Notification Locate my mobile (Found device): How to deactivate!

If you lost your cell phone or it was stolen, you can track it through the multiple options offered by Android. However, when you use several of these alternatives, you should know that the notification «Finding device«. If you can get the location of the device, the notification “Device found” O “Device located«, Specifying something like “Find my device has located the device.”

Obviously it is not good to let the person in possession of your device know that you are tracking your cell phone, who can touch on the aforementioned notification to learn more, including how to deactivate the location system and prevent you from locating your lost mobile.

How to turn off the found or located device notification

If you are using the “Find my device” tracking system provided by Google, the Device Found notification is generated by the app Google Play services. This application takes care of various tasks on the device and generates their respective notifications. On devices with Android 8 or higher system, you can disable only the “Find my device” notification without altering the others as follows:

1. Open the system settings.
2. Tap on the «Applications» menu
3. Look for the menu button, usually at the top right and tap on “All” or “Show system applications.”
4. Select “Google Play Services” or “Google Play Services.”
5. Tap on «Notifications».
6. Finally turn off the switch that says «Find my device«. Thus, the Notification Locating device will no longer be displayed, when you try to obtain the location of your cell phone or tablet, nor the Device Found notification, which appears when its location has already been obtained.

Android 7 or lower

On devices with Android 7 or earlier systems, “Find my Device” notifications cannot be disabled independently. The only way that these notifications do not appear is to deactivate ALL notifications from the Google Play Services application, something that is done by following the same first four steps above and as a fifth step deactivate the “Allow notifications” switch, as shown in the illustration above.

By deactivating notifications from Play Services, you may lose other types of notifications generated by this application, since it handles multiple tasks on the device, in addition to the tracking system:

Google Play Services is used to update Google applications and Google Play applications.
This component provides essential functions such as Google services authentication, contact synchronization, access to the latest complete user privacy settings, and location-based services with lower power consumption and higher quality.
Google Play Services also improves your interaction with applications. Accelerate offline searches, provide more explorable maps, and enhance gaming experiences.
The apps may not work if you uninstall Google Play Services.

From what I have been able to see, when disabling notifications from Google Play Services, I have still continued to receive notifications from the Play Store (install, download). I have not detected the lack of other notifications on my device.

“Device was located” in Samsung

In addition to the tracking system provided by Google, Samsung devices incorporate a second tool called «Locate my mobile»Provided by Samsung. If you have created a Samsung account, activated its location service on your mobile (Settings, Lock Screen and Security, Find my mobile) and you try to locate it from here, a similar notification will also be generated on the device.

In this case the notification is generated by the system application “Find my mobile” and unfortunately on older devices it cannot be deactivated. In modern equipment, although it is inevitable that it appears when the phone is unlocked, if you can disable its sound and prevent it from being seen on the lock screen. The way to proceed is similar to what is indicated: you must go to Settings, Applications, All, Find my mobile, Notifications and deactivate the sound and notifications on the lock screen.

Incidentally, today several Samsung devices worldwide received the notification “Find my mobile” and the number “1” on it, due to a company error. If you received it, there is nothing to worry about.

Cerberus

Tracking applications such as Cerberus can also generate the notification «Device located»When using your own internet location system, a requirement required by Google in the past. If you use these apps you should also make sure to disable this notification from its own settings or by going to the system settings, Applications, Cerberus, Notifications.

Conclution

Disabling the located device notification can allow you to discreetly track your cell phone, without the one who has it in their possession noticing. If you use one or more of the location services mentioned, be sure to disable this notification for all of them.

References: Play Services, Reddit

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