Anti-Theft Settings to Enable
on Android Before It's Too Late

Settings → Security → Screen lock → PIN

Use a 6-digit PIN — not a pattern (patterns are easy to observe and smudge-read), not a simple date or repeated digits. This is the foundation everything else relies on.

Settings → Google → Find My Device → On

Also enable "Allow remote lock and erase." This lets you see the phone's last location, ring it at full volume, lock it with a message, or wipe it from find.google.com or the Find My Device app on another phone.

Dial *#06# → save both numbers

Your IMEI is your phone's permanent ID. You need it to file an FIR and block the device via CEIR. Save it in your email, on paper, or on a family member's phone — anywhere that's not on the stolen device.

Settings → Security → SIM card lock → Lock SIM card

Sets a separate PIN for the SIM itself. Without it, a thief can move your SIM to another phone and receive OTPs for your UPI and banking apps. Choose a PIN different from your lock screen PIN.

Settings → Google → Backup → Back up now

Backs up contacts, call log, SMS, app list, and Wi-Fi passwords. Run a manual backup right after enabling. This ensures you can restore everything on a replacement phone immediately.

Settings → Lock screen → Contact information

Add your alternate mobile number or email. If someone finds your phone, they can return it without unlocking it. On Samsung: Settings → Lock screen → Contact information. On Xiaomi: Settings → Lock screen → Add text.

In-app settings or OEM App Lock

Enable the in-app fingerprint lock on GPay, PhonePe, and Paytm separately. Even if the thief unlocks your phone, they need your fingerprint to open payment apps. See our full guide for steps per app.

Install from Play Store → add a family member

A guardian can ring your phone remotely (even on silent), take a photo of whoever is holding it, and lock the screen from anywhere. Unlike Find My Device, guardians don't need to know your Google password.

WhatsApp → Settings → Account → Two-step verification

Stops someone from taking over your WhatsApp with just an OTP. Requires a 6-digit PIN as a second factor whenever WhatsApp is re-registered on any device with your number.

WhatsApp → Settings → Chats → Chat Backup → Back Up Now

Set this to auto-backup daily. If your phone is stolen, you'll restore all messages instantly on a replacement device. Without this, chats from the last backup date are gone forever.