How to Find Your Lost or Stolen Galaxy Buds in Any Situation
Colin Toh is the Editor-in-Chief of Headphonesty. He founded the website in 2016 to provide reliable headphones reviews and insights. Headphonesty has quickly established itself as a trusted source in the audio community. The platform collaborates with experienced audio engineers and audiophiles, ensuring a standard of content that’s both rigorous.
Updated on May 31, 2023
We walk you through some practical advice on how to find your lost Galaxy Buds, whether they are connected or not.
As true wireless earbuds, Galaxy Buds are also susceptible to suddenly popping out of user’s ears while on the move or simply getting lost because of their small build. And if you’re here, that means you’ve figured this out the hard way.
Unfortunately, locating your lost Galaxy Buds isn’t straightforward, especially because of the different variables — such as the different companion apps available, model compatibility, and even the Buds’ current status (whether they’re connected or not).
That’s why, we’ve compiled a list of solutions to help you locate your Samsung Galaxy Buds, Buds+, Buds Pro, Buds Live, or Buds 2 in any situation. Plus, some additional tips on how to prevent your Buds from getting lost again. Let’s get right to it!
In This Article
- How to Find Galaxy Buds When Connected
- How to Find Galaxy Buds When Not Connected
- Can You Find Lost Galaxy Buds Case?
- How NOT to Lose Your Galaxy Buds
- Conclusion
In This Article
- How to Find Galaxy Buds When Connected
- How to Find Galaxy Buds When Not Connected
- Can You Find Lost Galaxy Buds Case?
- How NOT to Lose Your Galaxy Buds
- Conclusion
How to Find Galaxy Buds When Connected
If your Galaxy Buds are paired to your smartphone, accidentally misplacing them should not be a headache, especially with the Galaxy Wearable and SmartThings app.
While the Galaxy Wearable app is designed to connect smartphones with wearable devices like earbuds and smartwatches, it can also help find lost Galaxy Buds, similar to Apple’s Find My app.
On the other hand, the SmartThings app’s main purpose is to sync and control all your smart home devices. This includes the SmartThings Find feature, a refined version of the Galaxy Wearable’s ‘Find My Earbuds’, which can help you locate a range of SmartThings-compatible devices.
For iOS users, instead of the Galaxy Wearable app, you can use the dedicated Galaxy Buds app. However, this app is only compatible with Galaxy Buds Live, and Buds+.
Using the ‘Find My Earbuds’ feature
This is a handy feature that helps you to easily find your Galaxy Buds – the same way you would use Find My app on your iPhone to find lost or stolen AirPods.
If your Galaxy Buds get lost or stolen, you can locate them using the following steps:
- Open the Galaxy Wearable app on your mobile device.
- Go to Find My Earbuds.
- Tap Start to commence the search. This will prompt your earbuds to start beeping.
- Tap Stop once you find them.
The Find My Earbuds feature locates the Galaxy Buds through an infrared (IR) sensor. If the buds are amongst things such as debris or other foreign substances, they may block the IR sensor. This might, in turn, affect the Buds’ beeping sound and even the automatic mute function, among others.
Using the ‘SmartThings Find’ feature
Unlike the Find My Earbuds feature, the SmartThings Find feature uses both the IR sensor and GPS to locate the Buds. This allows the app to find the earbuds more accurately and offer more features than the ‘Find My Earbuds’ feature on the Galaxy Wearable App.
However, this is only compatible with Buds+, Buds Live, and Buds Pro.
Here’s how to use SmartThings Find to locate your missing Galaxy Buds:
- On your mobile device, open the Galaxy Wearable app.
- Select Find My Earbuds. The SmartThings Find will automatically open and show the most recent detected location of the Buds.
- Here, you can either choose Ring or Navigate. “Ring” will make the earbuds play a gradually increasing beeping sound. And “Navigate” will open Google Maps and direct you to the GPS location of the buds.
Ring is best for when the earbuds are within proximity, while Navigate is best for when the earbuds are in a place farther away.
If only one of the Buds is missing, you can tap the speaker icon below the other Bud to mute it so you can hear the sound of the lost one.
How to Find Galaxy Buds When Not Connected
Your Galaxy Buds will be undiscoverable or disconnected if:
- The battery is dead
- They are out of the stipulated 32 feet Bluetooth range
- They are inside the case
- The IR sensor is blocked
When the Buds are unreachable to your mobile device, the beeping sound will not play when you try to locate them.
So, does this mean that you won’t be able to find them? No. Even when disconnected, the last known location of the Buds will still be active, and you will also see when it was last updated.
