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This is where I saw the terminology "if found wallpaper".

Basically, since we're all locking our phones, you want a wallpaper that contains contact information, in case it's lost. Is there such a wallpaper for Android?

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  • It's a pity that the built-in lock screens don't have a way to do this. Blackberrys have had a setting for years that allows you to set an "Owner Name" and "Owner Info" text that shows up when the device is locked. As my Blackberries have always been company devices, I just have my initials and an if found ring company switchboard text. The company also puts a sticker on the inside of the battery compartment door with a serial number and the company switchboard number.
    – GAThrawn
    Jan 3, 2012 at 13:47
  • Well, they DID add this in on Honeycomb. My tablet (Acer Iconia a500) has it built in on the lock screen. Did they cross-port this to ICS? I don't have it yet.
    – eidylon
    Jan 3, 2012 at 20:01

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Android OS versions 3.x and above (Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich) actually have a setting that allows you to specify "Owner info" text that will show up when the device is locked.

There are also many 3rd-party locks-creen replacement apps that allow for much greater configuration flexibility than the stock one, including the ability to specify any text on the locks-creen. Take a look at WidgetLocker or Go Locker, for example.

For the "unlocked" state, you can always modify an image to include the "if found..." text, copy it onto the device's SD Card (or internal storage area), and set that as the wallpaper. You can use one of the myriad of free image editing software (e.g. Paint.NET) to add the text.

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    CyanogenMod also has it too (or it used to in CM6).
    – Bryan Denny ♦
    Jan 3, 2012 at 15:45
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    The setting is missing from the front-end on CM7.x, but if you edit the settings database manually and add the text, it will show up ;)
    – Chahk
    Jan 3, 2012 at 15:48
  • I thought it had disappeared in CM7, didn't know you could still add it back. +1
    – Bryan Denny ♦
    Jan 3, 2012 at 17:25
  • Makes me long even more for Galaxy Nexus' release on AT&T! meantime, can you guys explain how to back-end this in in CM7? I tried googling, but I only found something that looked like it was specific to Verizon phones.
    – eidylon
    Jan 3, 2012 at 22:02
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    @BryanDenny: And also the toggle to turn it on: forum.xda-developers.com/…
    – Chahk
    Jan 4, 2012 at 3:35
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Contact Owner worked for me.

Give your Android a chance to call home!

Display your contact information when the device is locked, allowing the finder to contact you. Select yourself (or a friend) from your list of contacts, then select which information you want shown.

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To expand on Chahk's answer: go to the Settings app, and from the Personal section, choose Security (on a Samsung phone, choose Lock screen instead). Then tap Owner info, and enter your name, room number, phone number (though not of the same phone, obviously), or whatever.

I found this a bit limiting, especially for working in a big office, so I wrote a lock screen widget to also display your profile photo (the one that shows up with your name in the quick-access menu). This means that if someone picks your phone up while you're still nearby (say, after a meeting, or at a party), they can give it straight to you, rather than having to phone your landline or email you later.

I made it free to download, with no ads, because it's a really simple app: I have no financial interest in promoting it here. It needs or later because that's the first version to support lock screen widgets.

Download Owner Photo Widget from Google Play

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