A factory reset means wiping out all data from your device. Is it possible to track someone down using their computer or smartphone after they’ve done a factory reset. Here’s about can a laptop be tracked after factory reset.
Factory resets are often performed when a user wants to start over with their device. This usually involves erasing all information stored on the device, such as contacts, photos, apps, etc.
It’s impossible to trace someone once they’ve erased their phone or computer. The only way to identify them would be through other methods, such as tracking their IP address.
Table of Contents
Steps
If you are looking for your lost laptop, you can now find it easily. Microsoft has added a new feature called “Find my device.” This feature helps you locate your laptop even if it is turned off.
You can enable the feature on your computer by clicking on the Start button and typing “find my device” into the search box.
Read More: How To Factory Reset Lenovo Laptop With Novo Button?
The next step is to select the “Settings” option under the search results. Now, go to the “Update & Security” section. There, you will see a new option named “Find My Device.” Click on the “Turn On” button to turn this feature on.
Now, when you lose your laptop, just click on the “Start” button and type in your password. The system will then try to connect with the nearest Wi-Fi hotspot.
Once connected, the system will display all the details of your laptop including its location.
By Using Laptop Serial Number
You can use this tool to keep an eye on your computer by tracking its serial number. There was a detailed guide on this topic. You read through our blog post titled “How to Track a Stole Laptops With Serial Number”.
“turn on” option to activate the feature.
You can also send emails to your computer’s display to make it show an image of what you’re writing. Open Notepad and write “Return my computer” in the document.
Then click the Send button. Your computer should automatically reboot after sending the email. When it does, you’ll see a picture of your computer on the monitor instead of the usual text.
You can also lock the screen remotely. Here, you’ll see a list of connected computers. Click on the one you wish to lock. Then click on Lock Screen. A window will pop up asking for the password. Type in the password and press OK. Your screen will then be locked.
By Using Find My Mac
If you’ve got an Apple device, then you might want to check out Find My iPhone/iPad/Mac. It lets you locate your lost devices remotely.
To do so, open the app and enter your iCloud account information. After that, you need to sign in using your Apple ID credentials.
After signing in, you’ll get a map showing where your device is located. You can zoom in or out to view more detail about the area.
You can also choose to call your device from another iOS device. You can also set a message to appear on your device.
By Using Gmail
You can use Google Analytics to see where someone has been accessing your email from if they used Gmail on their computer before losing it.
To view your email history, go to Gmail and at the top right corner, click “More” > “Account Settings”. Then scroll down to “View Account Information” and select “Show All Mail.”
Read More: Where Is The Print Screen Button On Asus Laptop?
By Using DropBox
You can use Dropbox to track IP addresses whenever a computer using Dropbox access the internet. By doing so, you can learn where the computer is located and who its internet service providers are.
To get started, go to Dropbox.com, log into your account, and select your profile picture from the top right corner. Next, scroll down to Settings > Security and Privacy > Device Information.
Finally, look at the IP addresses listed under the Device section.
By Using iMessage
Apple provides a way to find your missing iPhone via iMessage. If you have an iPad, iPod touch, or Mac, you can use iMessages to locate your phone.
Open Messages on your iPhone and tap on the little arrow in the upper left-hand corner. Tap on More and then tap on Find My iPhone. Enter your Apple ID and password.
The Bottom Line
To help you better comprehend the various options available for tracking laptop computers after factory resets, we’ve put together this guide.
After knowing how to recover from a factory reset, now is the right moment for you to take precautions and install any software that suits you or turn on the available services on the computer before it’s too late!
Conclusion
If you don’t install anti-theft programs before a factory reset, there is no way to track down the stolen computer. However, if you do install anti-theft applications, you can avoid wasting time and resources trying to track down the stolen laptop.
FAQs
Q1. Can I track my laptop with Google?
B. Yes, you can use Google Maps to locate your laptop if it goes offline. If your laptop gets lost or taken away, you can sign in to your Google account and see where it is located using Google Maps.
Q 2. Can a laptop be tracked by a serial number?
A. No, an IP address is not enough to track a computer among many. MAC (Media Access Control) or Serial Number is software. So they do not tell where the machine is physically located after a factory reset.