Here are a few simple steps to locate your Galaxy Buds when they’re not connected:
- Open the Galaxy Wearable app on your tablet or phone.
- Select Find My Earbuds; the SmartThings Find will open and display the last recorded location of the Buds.
- Tap on Navigate to trace the last detected location of the Buds using Google Maps, together with the time when they were last visible.
- Once you get to the pinned location, tap Search Nearby. The app will start scanning for the Buds and notify you if it detects them. Try moving around the area for better chances of finding them.
Since they are offline, the last recorded location may not be their current one, especially if they’ve been picked up by someone or left in a moving vehicle.
Can You Find Lost Galaxy Buds Case?
No, you cannot find your lost Galaxy Buds case using the SmartThings Find or Find My Earbuds.
Unlike the Galaxy Buds, it has no Bluetooth connectivity to your phone or tablet. Consequently, the SmartThings or Galaxy Wearable apps will not be able to locate it.
The only way to find the Galaxy Buds case if you’ve misplaced it is by retracing your steps. If you last used the Buds case in the office, in the car, or at a friend’s place, your best bet is to go back and try and look around for the case more diligently.
If, however, you’re unable to find your case, you’ll have to purchase a replacement from Samsung for a fee.
When getting a replacement case, you must also bring your Buds to your nearest service center so they can help you pair them.
Here’s a breakdown of what you should expect:
| Galaxy Buds Model | Replacement Case | Replacement Bud | Replacement Bud & Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Buds | $80 | $120 | $185 |
| Galaxy Buds+ | $100 | $120 | $180 |
| Galaxy Buds Live | $100 | $110 | $170 |
| Galaxy Buds Pro | $140 | $160 | $190 |
| Galaxy Buds2 | $95 | $100 | $155 |
The fees for the replacement Bud and replacement Buds & case only work if you lost just one earbud. If you lost two, you’ll have to pay for another replacement bud.
Alternatively, you may get a refurbished one at a lower price from third-party sources, such as eBay. But, while you may save some cash by going for third-party alternatives, there’s no guarantee on the quality of the replacement case you may get.
How NOT to Lose Your Galaxy Buds
The best way to ensure you find your Galaxy Buds where you last used them is to avoid misplacing them altogether! You can do this by either purchasing a SmartTag or activating the Notify When Left Behind feature.
With these features, you won’t have to worry about losing your Buds. In case you do misplace your Buds, you’lll instantly get notifications alerting you of the same and can track them easily.
Let’s look at how both these features work:
Enable the ‘Notify When Left Behind’ feature
The Notify When Left Behind feature allows the Galaxy Buds to send notifications to your mobile phone every time you leave them behind. Therefore, if you accidentally forget or drop them, you will immediately get alerted so you can look for them.
Use the steps below to set up and use this feature:
-
Connect the Galaxy Buds to your device.
If you’re having trouble, check out our guide on what to do when Galaxy Buds won’t connect.
A safe place is where you don’t want to receive notifications should you leave the Buds there – like your home or office.
Purchase a SmartTag
The Samsung Galaxy SmartTag is a Bluetooth-enabled tracking device. You can locate anything attached to this device using the SmartThings Find feature on your smartphone.
As with Apple’s AirTags, you can attach SmartTags to your Galaxy Buds case, car keys, handbag, or laptop bag and then locate the items using your smartphone if you misplace them. This device can be of great help in preventing you from losing your Buds case.
The SmartTag uses Bluetooth 5.0 and is discoverable within a 120m radius. If you lose the case with the tracker, you can find it by tapping on Ring from the SmartThings app on your smartphone, and it will play a beeping sound.
If the case is out of the 120m radius, you can get to its location using the Navigation feature of Google Maps. Here is how to set up and use the SmartTag:
Setting up the SmartTag
Before you start tracking your Buds case, you need to synchronize your SmartTag with the SmartThings app on your mobile device. Setting up is easy and takes only a few minutes.
Ensure your mobile app is up to date by going to Menu>Settings>About SmartThings. If there is a new update, tap on Update to install the latest updates.
After updating the app, follow these simple steps to connect your SmartTag:
- Open the SmartThings app on your smartphone, then turn on your new SmartTag by pressing its button.
- You will see a pop-up on your smartphone; tap on Add Now. If you don’t see a pop-up, tap the + sign, then Devices, select the Samsung brand and tap SmartTag.
- Accept the terms and conditions to proceed.
- Tap Start, then choose device Location and Room. Select On The Go for your Buds case under the Room dropdown.
