Google may be building a crowdsourced network of Android devices to help find lost phones

Google already offers a way to locate your device remotely via the Find My Device app and secure your data if your phone is lost. However, the app can find only the devices that are signed in to your Google account.

Now, the search giant may be developing a new feature to help other Android users find their lost devices through crowdsourcing, like Apple's Find My network. A string of code in the latest version of Google Play Services in the beta channel reportedly revealed a "Find My Device Network” that can supposedly let your phone locate your device and other Android handsets as well.

For comparison, Apple’s Find My network relies on a vast network of devices that can help track lost or stolen Apple devices even if these are offline. The Cupertino-based company even expanded its device tracking capability with the debut of the AirTag in April.

With Google's Find My Device network, the company could bank on the large presence of its mobile operating system. This means that any Android smartphone sold outside of China with the Play Services app preloaded will presumably be eligible to join the Find My Device network. It's not known for now, though, whether the feature will release as part of Android 12 as details are limited at the moment.

Source: XDA Developers