Remotely lock or wipe a stolen phone
A stolen phone is a risk in two ways: the hardware, and everything stored on it. This is a Pro/Family feature — here's exactly what setting it up requires, what each button actually does, and how you'll know a command went through.
Setup: grant Device Admin access during pairing
This is the one permission that makes lock and wipe possible, and it's requested as its own explicit step while pairing the app — a system dialog, not a DevTrac screen. Tap "Activate" when it appears. If the dialog doesn't show up on your device (some manufacturers handle this differently), the app has a fallback button that opens Settings directly so you can enable it manually from there.
Where the controls are, and what's free vs. paid
On the device's page, under "Device controls," you'll see four buttons: Locate now (available on every plan), and Sound alarm, Remote lock, and Remote wipe — all three of which require a Pro or Family plan. On the free plan those three are visibly present but disabled, with an "Upgrade" link next to them rather than being hidden entirely.
What happens when you click Remote lock
The device receives a lock command along with the message "This device is lost. Please contact the owner." displayed on the lock screen. It doesn't touch any data — it just puts the device behind a screen a thief can't get past.
What happens when you click Remote wipe
Wipe requires a second, explicit confirmation step — a warning box appears reading "This erases all data on the device. It can't be undone," and you have to click "Confirm wipe" separately. There's no way to trigger it with a single accidental click.
How to confirm a command actually went through
After clicking any command, the panel shows a short status line — for example "lock queued — delivers on the device's next check-in." That wording matters: commands aren't instant push notifications, they deliver the next time the device does a routine check-in. If the phone is offline when you send the command, it'll deliver as soon as it reconnects, including right after a restart — the app's boot receiver keeps working through a reboot specifically for this reason.
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