How to Find a Stolen Laptop: Full Guide in 2024

When laptops have become an indispensable assistant for life and work, losing a laptop can be a distressing experience. Good luck! We have some laptop trackers on the market. In this guide, we will explore several methods to find a lost laptop, via the laptop's serial number, using the MAC address, and laptop tracking software specifically designed for computer monitoring.

Utilize Laptop Tracking Software - MoniVisor

A laptop tracker can significantly enhance the chances of finding a lost laptop. MoniVisor by ClevGuard is a location tracker for Windows which enables you to track and monitor another lost laptop remotely once you finish the installation before the loss.

Steps to find the location of a stolen laptop are as follows:

Step 1. Sign up to create an account:

First, you need to sign up with a valid email account by just clicking the Monitor Now button below. Review the available plans and purchase one according to your needs.

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Step 2. Install laptop tracking software on your laptop:

Once you successfully place the order, you will be automatically taken to the Member Center. Navigate to My Product where you can check the location of your lost laptop. The next step is to install and configure MoniVisor on the target computer.

Step 3. Install Chrome extension (optional)

Installing the Chrome extension allows you to monitor employees' social media chats and emails. So we strongly recommend you read the full user guide and install the extension for more features.

Step 4. Start monitoring and find your lost laptop

If your laptop is stolen, access the online dashboard and navigate to the “Location” sector. As long as the target laptop is on, the tool can help you know exactly where your laptop is, no matter where you are.

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Part 2. Track Laptop with Serial Number

One of the most effective ways to find a lost laptop is through its serial number. What’s a serial number for a laptop? In short, a serial number is a laptop's distinctive fingerprint that sets it apart from every other laptop for tracking and identification purposes.

That means if you can find the serial number printed on your laptop, the chance to track your laptop increases. Here's a step-by-step process to track a stolen laptop with a serial number:

Step 1. Locate the serial number:

How do you find the serial number? It can usually be found on the bottom of the device, inside the laptop’s battery bay, on the lower back of the casing, or in the BIOS settings. Take note of this number and store it in a safe place.

Step 2. File a police report:

As soon as you discover your laptop was stolen, file a police report and provide them with the serial number. This information will be crucial for the authorities to identify your laptop if it's recovered.

Step 3. Notify manufacturers and retailers:

Inform the laptop manufacturer and any retailers involved in the purchase about the theft. Provide them with the serial number, which they can flag in their systems. If someone tries to service or resell the laptop, it may trigger an alert.

Use Microsoft Built-in Find My Device

For tracking a Windows laptop, it's much more effective to use Microsoft's built-in "Find My Device" feature. This is specifically designed for Windows devices and provides reliable tracking, locking, and erasing capabilities.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use Microsoft's Find My Device to locate, lock, or erase your lost or stolen Windows device:

Sign in: Make sure your lost device is signed in to your Microsoft account.

Go online: Visit https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/find-and-lock-a-lost-windows-device-890bf25e-b8ba-d3fe-8253-e98a12f26316 on another device.

Sign in again: Use the same Microsoft account.

Locate your device: The website will show your device's location (if it's online).

Take action: You can lock it, erase its data, or play a sound to find it.

This is an inbuilt settings on Windows laptops, that is to say, it’s for free. You just need to follow the steps above to find the location of the lost device.

Employ Google’s Find My Device

Google's Find My Device is a service that helps you locate your lost Android devices. It's a convenient way to track your phone or tablet's location, lock it remotely, or erase its data if necessary.

However, it's not directly compatible with Windows laptops. However, if your Windows laptop is linked to your Google account and has location services enabled, you might be able to use the Find My Device feature on an Android device to locate your laptop.

Precondition 1: Prepare an Android device to use the Find My Device app and locate your Windows laptop. Location services must be enabled on both devices for tracking to work.

Precondition 2: Sign in to the same Google account on both your Windows laptop and Android device.

While it's technically possible to use Google's Find My Device app on your Android device to track your Windows laptop under certain conditions (both devices signed in to the same Google account, location services enabled), this method is generally not reliable or efficient. For the most reliable and effective tracking of a lost Windows laptop, it's recommended to use Microsoft's built-in Find My Device feature.

Check Online Marketplace Listings

Yes, checking online marketplace listings is a good method to try when searching for a stolen laptop. Websites like eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace often have listings for electronics, including laptops. Here's how you can do it:

Search using specific keywords: Use the laptop's make, model, serial number, or any unique features as keywords in your search.

Filter results: Many marketplaces allow you to filter results by location, price, and other criteria. This can help narrow down your search.

Be vigilant: Be cautious when dealing with online sellers. Verify the seller's information and be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.

Can Police Track Your Stolen Laptop?

Yes, police can often track a stolen laptop. However, the success of tracking depends on several factors, including:

Time elapsed: The sooner you report the theft, the better the chances of recovery.

Laptop's features: If your laptop has built-in tracking capabilities or unique identifying features, it can be easier to locate.

Police resources: The availability of resources and expertise within the local police department can also influence the success of tracking.

Find Lost Laptop Using MAC Address

The Media Access Control (MAC) address is a unique identifier assigned to a network interface. While this method was primarily used for networking purposes, it can also be leveraged to find a lost laptop. Here's the how-to guide:

Step 1. Locate the MAC address:

Find the MAC address of your laptop by accessing the network settings or using the command prompt/terminal with the appropriate command (e.g., "ipconfig" for Windows or "ifconfig" for macOS and Linux).

Step 2. Report to law enforcement:

Notify the police about the theft and provide them with the MAC address. They can collaborate with internet service providers and network administrators to track the laptop's connectivity, potentially leading to its recovery.

Step 3. Contact network administrators:

Reach out to your network administrator or internet service provider and share the MAC address. They can assist in tracking the laptop's connection history or any attempts to access the internet using the stolen device.

Conclusion

Losing a laptop is frustrating; however, we’ve recommended seven possible means to track a stolen laptop. For Windows users, if you think that finding a lost laptop with the serial number is too complicated, then MoniVisor and the native Microsoft Find My Device proves to be the most straightforware solutions. Additionally, remember to keep your laptop's serial number and MAC address in a safe place. Stay vigilant and prepared to minimize the impact of laptop theft.

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