Why does Device Manger detect my phone only through WiFi?

[AC Question]

My phone is a Motorola Droid Razr bought through Verizon. If the phone is connected to a WiFi network, Device Manger correctly shows the phone's location. However, if I turn off WiFi or get out of range of a WiFi network, causing the phone to use 3G or 4G, Device Manager is unable to locate the device. And yes, the phone is successfully using 3G/4G because email is accessible.

I uninstalled and then installed D/M, and nothing changed.

 

[anon(632115)]

Android Device Manager only works on WiFi, not mobile data

 

[Bob7430]

Hmmm. As it happens, on my other Droid Razr, I can turn WiFi off, and still locate the phone using D/M.

 

[Bob7430]

As I have previously stated, one of the Droids (a slightly older version) can be located using mobile data, but the newer Droid can be found only when Wi-Fi is available. Poking around online, I see no reason to believe that D/M works only with Wi-Fi. If that were the case, D/M's usefulness would be severely limited.

 

[Bob7430]

Good questions.

I get the same behavior no matter where the phone is. Yes, the cell signal is strong and location is set to High Accuracy. The phone is about a year old, but I didn't start playing with D/M until recently.

My older Droid (2012) works as it should. So it seems likely that the newer Droid needs to have some setting changed.

When I was testing the older phone, I took it to our garage where there is no cell signal but a weak 3G signal is present. With Wi-Fi turned off, I was still able to locate it.