I've lost two Oura Rings, but Oura finally added an Android feature that iPhone users have had for years, and this upgraded version has given me peace of mind

I've been an Oura Ring owner for more than a few years now, having tested and owned each model since the Oura Ring Gen 3. However, during that time, I've unfortunately misplaced a couple of rings, which is never ideal for a device that costs at least a few hundred dollars.

The Oura app for iPhone has included a function to locate the Oura Ring via its last known location, but the feature was missing on Android for years. Fortunately, Oura finally brought the feature to Android, and the Oura Ring 5 launch introduced an updated version of this feature for both iPhone and Android users, called Locate.

Locate your Oura Ring

The thing to know about the Oura Ring 5 and previous versions of the smart ring is that there's no built-in GPS. It will connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth to use its GPS when performing activities like walking or running, and this is also how the Locate function is leveraged.

So long as you've granted location permissions to the Oura app (you can do this in the app info menu or in the app itself), your phone will save the ring's last known position based on when the ring was last connected. This should happen fairly often if you wear your ring a lot and ensure it has a good amount of battery life. The app may not save your ring's location if your phone is in battery save mode, so keep that in mind.

You must also keep in mind that, unlike the Oura Ring, the Oura Ring 5 doesn't feature ultra-wideband (UWB) or the newer Bluetooth 6, so the location function won't work like on devices equipped with UWB (like Bluetooth trackers). That means the app's Locate function will tell you when you're near the ring, but it can't pinpoint its exact location.

Even so, the Oura Locate feature should be quite helpful for retracing your steps and locating a misplaced ring.

How to Locate your Oura Ring 5

1. Open the Oura app and tap the circular battery icon in the top right corner (or the hamburger menu in the top left corner) to access My Devices.

2. Scroll down and tap Locate. Here, you will see a map with all Oura devices connected to your app and their last known locations.

3. Tap Search on the ring you're looking for. (Note: You can only search for the ring currently active in the app. To find another, you'll have to go to the My Devices page and activate it.)

The Oura app will search for a Bluetooth connection to the Ring. The status will change to "Weak signal" when you're within range, "Nearby" when you're closer, "Very close" when you should be close enough to spot the ring, and "Right here" when you're basically right on top of it. The app will also clue you in visually with each status change, indicating how close or far you are from the ring.

Don't be like me

Losing an expensive piece of tech sucks, especially when it's something you love. I feel like this feature could have saved me a lot of trouble when I first lost the Oura Ring Gen 3.

I feel like I dropped it in my car or somewhere near my apartment, but as an Android user, I didn't have access to what was then called Find My Ring in the Oura app. Instead, I was directed to try a third-party Bluetooth tracking app, which didn't work, nor did it have helpful features like the ring's last location.

The Locate feature isn't perfect, but it's a lot better than nothing. I also like that, despite not having pinpoint location accuracy with UWB or Bluetooth 6, Oura at least makes it easy to know when you're hot on the trail or getting colder, as that's sometimes all it takes.