Google’s Android Device Manager now lets you set a callback number for when the inevitable happens

Most people spend their lives rushing from one place to another, so it’s little surprise that most people also, at some point, end up misplacing a phone.

In the best case scenario, it’s locked and you can track it on a map using Google’s free Android Device Manager app or a third-party option – but that doesn’t help much with your chances of getting it back quickly and painlessly.

Now, however, if you’re lucky enough to lose your phone and have it found by a kindly soul who’s willing to return it, that process should be a lot easier thanks to the app’s new ability to add a callback number and a custom message to the lockscreen. All they need to do then is call you.

If you want to get started, just log into the Android Device Manager Web platform and set a custom lock message and number.

Frankly, we’re shocked it has taken this long for such an essential feature to make it into the app, but better late than never, as the saying goes.

➤ Android Device Manager [via Engadget]