How do you make a Samsung phone trackable by SMS?
With Samsung Routines, a secret keyword in an incoming text can switch your phone's data and location on by itself.
Short answer
Open Settings > Modes and Routines > Routines and build a new routine. Set the condition to a notification from the Messages app containing a private keyword, and set the actions to turn on mobile data, Wi-Fi and Location. If the phone goes missing, text that keyword: the device comes back online and shows up on the map in SmartThings Find or Google Find Hub.
What you need
Step by step
Turn on the finding services
Go to Settings > Security and privacy > Find my device and enable both SmartThings Find and Google's find service. Switch on "Offline finding" and "Send last location" as well. The routine only gets the phone online; these services are what actually place it on a map, so they have to be ready first.
Create the routine
Open Settings > Modes and routines, move to the Routines tab and tap the + icon at the top right. You will see an "If" section for the trigger and a "Then" section for the actions. Everything for this setup happens on that one screen.
Trigger it from an incoming text
Tap + under "If" and choose Notifications > When notification received. Select Messages as the app, then open "Add keyword" and type something nobody would guess, such as "red-key-42". The routine now fires only when a message carrying that exact word arrives.
Add the actions
Tap + under "Then" and add Mobile data (On), Wi-Fi (On) and Location (On), one after another. Adding Power saving mode (On) helps the battery last longer while you search. Pushing ring volume to maximum is also handy if the phone turned out to be nearby.
Name it and keep it quiet
Give the routine a dull name like "System update" so it draws no attention. On the save screen, turn off "Show notification when routine runs" so whoever holds the phone sees nothing happen. Then tap Save.
Test the whole chain
Manually switch off mobile data and Wi-Fi, lock the screen, and send the keyword from another phone. Connectivity and location should come on within a few seconds. If nothing happens, check that Modes and routines has notification access permission granted.
Use it the moment the phone is gone
As soon as you notice the phone missing, send the keyword by text. Then open smartthingsfind.samsung.com or the Google find page on a computer and follow the location on the map, ringing or locking the device if needed.
Add a keyword that undoes it
Build a second routine with a different keyword that turns mobile data back off. This gives you a clean way to return to your normal settings after every test, so you are not leaving data on by accident.
Tips
Watch out
If the person holding the phone removes the SIM, no text arrives and the routine never runs, so send the keyword within the first minutes of noticing the loss. Never go after the location yourself either; hand the address to the police instead.
Frequently asked questions
+Does the routine work if the phone is fully powered off?
No. A powered-off phone receives no messages, so nothing triggers. In that case only the last location saved by SmartThings Find and the offline finding network can help.
+Will it fire while airplane mode is on?
It will not, because texts cannot arrive in airplane mode. The routine needs an active line, which is exactly why the finding services must stay enabled too.
+Can I set up the same thing on an iPhone?
Not directly. iOS Shortcuts cannot switch mobile data on based on message content, so Find My's offline network plus Send Last Location is the best option there.
+Does leaving the routine enabled burn through battery?
No. It stays idle and only executes when a message with the keyword arrives, so there is no measurable drain while it waits.
+What should I do if I never get the phone back?
File a lost or stolen report with the police, call your carrier to suspend the line, and report the device by its IMEI number to your national regulator's stolen-device registry.
Sources and verification
Last verified: 13 Eylül 2026. tell us. In Turkey, the IMEI-based lost or stolen device report is filed through BTK after you notify the police and your carrier.
This content is for information only; for official procedures the relevant institution’s current announcements take precedence. Details: disclaimer.