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Finding your lost Android phone is now as simple as searching for a nearby restaurant or transport route. 

Google has announced a tool that locates missing handsets simply by searching for the term 'find my phone' on the site's homepage.

It works with all Android phones that have the latest Google app installed, and it appears to only work when you're signed into your Google account on Chrome - although this hasn't been confirmed.

Google has announced a new tool that locates missing handsets simply by searching for the term 'find my phone' on the search engine's homepage (animated). It works with all Android phones that have the latest Google app installed and when the user is signed into their Google account on Chrome

The same Google account must be signed into on the phone. 

The Californian firm announced the tool on its Google+ page.

It said: 'We've all been there - you've searched under your car seat, tossed around the sofa cushions and you still can't find your phone. 

'If you know where your computer is you can now ask Google to find your Android phone from your desktop. 

To locate a lost phone, sign into a Google account on Chrome and type 'find my phone' into the search engine. A map (pictured) appears as the first result with a message asking the user to sign in again to confirm their identity. The phone's location is shown and clicking 'Ring' will remotely call the handset

Google's latest tool can't lock the missing phone, or erase its data. Users will need to install the Android Device Manager (ADM) app (pictured) if they want these features. Both tools override the selected sound profile, too, meaning that even if a phone is on silent it will still ring at full volume for five minutes

'If the pesky phone is hiding nearby, Google can ring it for you - or you can see it on the map if you, say, forgot it at the bar. 

'Just make sure you've got the latest version of the Google app!' 

To locate a lost phone, sign into a Google account on Chrome via the menu in the top right-hand corner. 

Type 'find my phone' either into the address bar - if Google is set as the default search engine - or open Google and type it into the search bar on the site's homepage. 

A map appears as the first search result with a message asking the user to sign in again to confirm their identity. 

This prevents people being able to track a person's phone if the previous user forgets to log out of their Google account on a shared Chrome browser, for example. 

The phone's location is then pinpointed and clicking a 'Ring' button beneath the map will then remotely call the handset. 

Google's latest tool can't lock the missing phone, or erase its data. 

Users will need to install the Android Device Manager (ADM) app if they want these features.

ADM was launched in August 2013 and works in a similar way to the search tool. 

It locates a phone on a map, remotely rings and lets users carry out additional security tasks.

Both tools override the selected sound profile, too, meaning that even if a phone is on silent it will still ring at full volume for five minutes, or until it is answered.