Tracking a laptop is very easy if you have tracking software pre-installed on it before it went missing or was stolen by someone. But wisdom comes only after stumbling. Hence people only think of installing tracking software once their laptop is already stolen.
However, you should not worry because there is still something you could do to track your stolen laptop without tracking software. Keep reading the article and I will show you how to find a stolen Windows laptop or MacBook without tracking software. So let’s begin.
Table Of Contents
- How To Track A Stolen Laptop Without Tracking Software?
- Other Ways To Find A Stolen Laptop With or Without Serial Number
- Final Verdict
- FAQs
How To Track A Stolen Laptop Without Tracking Software?
Just like your phone, these days you can find tracking services on your laptop as well which can help you track your laptop in case you can’t find it. These services include Find My Device in Windows and Mac, or you can track your laptop’s current location using its IP address through services such as Facebook, Gmail, iCloud, etc.
Track A Stolen Windows Laptop
1. Using Find My Device
In order to trace a stolen Windows laptop without tracking software, you can follow the steps mentioned below.
- Go to Settings on your Windows PC. Next, go to Update & Security.
- Next, go to Find my device.
- If the Find my device service was already turned on then you will see the stolen device on your screen. Select the device that you want to track. You will be able to see the location of the device on a map.
2. Track Stolen Windows Laptop Using Gmail
Gmail keeps a log of all IP addresses of your device whenever it is connected to a new network connection. With the help of the IP address, you can easily find the current location of your device. You can follow the steps mentioned below to track a laptop using Gmail.
- Go to Gmail and log into your account.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and select the Details option.
- Now, you will see the list of the IP address of your devices on the screen. Note down the IP address of the stolen device.
Since now you know the IP address of your device, you can easily track its location using third-party tools which are completely free to use.
Apart from locating a stolen laptop, you can also track a lost cell phone using Gmail.
3. Track Stolen Laptops Using Facebook
If you use Facebook then you must know that it has a security feature where it tells you about the current location and IP address of the device on which the Facebook account is currently logged in. If you don’t know already then you can follow these steps to find a stolen laptop without tracking software using Facebook.
- Log into your Facebook account and then go to Settings.
- Under Settings, go to Security & Login. Now go to the Where You’re Logged In section.
- After that, you need to hover the mouse over the city name and note down the location and IP address. By knowing the location and IP address you can easily track your missing laptop.
Trace A Stolen MacBook Without Tracking Software
If you are a Mac user then you can also track your stolen laptop without tracking software just like Windows users by following the methods mentioned below.
1. Find My Mac
Just like Windows, you have the option to trace the location of your device using the Find My Mac function. To find a stolen laptop using this feature you can follow these steps.
- Go to System Preferences. Next sign into your iCloud account.
- Now enable the Find My Mac option and then choose Allow to Confirm option.
- After this step, you need to go to iCloud and follow the steps shown in the next method.
2. Track Your Stolen MacBook With iCloud
iCloud is not just used for storing your data but it also has lots of anti-theft tools that will help you locate your Apple devices in case they are stolen. It can not just help you locate a missing laptop but also allow you to lock your MacBook or erase all of its content remotely. You can follow the below steps to track a stolen MacBook using iCloud.
- Go to the iCloud website and login into your account using your Apple ID.
- Next, click on the Find iPhone icon and then select the missing MacBook.
- As soon as you do that, the location of the stolen MacBook will be shown on your screen on the map.
If you can’t see any device on your screen then it means the device is not connected to the internet at the moment. Don’t worry, iCloud will notify you as soon as the MacBook is connected to an active network.
After finding the device you can choose to block it or wipe all the data off it with the click of a button so that the thief cannot access your private data.
Other Ways To Find A Stolen Laptop With Or Without Serial Number
1. Take Help Of The Police
The first thing you could do to track your laptop is to go to the nearest police station and file a complaint about your missing device. If you know the serial number of your laptop then it will be easier for the police to track your lost or stolen MacBook or Windows laptop.
If you have not written the laptop serial number somewhere then you check it on the laptop box or warranty card. Even if you don’t have the serial number of your laptop then also you should get your complaint registered.
2. Check The Nearby Pawnshops & Black Market
A thief would want to get rid of your laptop as soon as possible after stealing it. So they would most probably sell it at the nearby pawnshop or black market. You can try searching for your laptop at such shops where they buy and sell second-hand or stolen laptops. The chances are less, but you can try it if the laptop is really crucial for you.
Final Verdict
Finding a stolen laptop is easy if you have installed tracking software on it before the laptop was stolen. However, not all people keep tracking software installed on their laptops. But, don’t worry you can still find your lost or stolen laptop using the methods which I have discussed above.
I recommend you contact the local police department about your stolen laptop. Also always keep the serial number of your laptop safe with you, it will help you in such situations.
FAQs
Can You Track A Stolen Laptop?
Yes, you can track a stolen laptop with the help of a tracking software and using its IP address.
Can You Track A Laptop With Its Serial Number?
Yes, the serial number of laptop can help you locate your MacBook or Windows laptop.
Can Police Track IP Address?
Yes, police can track the IP address.
