The Find My Device network now includes offline capabilities for Android phones, tablets, and trackers, with future support planned for Wear OS and Pixel Watch devices. This enhancement will allow users to locate, lock, and erase their devices even when they are offline.
In an “APK Insight” post, the latest version of an application uploaded by Google to the Play Store was decompiled to reveal potential future features. Decompiling these APK files allows for insights into new functionalities that may be released, although there’s no guarantee they will be. The aim is to showcase those features that appear nearly ready for launch.
The newest update (version 2.5.0.652251118) of the Pixel Watch app introduces a “Find My Watch” setting, enabling users to remotely locate, lock, and erase their watch without requiring an internet connection. Currently, the Pixel Watch can only be found if it’s connected to a paired phone or has standalone cellular connectivity. This new feature will utilize a crowdsourced network to work even when the watch is offline.
Users will have the option to turn the offline Find My Device feature on or off. This functionality is expected to extend to other Wear OS devices in the future, as it relies on Google Play services rather than specific hardware requirements.
There is also an anticipation for headphones, including Pixel Buds Pro, to gain support for the Find My Device network. The insights from the APK teardowns are partly credited to the JEB Decompiler, which aids in these analyses.
