A revolutionary feature may appear in Android 15. The ability to find lost devices even when they are turned off. Mishaal Rahman, a well-known Android developer, said Android Police, that Google is researching technology that would allow partial functionality of Bluetooth controllers even when the phone is turned off.
Android 15: Find your lost phone even if it's turned off
The feature builds on Google's ongoing initiative to create a network similar to Apple's Find My network. This network relies on Bluetooth beacons – short signals transmitted by devices at regular intervals that can be picked up by nearby devices. With billions of Android devices around the world, this network can create a dense and accurate location grid.
However, finding a disabled device is quite difficult. This is where innovation from Google comes to the rescue. The idea is to pre-write these unique and secure identification signals into the Bluetooth controller's memory before powering off. Even when turned off, the controller can continue to transmit these pre-recorded beacons, allowing location tracking.
It is important to note that this feature requires compatible hardware. Current reports suggest that the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro could be the first beneficiaries. While the Pixel Fold and older models don't appear to have this capability, a wider rollout on previous flagships and possibly other devices is possible in the future. The official debut could come with the upcoming Pixel 9 series, which is expected this fall.
This potential addition to Android 15 represents a significant advance in recovering lost devices. Users can rest easy knowing that they can find even switched off phones, ensuring that their lost devices can still be found.
