Android Device Manager can be quite useful when it works properly, but in some cases it may fail to recognize your device.
For those unfamiliar with the concept, Android Device Manager is a software package that allows users to remotely locate their phone or tablet in case they have lost or misplaced it; ring it loudly to find it easier in case it's stuck behind the couch or somewhere nearby; or lock it remotely to ensure data remains safe.
As one can imagine, Android Device Manager would have to connect with the device in order to offer that functionality, but it seems that in some cases it is not able to interact with the device.
More specifically, Android Device Manager may not see your device at all, displaying a "No Active Devices" message.
Back in March, a user named Sandra Buensalida took to Google's Nexus help forum to complain that Android Device Manager would not recognize her Nexus 5 smartphone. Buensalida said she tried out a bunch of different network and hardware configurations, as well as any troubleshooting advice she could find.
The post went under the radar for the most part, but it's only now getting more attention. A Google employee with the username Paul eventually replied to Buensalida's post, suggesting some troubleshooting options, and ever since a slew of other users have joined the thread and flooded Paul with similar reports of Android Device Manager not recognizing their devices.
Users are reporting this issue on a variety of Android devices, suggesting that it may be spread across multiple brands, Android builds and Google Play versions. Some of the device owners who reported on the thread said they managed to solve the issue by deleting the guest accounts on their devices. Others, however, did not manage to find any solution to get Android Device Manager to recognize their handset.
The Android and ADM engineering teams are reportedly looking into the matter, according to Paul, but no official update has popped up recently. The last post from Paul dates back to April, but user complaints and responses continue to pile up on the forum.
If you have experienced similar issues with Android Device Manager, drop by our comment section below and tell us whether you found any solution to the problem.
