Google's Find My Device feature may soon track phones even when turned off

According to a report by 91Mobiles, Google is working on a new feature called Pixel Power-off Finder for its Find My Device service, which will allow users to track connected devices even when turned off. The technology relies on ultra-wideband and locator tags. The company has shared the early source code of Android 14 with smartphone brands, revealing a new Hardware Abstraction Layer. This allows devices to send precomputed Finger Network keys to the Bluetooth chip, enabling it to remain on even when the device is turned off. The keys will reveal the location of the device when it is found. Additional hardware support is needed for the Bluetooth chip to remain active at all times, which may or may not be available on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7. The Pixel 8 is expected to have this technology.