- Click the button on the SmartTag to confirm and complete the setup. The process will finish in a short while.
- Name the SmartTag, preferably after the attached device(Galaxy Buds case).
- Tap on Done; your SmartTag is ready.
Tracking the SmartTag
Next time you misplace your Buds case with a SmartTag on, don’t panic. You will be able to locate it using your smartphone in a few steps as follows:
- Launch the SmartThings app on your mobile device.
- Select your missing SmartTag.
- Tap View Map.
Now, you can use these options:
- Search Nearby: if you are not far from the SmartTag, tap on Search Nearby, and the app will scan and locate the tag.
- Navigate: if the location of your SmartTag on the map is far from you, tap Navigate. Google Maps will automatically open and guide you to where your Buds case is through GPS Navigation.
- Ring: once you get to the location, you can tap Ring. The SmartTag will start playing a beeping sound. Listen to the sound to locate your Galaxy Buds case and tap on Stop to end the search.
If you have the SmartTag+, tracking your misplaced case will be more fun and easy. It uses ultra-wideband (UWB) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies, which give more precise directions to a missing item.
Conclusion
Without cords, the Galaxy Buds can easily get lost while you’re going about your day-to-day activities. So, being able to locate them using smart tools and features is something that can be of great relief to any Galaxy Buds owner.
Whether the Find My Earbuds feature, the SmartThings Find feature, or even the Notify when left behind feature, Samsung has truly effective options for both iOS and Android users seeking to better secure and locate their lost or stolen Buds.
So, the next time you reach for your Galaxy Buds and can’t find them, don’t stress yourself. Make sure you have the Galaxy Wearables or the SmartThings app on (depending on your device) and simply follow the instructions in the guide.
Which of our suggested solutions did you find most helpful? What are your experiences with lost Galaxy Buds and replacements? Tell us more!
How to find your lost Samsung Galaxy Buds
The Samsung Galaxy Buds are excellent earbuds, but like any wireless earbuds, it’s easy to misplace them. Fortunately, Samsung offers a handful of ways to track down and find its compact buds. Without delay, here’s how to find your lost Galaxy Buds.
QUICK ANSWER
If your earbuds are connected to your phone, open the Galaxy Wearable app > Find My Earbuds > Start. This will emit a sound from the buds so you can hear them if they’re nearby.
If your earbuds aren’t connected to your phone, you’ll need to use the SmartThings app to locate them. Open the Galaxy Wearable app > Find My Earbuds to launch the SmartThings app on a Samsung Galaxy device > Tap More > Navigate. Your phone will route you to the earbuds’ last-known location.
JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS
- How to find your lost Galaxy Buds
- How to find your lost Galaxy Buds when not connected to your phone
- Can I find my lost Galaxy Buds Case
How to find your lost Galaxy Buds
If your Galaxy Buds are still connected to your phone, this means they’re within 10 meters of your device. To locate them, use the Galaxy Wearable app from the Google Play Store to emit a sound from them. To do so, follow these steps:
- Open the Galaxy Wearable app.
- Scroll down and tap Find My Earbuds. This may launch the SmartThings app.
- Hit Start. An ascending tone will play from both earbuds.
- You can choose to stop one earbud’s ringing if you locate it but still need to find the other.
You can follow these steps to locate the Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Buds Plus, or Galaxy Buds Live through the Apple App Store’s Galaxy Buds app. The iOS app doesn’t support newer models like the Galaxy Buds 2, though.
Ringing your buds is an easy way to find them if they’re connected to your phone. If you left them at a different location, you’ll need to use the SmartThings app.
How to find your lost Galaxy Buds when not connected to your phone
If your earbuds aren’t connected to your phone, you can use the SmartThings app to navigate back to their last-known location. To do so, follow these steps:
- Open the Galaxy Wearable app.
- Scroll down and tap Find My Earbuds.
- This will open the SmartThings app. Tap More > Navigate. Your phone will set a course to get you back to where your buds were last connected.
- Once you arrive, tap Search Nearby. This will help you locate the earbuds within a room.
- You can then tap the music note icon to emit a tone from the earbuds to find them easier.
This feature only works with Samsung Galaxy smartphones. During my Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review, I could not use the Android SmartThings app on a Google Pixel 6 to track down the buds’ location on a map.
Can you find a lost Galaxy Buds case?
Lily Katz / Android Authority
If you lose the case separately from the buds, you will have to remember where you left it. The SmartThings app can only access the earbuds’ location and doesn’t support case tracking. Currently, the only earbuds that let you track the case are the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) when paired with an iPhone.
