How to improve your chances of recovering a lost Android phone - linseymarban

Password-protective your smartphone makes sense, as it prevents unauthorized users from accessing your data.

But it can also work against you. Say, for example, your phone gets lost. If a Good Samaritan finds it and wants to return it, he or she won't Be able to do the indispensable detective work. (And it's not like you'd want them poking around your information in any case.)

Fortunately, Android 4.0 offers a solution in the form of lock-blind contact data, which will display the message of your choosing even along a passcode-protected twist. Here's how to fixed this upwardly:

1. Happening your Android phone, head to Settings, then look for an entry called Lock Screen. (I found this under the Personal section connected my Samsung Galax urceolata S3; on your earpiece it might be under Security measures or somewhere similar.)

2. Tap Lock Screen, Owner Information.

3. In the field provided, enter whatever message you think mightiness help person return the phone to you–your e-mail address or office call number, for example. You could even set up a Google Voice total solely as an "emergency retrieval" number, in case you don't neediness your personal number readily visible connected your operate screen.

4. Make sure Show owner information on lock riddle is checked, then tap OK.

And that's all there is to IT. Instantly, if someone finds your phone, they still won't beryllium able to bypass your security, but they volition let the info they need to get in touch with you.

Now there's just the simple matter of what kind-hearted of reinforce befits the recall of a curst phone. My flavor: $20. Your thoughts?

While you'atomic number 75 mulling that over, live sure to outfit your phone with some kind of tracking app soh you're non relying only on the kindness of strangers. You can't go wrong with Where's My Droid, but it's just one option of many.

Want to learn to a greater extent? Check out TechHive's recent roundup of Android security apps.

Contributing Editor Rick Broida writes about lin and consumer technology. Ask for help with your PC hassles at hasslefree@pcworld.com, or try the treasure trove of helpful folks in the PCWorld Forums. Sign up to have the Hassle-Out-of-school PC newssheet e-mailed to you weekly.