{
  "id": 16318607,
  "title": "I lost my Pixel Watch 5 at airport security and recovered it thanks to one setting",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/i-lost-my-pixel-watch-5-at-airport-security-and-recovered-it-thanks",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-24T11:30:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Android Police",
    "slug": "android-police",
    "url": "https://www.androidpolice.com/lost-pixel-watch-5-airport-security-recovered-find-hub/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "During my travels, I've found myself familiar with airports and the unfortunate tendency for items to go missing or be misplaced. Last year, my luggage and that of several others were left behind in Athens, and I managed to get them back quickly by informing airport officials. Recently, while returning from Madrid, I lost my Pixel Watch at the security check belts, but thanks to a specific setting, I managed to retrieve it in under ten minutes. Here's how it happened and why this setting is crucial for your smartwatch and accessories.\n\nMy routine at the security line involves removing my Pixel Watch, Oura Ring, and earbuds, placing them all in my backpack or jacket, and then putting everything in the plastic tray for scanning. This method ensures nothing gets lost or mishandled. However, this time, I misplaced my Pixel Watch 5 while wearing it. I followed the security officer's instructions and placed it inside the tray with my jacket and backpack. Upon completing the security process, I noticed my watch was missing. I inspected the tray and other discarded trays, but to no avail. Confused and panicked, I approached a security officer to explain that my watch might have been lost on the conveyor belt. Despite the noisy environment, I managed to locate it using the Find Hub setting on my Pixel 11 Pro XL. The officer eventually found it inside the conveyor belt, confirming my initial assumption.\n\nTo ensure such incidents don't happen again, it's essential to enable the Find Hub setting on your Pixel Watch. When setting up your device, you'll be prompted to choose whether to enable Find Hub or not. If unsure, you can enable it later. To use this feature, make sure location is enabled on your watch by navigating to Settings > Location and turning on the location box. This allows the watch to utilize Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS to locate itself even when disconnected from your phone. With these settings activated, you can easily track your Pixel Watch using the Find Hub app on your Android phone or by visiting google.com/android/find. This feature has proven invaluable, especially in crowded and complex locations like airports, helping prevent the loss of expensive devices.",
  "summary": "I rang my watch in the busiest place thanks to Find Hub",
  "key_points": [
    "Lost Pixel Watch 5 at Madrid airport security",
    "Used Find Hub setting to locate watch",
    "Enabled Find Hub for future device tracking"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Digital Trends",
        "title": "Fitbit and Pixel Watch can now recognize more than 100 activities automatically",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/fitbit-and-pixel-watch-can-now-recognize-more-than-100-activities",
        "published": "2026-10-24T00:25:31.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}