If you own an Android device, it is important to set up your Google Account so that you and your phone are protected in the event of an emergency, theft or loss.

Account linked to your phone manufacturer

Your phone manufacturer may offer alternate features to those available in your Google Account.

For example: with a Samsung account you will get the additional options of retrieving your call log, perform a new backup, disable the device from powering off etc.

I recommend getting both the Google and the Manufacturer specific accounts setup correctly.

Please see my other article on Setting up a Samsung Account called “Why you need a Samsung Account”:

Why you need a Samsung Account

Google Account

*** During the initial setup of your phone you would have already signed in with a Google Account, providing you access to your Google Calendar and your Google Contacts. ***

Here is how it is done!

1. Tap Google.
2. Tap Google Account.
3. Under Home, Security issues found

Third-party access

These are Apps with account access and less secure app access.

If you access your Google Account with a product that is deemed as “less secure” then you should set the “Allow less secure apps” to be ON.

A less secure app can be a product such as Windows Live Mail or Microsoft Outlook. If you want to continue to use a less secure product to access your Google account then you must leave “Allow less secure apps” to be ON.

Google Play Protect

1. In “Your devices”, Turn on app & device protection on your …‘Phone name’.
2. “Turn on Play Protect?” tap ACCEPT
   Google Play Protect checks your device and prevents or warns about potential harm.

Sign-in & recovery

Set up your recovery email address and recovery phone number. This information helps you to get back into your account if you forget your password or cannot access your account.

Services

Backup

Backup is one of essential services, should your phone be lost, stolen or damaged.

Select Backup and check that the following is backed up.

Backup to Google Drive is set to “On”.

Active backups should be as follows:

• App data
• Contacts
• Device Settings
• Photos & Videos

To make any changes:

1. Tap Settings
2. Tap Cloud and accounts
3. Tap Accounts
4. Tap your Google account (next to the Google Symbol “G”)
5. Tap Sync account
6. Switch individual sync items on or off as required.

Security

Find My Device

Tap Find My Device

Set the switch to “On”

This will allow your device to be found when you log into the web at:

https://android.com/find

From the Google Find my Device screen you can:

1. Locate the phone on a Google map
2. Play a Sound
3. Enable Secure and Erase
   (I found that this feature did not work on my device)

Find Your Phone

Find your Phone

This is the preferred method.

https://myaccount.google.com/

Click on Find Your Phone (4^th item in the list).

Go through the verification TEST by typing in your Google password.

You now have a collection of options depending on the circumstances of the loss.

Find your phone includes the following features:

1. Ring
   Rings the phone for 5 minutes
2. Locate
   Locates the phone on a Google map
   
   (Map distorted for privacy reasons)
3. Lock your phone
   Whether or not you have locked your phone, you can now do so with a password, enter a contact no and a message.
   
   1. Set a password (whether or not you already have one)
   2. Send a message to the phone lock screen
   3. Provide a phone number for the finder to call (provide an alternate number to your mobile number)
      The phone will turn on and the following will now appear on the screen of your phone:
      
4. Sign out of your phone
5. Consider erasing your device (this provides an ERASE button).
   This erase procedure may also erase the contents on your memory card. After an erase you will no longer have remote access to your phone.

The finder is still able to access the Emergency information (ICE contacts and personal medical information) by tapping EMERGENCY. (See https://martinshelpdesk.com/ice).

Once retrieved the owner will have the ability to enter a PIN or password and unlock the phone.

Mobile Phone Setup

Martin’s HelpDesk can help users get the best out of their phone. With a proper setup your phone can facilitate your everyday activities. We provide a custom setup to match your lifestyle including work, travel, sports and leisure.

https://martinshelpdesk.com/smartphone

If you own a Samsung device, setting up Samsung Account can help you in the event of an emergency, theft or loss. You will also be able to restore all your data to a replacement Samsung device.

I recommend getting both the Manufacturer specific account (in this case it is Samsung) and your Google account setup correctly.

