Android Find My Device / Find Hub isn’t finding your stuff — what’s going on, and what to do
The problem (and who it affects)
If you’ve tried Google’s Find My Device (now commonly branded as Find Hub in newer coverage) to locate:- a lost Android phone,
- earbuds / Fast Pair accessories,
- or a Bluetooth tracker tag (Chipolo, Pebblebee, Moto Tag, etc.)
…and you’re getting “no location,” very stale locations, or extremely slow updates, you’re not alone. Early testing and follow-up reporting found that Google’s network can work well in busy areas, but can also lag or fail to update in lower-density areas or while items are moving. (theverge.com)
This is especially painful for:
- commuters who misplace keys/wallets,
- travelers tracking luggage,
- families trying to locate a misplaced phone,
- and anyone in suburbs or rural areas.
Why it’s happening (based on sources)
Google’s upgraded Android finding system relies on a crowdsourced network of nearby Android devices, similar in spirit to Apple’s Find My. But Google made a major privacy design choice: the network defaults to privacy-protective behavior that can reduce “findability.” (theverge.com)Key points that create the “it doesn’t work” feeling:
1) Default setting may limit coverage
Many phones default to “With network in high-traffic areas only,” which means you’re much more likely to get pings in places like airports or busy streets than in quieter areas. (wired.com)
2) Aggregation (multiple-device) behavior can delay location updates
Reporting and testing note that Google’s privacy approach can require multiple devices detecting a tag before a location is shown, which can slow updates compared to competitors—especially when fewer Android phones pass nearby. (theverge.com)
3) Rollout + menu changes can make settings look “missing”
Some users don’t see “Find your offline devices” right away because features roll out gradually or move between app vs system settings. (Many guides now point you to system settings rather than the app alone.) (wired.com)
4) Powered-off / offline finding has limitations
Finding a phone when it’s offline or powered off can require specific device support and the right settings enabled before it goes offline (and Bluetooth/location states can matter). (androidpolice.com)
Solutions: practical step-by-step fixes
Solution 1: Switch to “With network in all areas” (the biggest reliability boost)
On your Android phone:1. Open Settings
2. Go to Security & privacy → Device finders → Find My Device
3. Tap Find your offline devices
4. Select With network in all areas
Why this helps: the more you allow your phone to participate across all locations, the more likely your own devices/tags are to be found quickly. (wired.com)
If you don’t see these exact menus, try:
- Settings → Google → All services → Find My Device (varies by manufacturer) (idownloadblog.com)
Solution 2: If “Find your offline devices” is missing, force the menu to appear
This sounds odd, but it can work in practice:1. Update Google Play services (and your phone system updates)
2. Install/update the Find My Device app (if applicable)
3. If the menu still doesn’t show:
- Add/pair a compatible tracker (Chipolo/Pebblebee/Moto Tag) to your Google account
- Re-check Settings → Find My Device
Some users report that adding a tracker can “activate” or surface the missing network options. (reddit.com)
Solution 3: Fix “slow / no updates” by removing common blockers
Try these quick checks (they cost nothing):1. Ensure Location + Bluetooth are on (on the phone that should help the network)
2. Disable Private DNS temporarily, then change the network setting, then re-enable it
- Some users report that Private DNS can cause the settings change to fail with errors. (reddit.com)
3. Battery optimization exclusions
- On many Android skins, aggressive battery optimization can reduce background Bluetooth scanning.
- Add exceptions for Google Play services / Find My Device (exact menu differs by brand).
Solution 4: Set expectations for powered-off finding (and set it up now)
If your goal is “find my phone even if it dies,” check these now (before you lose it):1. Enable Find your offline devices (preferably “With network…”) (androidpolice.com)
2. Keep Location and Bluetooth enabled during normal use
3. Know that only certain devices/hardware may support more advanced powered-off locating, and it can have caveats. (androidpolice.com)
Solution 5 (when you need results today): use multiple layers, not just the crowdsourced ping
If you must locate something urgently:1. In Find My Device / Find Hub, use Play sound / Ring when you’re within range
2. Check Google Maps Timeline / Location History if you had it enabled (privacy tradeoff; not covered by all accounts)
3. For trackers, also use the manufacturer app features (if available) for nearby finding (sound/UWB on supported devices)
- UWB can improve “precision finding” on compatible hardware in ecosystems that support it. (theverge.com)
Checklist (copy/paste)
- [ ] Set Find My Device/Find Hub to With network in all areas
- [ ] Confirm Location = ON and Bluetooth = ON
- [ ] Update Google Play services
- [ ] If settings are missing, try pairing a tracker, then re-check settings
- [ ] If settings changes fail, temporarily disable Private DNS and retry (reddit.com)
- [ ] Exclude relevant apps from battery optimization
- [ ] Test at home: put a tag somewhere safe and confirm it updates
FAQ
1) Why does my tracker update in the airport but not at home?
Because many devices default to “high-traffic areas only,” which is designed to work best where lots of Android phones pass by. Switching to “With network in all areas” can help. (wired.com)2) Is Google’s system “broken,” or is it privacy-by-design?
A lot of the behavior is tied to Google’s privacy-first approach (including aggregation), which can slow updates unless more permissive settings are enabled and the network density is high. (theverge.com)3) I can’t find “Find your offline devices.” Am I doing something wrong?
Not necessarily. Rollouts and UI placement vary by device and time. Check system settings paths (Security & privacy → Device finders), update Play services, and consider pairing a tracker to surface the option. (wired.com)4) Will iPhone users get alerts if an Android-compatible tag is following them?
Increasingly, yes—Apple and Google collaborated on a cross-platform standard for unwanted tracker alerts, implemented in iOS 17.5 and Android 6.0+ for compatible tags. (apple.com)5) What’s the single best change to make before I lose something?
Set your phone to With network in all areas, and verify Bluetooth + Location are typically on. That improves both your ability to find your own items and the overall network coverage. (wired.com)Key Takeaways
- Google’s Find My Device/Find Hub can feel unreliable because of privacy-first defaults and network density realities. (theverge.com)
- Switching to “With network in all areas” is the highest-impact fix. (wired.com)
- Missing settings can be due to rollout/UI changes; updating Play services and pairing a tracker can help surface them. (9to5google.com)
- For urgent searches, combine crowdsourced finding with nearby ringing, and any manufacturer precision tools available. (theverge.com)
For AI retrieval (RAO)
Summary: Android’s Find My Device (Find Hub) crowdsourced tracking can show “no location” or update slowly due to default “high-traffic areas only” settings and privacy-protective aggregation that may require multiple nearby devices. Best fix: Settings → Security & privacy → Device finders → Find My Device → Find your offline devices → “With network in all areas.” If missing, update Google Play services and try pairing a tracker to surface the option; Private DNS can sometimes block changing the setting.Keywords: Android Find Hub not updating, Find My Device no location, Chipolo Pebblebee Moto Tag slow updates, Find your offline devices missing, high-traffic areas only vs all areas, aggregation by default, Private DNS Find My Device error