular network."
--
Jeff
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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

On 8 Aug 2026 19:06:30 GMT, Frank Slootweg wrote:

As I mentioned before [1], Samsung devices have *both*: The Google
'Find Hub' facility *and* the Samsung 'Find My Mobile' facility. (I
tested both today (online, not offline) and they work fine.)

De wonderen zijn de wereld nog niet uit. (-:

[1]
Message-ID: <1155iu3.g7k.1@ID-201911.user.individual.net>

(I neglected to read the whole thread before reacting.)
--
s|b
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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Jeff Layman wrote:

Looks like it should be doubted. From <https://www.carlcare.com/ng/tips- detail/track-stolen-phone-with-imei-number/>

"Is it possible to track a phone if it is turned off?

No, IMEI tracking requires the phone to be turned on and connected to a cellular network."

So you trust a generic page, from a company that nobody outside of
Nigeria ever heard of, above the actual manufacturer of three specific
models which has added the feature and described how it works?

There's no helping some people ...

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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Jeff,

No, IMEI tracking requires the phone to be turned on and connected to
a cellular network."

Not really.

The IMEI is just a number, which can be copied into the BLE beacon, to be transmitted when the beacon gets pinged.

Heck, I could allow a smartphone to be "IMEI tracked" by printing the number on a sticker and put it on the back of the phone, for everyone to eyeball.
:-)

regards,
Rudy Wieser


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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

On 09/08/2026 16:10, Andy Burns wrote:

Jeff Layman wrote:

Looks like it should be doubted. From <https://www.carlcare.com/ng/tips-
detail/track-stolen-phone-with-imei-number/>

"Is it possible to track a phone if it is turned off?

No, IMEI tracking requires the phone to be turned on and connected to a
cellular network."

So you trust a generic page, from a company that nobody outside of
Nigeria ever heard of, above the actual manufacturer of three specific
models which has added the feature and described how it works?

The Oppo page didn't describe how it worked with the phone turned /off/,
which is why I asked the question in my OP as to how it was done.

There's no helping some people ...

Your 15.37 post yesterday said that Pixel 8/9/10 phones had a low-power processor which used a Bluetooth beacon even when the battery was dead,
so the phone's ID could be picked up by a nearby Android phone. At the
end, you added "However it seems that Samsung phones haven't got that functionality, so "no" may well be the correct answer."

Well, I hedged my bets too by giving two opposite comments (I hadn't
noticed that it was a Nigerian webpage. I'd have doubted its veracity
too if I had).

As it happens, at <https://www.ninjaone.com/blog/what-google-find-my-device-is-and-when-it-is-useful/>
it notes the Bluetooth beacon is present in Pixel 8+ phones, but also
states that it is available with the Samsung Galaxy S24+. That page is
worth reading as it includes the requirements for those beacons to work effectively, including belonging to the Find My Device network.
--
Jeff
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From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

On 2026-08-09 17:49, R.Wieser wrote:

Jeff,

No, IMEI tracking requires the phone to be turned on and connected to
a cellular network."

Not really.

The IMEI is just a number, which can be copied into the BLE beacon, to be transmitted when the beacon gets pinged.

Heck, I could allow a smartphone to be "IMEI tracked" by printing the number on a sticker and put it on the back of the phone, for everyone to eyeball. :-)

I was going to say this, you saved me e-ink :-)

IMEI tracking in the traditional way, which means asking the telephone
network provider to check their databases in their towers, does not work
if the phone is off. The last location is all that can be found.

But the other system based in BLE might know the IMEI location, if they
choose to include that number in the protocol. I do not know.
--
Cheers, Carlos.
ESEfc-Efc+, EUEfc-Efc|;
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