How to keep your content safe

    In most cases your device contains both sensitive data and personal memories like photos and videos – things you don’t want to lose. But what if your device is lost or stolen? To help you out, we've collected some useful tips on what you can do to protect your content and make sure that it stays with you.

    Two simple things to get you started

    Firstly, get a Google™ account and log in to it from your device. This way you can back up your content and even find your device if it’s lost. Being logged in to a Google account also makes it impossible for someone else to set up and use the device if it’s stolen. Secondly, set up and use a screen lock to prevent other people from accessing your device.

    Check out the video to learn where to set a screen lock pattern, PIN or password. Write down your Google account credentials, your device IMEI number and your screen lock PIN or password, and keep the information safe. You never know when you might need it!

    Back up your content

    Make sure that you back up your content regularly. If your device is damaged, lost or stolen, you can restore your backed up content on a brand new device, or on a lost-and-found one. Doing regular backups is also important if you, at some point, need to reset your device or perform a software repair.

    You can back up app data, call history, device settings, calendar, contacts, photos and videos to online cloud servers and synchronize them with your Google account. When you have large volumes of photos, videos or music files on your device, it’s recommended that you back up your files to a computer using a USB cable or to a memory card.

    What if my device is lost or stolen?

    If your device is lost you can locate it with the online service Find My Device. Just log in using your Google account and the location of your device will be pinpointed on a map. Try it out today, so you know how to use it!

    With Find My Device, you can also set the device to ring at full volume for five minutes even if it’s muted, or lock your device remotely and display a message on the screen, providing your contact information. If you suspect that your device has been stolen, you can remotely erase all content. However, remember that you will no longer be able to locate the device with Find My Device after doing so.

    To use Find My Device, your device must be powered on and signed in to your Google account. You must also check that Location and Find My Device are turned on in the Settings menu, and that your device is visible on the Google Play website.

    I can’t unlock my phone!

    Don’t worry, forgetting your screen lock can happen to anyone. If you have a Google account and you’ve made regular backups, you will be able to access your device and content again. What you need to do is to reset the device and set it up as new. Then sign in to your Google account and restore your backed up content, and you’re ready to go!

    You can reset your device using Find My Device, or by using the Software repair feature in Xperia Companion.

    Belt and braces?

    So far we have covered the most important steps on how to keep your content safe: Sign in to your Google account on the device, use a screen lock, and back up your content. However, there are other features you can use to improve the safety of your device and content. Here are a few of them:


    Lock screen message. Add a line of text to your lock screen. Why not your name and information that could help retrieve your device if you lose it?


    Anti-virus software. Install and use an anti-virus app to protect your device against viruses, ransomware, spyware, phishing attempts and other malware.


    Screen-pinning. If someone else wants to use your phone, you can keep your content safe by pinning the screen of an app, only giving access to that particular app and nothing else.


    Encryption. Encryption adds extra protection in case your device is stolen. If your content is encrypted it can only be read when the device screen is unlocked.


    Google Play Protect. Google Play Protect warns about potentially harmful apps and removes them from your device. It also runs safety tests on apps before you download them.


    Update your software. Remember to keep your device up-to-date with the latest available software. This way you always have the latest set of security and privacy features at hand.

    Please note that this article is not product specific. Features and functionalities described may therefore differ depending on your device and/or software version.