The Android Find My Device network has received a significant update this year, now supporting offline devices and a crowd-sourced tracking system. It appears that a new feature, similar to one found on Apple devices, is soon to be added.
According to 9to5Google, a peek into the code of the latest Android Find My Device app reveals a forthcoming ‘compass’ feature designed to enhance the precision of device tracking. This feature is expected to display a compass on the screen and provide directions such as “turn left,” “turn right,” and “the device is behind you” as you search for your misplaced item.
This feature will likely be integrated with ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, seen in devices like the Pixel Watch 3, which allows for highly accurate location tracking. While most devices will utilize GPS for location reporting if available, UWB technology offers enhanced precision, particularly useful for locating items within a building.
If this technology sounds familiar, it’s because Apple’s Find My network has utilized UWB since the introduction of the iPhone 11 in 2019. You may recall the Apple commercial featuring Boba Fett using UWB to locate his friends.
Bridging the Gap
Currently, the new code discovered doesn’t seem to be active as the functionality did not work when tested with a Moto Tag by the 9to5Google team. Nonetheless, Google has indicated that enhancements to the Find My Device service are forthcoming, suggesting that this new feature may soon be operational.
This development aligns with other snippets of code previously found that hinted at UWB support, possibly including augmented reality capabilities. This means you might soon be able to navigate to your lost device similarly to how you would use Live View in Google Maps to find a destination.
Google is somewhat behind in incorporating UWB support, which has been featured in Apple and Samsung devices for several years. The technology is present in the Pixel Watch 3, but not in the standard Pixel 8 or Pixel 9 models. To access UWB features, an upgrade to the Pro models is necessary (refer to our Google Pixel 9 Pro review for more details).
While Google has not officially confirmed UWB support for the newly enhanced Android Find My Device network, the rollout of these upgrades to more regions in recent months suggests that the announcement could be imminent.
- Android phones finally get their first AirTag-style trackers
- 7 key insights about the Android Find My Device network
- Guidelines for setting up trackers on the Find My Device app
I am Sofia, a tech-savvy journalist and passionate member of the “Jason Deegan” team. Growing up, I was always fascinated by the latest technological advancements and loved sharing my knowledge with others.