By Staff Writer (media@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Apr 16, 2015 11:45 PM EDT

You've seen those tips on how to recover lost smartphones, which ranged from GPS-based interventions to reporting the incident to certain entities.

And now, there seems to be an easier alternative to finding lost handsets - that is if they're powered by Android.

"Google announced Wednesday a new phone-finding feature for Android users tied to its search engine," Time reported. "Simply type "find my phone" into the Google search bar, and the results will show a map with the last known location of your phone."

Another useful feature is that you can actually call the phone from the said page to find it.

For this Google-based search to work, "users must be logged into the same Google account on the browser as they are on their phone," according to Gizmag.

"They must also have the latest version of the Google app installed on their device," the site added.

Once both steps are accomplished, you can simply type "find my phone" on the Google search engine. You will then be given a map that tries to locate your device and show you where it is.

"Give it at least several seconds, and you should eventually see a location on the map that's accurate to a certain distance," CNET explained.

What if you simply misplaced your handset somewhere within your residence? Although Google can't tell you which room it's in, you can always just ring the phone so you can locate it yourself.

"To pinpoint your device, click the icon or link for Ring on the map. Your device will ring at full volume for up to five minutes. Once you find it, simply click the power button to turn off the ringing," the tech news site advised.

This Google-based search works also for Android tablets, provided your device has been installed with the right app and is logged on to the same Google account.

PC World noted that typing "my phone is lost" works as well.

"More specific searches like 'find my Nexus 5' didn't bring up the new feature," the site said.

Previously, Android devices could be tracked using the Android Device Manager. This new search engine feature is a "web-based version of Android Device Manager" and makes it easier for users to locate lost Android smartphones, Gizmag noted.

Have you given this feature a try? A dry run won't hurt, as this can help resolve real "find my phone" moments more quickly. Let us know how it went!

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