When someone steals a phone, one of the first things they do is turn it off or switch on airplane mode. A phone that’s off or offline can’t be located, locked or erased remotely, so every tracking feature you set up suddenly stops working.

The good news: Android and phone makers now have settings that make this much harder. Here’s what to turn on, and how to make sure you still have evidence even if a thief gets through.

TL;DR

  1. Samsung: turn on Lock network and security, so the phone asks for your PIN before it can be turned off from the lock screen.
  2. All Android phones: turn on Theft Detection Lock and Offline Device Lock.
  3. Remove airplane mode from your Quick Settings.
  4. Check your phone’s settings for a “require unlock to power off” option.
  5. Install CrookCatcher to get a photo and the location of anyone who tries to unlock your phone.

1. Samsung: Require your PIN to turn off the phone

Many Samsung Galaxy phones have a setting that stops people from turning off the phone or disabling the network from the lock screen without your PIN, pattern or password.

Go to: Settings > Lock screen > Secure lock settings > Lock network and security

Turn it on. From now on, anyone trying to power off your phone from the lock screen has to unlock it first.

Note: this protects the lock screen. If a thief grabs your phone while it’s unlocked, they can still turn it off, which is why step 2 matters too. Samsung is testing an update that requires your PIN to power off in every situation, and we’ll update this post once it’s released.

2. All Android phones: Turn on Theft Detection Lock and Offline Device Lock

These Android features lock your phone automatically, which helps most in the situation where a thief snatches it out of your hand while it’s unlocked.

  • Theft Detection Lock locks the screen if the phone notices a snatch-and-run motion.
  • Offline Device Lock locks the screen shortly after the phone goes offline, for example when someone switches on airplane mode.

On most Android phones, go to: Settings > Security & Privacy > Device Unlock > Theft Protection

On Samsung phones, go to: Settings > Security and privacy > Lost device protection > Theft protection

Once the phone is locked, the thief is back at the lock screen, where step 1 and CrookCatcher take over.

3. Remove airplane mode from Quick Settings

If airplane mode is one swipe away, a thief can cut off tracking in a second. Moving it out of Quick Settings slows them down:

  1. Swipe down to open Quick Settings.
  2. Tap the edit (✏️) icon.
  3. Drag the Airplane mode tile out of the visible area.

You can still switch on airplane mode from your settings when you need it.

4. Check your phone for a “power off” lock option

Some other manufacturers also include a setting that requires unlocking the phone before it can be switched off. The name and location differ between brands, so the quickest way to check is to open Settings and search for “power off”.

5. Catch the thief on camera before they succeed

Settings make it harder to switch off your phone, but a determined thief may still find a way. That’s where CrookCatcher helps: a thief almost always tries to unlock the phone first, and that’s exactly when CrookCatcher acts.

  • When someone enters a wrong PIN, pattern or password, CrookCatcher takes a photo with the front camera.
  • It records the GPS location and an estimated address.
  • It emails you the photo and location right away.

So even if the phone is switched off a minute later, the thief’s photo and the location are already in your inbox. You can then share them with the police.

With CrookCatcher Pro, you can also record video with sound, capture the surroundings with the back camera, back everything up to Google Drive, and hide CrookCatcher’s notifications so the thief doesn’t realize they’ve been caught.

Get it on Google Play

More ways to keep your phone safe

  • Turn on Find Hub (Google’s Find My Device) so you can locate, lock or erase your phone.
  • Use a strong screen lock. A password or a 6-digit PIN is much harder to guess than a 4-digit one.
  • Keep your phone updated to get the latest security features.
  • Be careful in public places. Many thefts happen while the phone is in your hand, for example while checking a map or taking a photo.

For step-by-step instructions, read our guide to the top 5 Android settings to secure your phone against theft.

What happened to CrookCatcher’s power menu blocking?

An earlier version of this article described an experimental CrookCatcher feature that blocked the power menu and notification shade on the lock screen. Because it couldn’t work reliably across all Android phones, and Android and phone makers now offer better built-in protection, the feature has been discontinued. The settings above are the recommended way to protect your phone today.

Got more questions? Check out the FAQ.