However, if a laptop is powered off or just not connected to Wi-Fi, it won't be able to report back to you. A smartphone will probably be connected to a data network and be in standby mode, so it can communicate its location back to you. If you ever lose your device, you go to the service's website, log into your account, and you can view the device's location and control it remotely.īe aware that it will likely be more difficult to track a laptop than a smartphone. You install a piece of software on your device and set up an account with the service.
The BasicsĪll such tracking services work similarly. There are many paid services that offer this feature, but there are also good free options. If you're using Windows and want the ability to track your laptop should it ever become lost or stolen, you'll need to install some third-party software.