FAQs
Can I use the SmartThings app to track other devices?
Yes, you can use the app to track Samsung’s SmartTags, phones, watches, and more.
How do I turn on notifications when I leave my Galaxy Buds behind?
To turn on notifications if you leave your Galaxy Buds behind, follow these steps:
- Open the SmartThings app.
- Tap your Galaxy Buds.
- Tap More.
- Turn the toggle on next to “Notify when left behind.”
How to find your lost Samsung Galaxy Buds
Wireless earbuds are a great convenience. No wires that get tangled in your pocket or pull the headphones off your ears every time you move your head around. But that convenience comes at a price and we don’t mean the relatively short battery life.
Without wires, earbuds can easily get lost and Samsung’s Galaxy buds are no exception. They might tumble under your bed or between cushions or worst case scenario, fall down a drain while you’re walking outside. There are plenty of scenarios in which you might need assistance in finding your trusty Buds.
So, what do you do then? That’s what we’re here to answer!
Samsung has, of course, figured out that people will misplace their Galaxy Buds sooner or later and have added a handy feature to help you find them.
How to reset the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Samsung’s latest earbuds, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, are an ambitious upgrade packed with smart tech with a whole lot to experiment with. In our reviews, we loved the new lighter design, audio improvements, and ANC, but found features like head tracking for 360 Audio to be a bit lacking. If you’re a big Samsung fan, however, they are well worth a look.
- Quickly restart the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
- Factory reset the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
- Re-couple a single Galaxy Bud 2 Pro earbud
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Difficulty
Duration
30 minutes
What You Need
- Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
If you’ve recently pre-ordered or picked up the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and have started working with their impressive set of features, you may have run into some minor bugs or response problems. The best way to deal with these issues is to reset the earbuds. There are a couple of different ways to do this, and it’s worth trying them to see if a reboot fixes your problem. Here’s what to do!
Quickly restart the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
This is the first option you should try. It’s super quick and easy, and it can help get rid of any stutters or unresponsive commands you may be experiencing. For this step, your Galaxy Buds 2 Pro should already be set up and successfully paired with your device of choice.
Step 1: Take your Buds 2 Pro out of your ears and place them in the charging case. Close the charging case lid.
Step 2: Wait for at least 7 seconds, preferably a little longer.
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Step 3: Remove the earbuds from the charging case. Leaving the Galaxy Buds 2 Pros in the case for that long will automatically restart them when you take them back out. They should automatically reconnect to the nearby device that you were using. Place them back in your ears and see if the issues are resolved.
Factory reset the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
If a basic restart doesn’t work, you can also choose to facory reset the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro entirely.
Step 1: With the earbuds nearby, open the Galaxy Wearable app on your mobile device. If you aren’t using a Galaxy phone or any Android phone, you can follow similar steps on an iPhone using the Galaxy Buds app instead.
Step 2: In the app, find and select the section for the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro earbuds.
Step 3: Find the settings options. This can vary a little depending on the app and the version of it you’re using. Look for an Earbuds Settings or General option to choose.
Step 4: Select the reset option, which should be Reset or Reset earbuds. Confirm that you want to fully reset your Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.
Step 5: Now, you will need to pair your earbuds with your mobile device again, setting them up as if they were new. Once out of the case, the app should detect the earbuds and ask if you want to set them up. The Wearable app also has a Connect New Gear option under the More options three-dot icon that you can use to force the process.
All your settings will have been returned to their default states. If you had set any preferences or audio adjustments, you’ll have to redo those after the reset.
Re-couple a single Galaxy Bud 2 Pro earbud
Sometimes it’s a single earbud that’s giving you problems, like not syncing properly or not providing any audio at all. If this happens, always start by making sure both earbuds are properly charged and that one side didn’t lose its battery charge faster. If that doesn’t fix the problem, you need to try to couple the earbuds together again. Here’s how.
Step 1: Look for the battery indicator light on the problematic earbud. If it’s not connecting properly, it will be flashing red. That’s a sign that you need to re-couple the two earbuds again before using them. If you’ve blocked the touch controls on your Galaxy Buds 2 Pro before now, you’ll have to visit the app and enable touch controls again.
Step 2: Place your earbuds in the charging case. If they are already there, take them out and put them back in again.
Step 3: Using two fingers, touch and hold the touchpad on both earbuds. Wait for 7 seconds, or until the indicator light flashes green. This is a sign that the earbuds have bee successfully coupled. You can now take them out and try using them again. They should be synced now. If one earbud is still not working, try our resetting option above.
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