Please see my other article on Setting up a Google Account called “Protect your Device with your Google Account”.

Protect your Device with your Google Account

Setup your Samsung Account on your Samsung device. This will give you access to numerous Samsung Services including:

1. Samsung Pay
2. Bixby
3. Samsung Cloud Storage
4. Find my Mobile
5. *Samsung Notes
6. *Samsung Health

*Note: If you change or upgrade to a non Samsung device then your data stored in Samsung Notes and Samsung Health will be lost as these apps will not be compatible with your new device.

I now use these alternative apps:

• • Microsoft One Note (requires a Microsoft Account)
  • Sports Tracker Premium (premium maps and no adds)
    Sport Tracker Premium costs £14.99 per year (in my region)

Create a Samsung Account

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Cloud and accounts.
3. Tap Accounts.
4. Tap Add account.
5. Tap Samsung account.
6. Tap CREATE ACCOUNT.
7. Enter your email and a password.
8. Tap NEXT.
9. Select terms and conditions, and tap AGREE.

Backup your Phone and Sync your Data

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Cloud and Accounts
3. Tap Samsung Cloud
4. Tap the 3 dots in the upper right corner
5. Tap Settings
6. Tap Sync Settings
7. Select the items to be backed up

Use the same procedure for Auto backup settings

Find my Mobile

Visit the following Web Site from any device and login: https://findmymobile.samsung.com

Once you are logged in, a web page will show your devices with the location of the selected device on a zoomable map:

(The map has been distorted for privacy reasons)

Find My Mobile combines all the services into one to perform the following actions:

• Ring
• Lock and Lock Power Off
• Erase data
• Back up
• Retrieve calls/messages
• Unlock
• Extend battery life
• Set guardian

Google has a similar offering with 2 services: Find your Phone and Google Find My Device.

Please see my separate article on Google

There is one main difference – Samsung Find My Mobile can retrieve your call log from your phone. (When using the feature Retrieve calls/messages – only my call log was displayed and no messages).

Lock

Whether or not you have locked your phone, you can now do so. Set up a PIN number, enter a contact no as well as a message.

The following will now appear on lock screen of the lost phone:

The finder is still able to access the Emergency information (ICE contacts and personal medical information) by tapping EMERGENCY CALL. (See https://martinshelpdesk.com/ice).

Once retrieved the owner will have the ability to enter a PIN and unlock the phone.

Lock Power off

This disables the “Power off” function of the phone, so that it stays on and connected.

Back up

Backup gives you the opportunity to do a final back up (as long as the phone is still powered on and has an internet connection). The following items will be backed up:

·         Phone log·         Messages ·         Contacts (on phone) ·         Calendar (on phone) ·         Clock, Settings ·         Home Screen ·         Apps ·         Documents

·         Voice Recorder·         Music ·         Calendar ·         Contacts ·         Gallery ·         Memo ·         Samsung Internet ·         Samsung Notes

These can then be restored to a new (Samsung) phone that has signed in with the same Samsung Account.

Note: The Contacts and Calendar items can be stored in various locations – specifically on your phone, in your Google Account or in your Samsung Account. It is best to keep everything in one place (i.e. your Google Account).

Retrieve calls/messages

Up to the last 50 calls are retrieved. (When I used this there were no retrieved messages)

Unlock

Provides you a remote unlock of your phone should you forget your unlock method. It will delete all stored unlock procedures on the phone. You will need your Samsung account password to confirm.

Set Guardian

Sets designated guardians to remotely perform the following:

• Locate your device
• Activate Emergency Mode
• Ring device

After agreeing, you then need click to Set guardian a second time and enter up to three new guardian’s Samsung account information with an access duration of “always” or set a “custom date range”.

Martin’s HelpDesk can help users get the best out of their phone. With a proper setup your phone can facilitate your everyday activities. We provide a custom setup to match your lifestyle including work, travel, sports and leisure.

https://martinshelpdesk.com/smartphone