How to Track a Phone Without Them Knowing – Step-By-Step Guide

There are all sorts of reasons why you might want to spy on someone’s device. Maybe you’re curious about what your partner is up to when they’re not with you. Or maybe you’re concerned that they’re cheating on you. Whatever the reason, it’s possible to do so without installing any software on the target phone. In this blog post, we’ll outline both free and paid methods, all of which are easily accessible for all levels of tech-savviness. Keep reading to learn more!

However, there are also a few dedicated location tracking services available online that don’t require any installation, and this guide will explore both – cell phone tracking apps and online location sharing and tracking services. Sometimes you really want to get into other people’s Google Maps to see their location. You may have different reasons for doing this. But the ways will be similar.

mSpy

Today we often use different location-sharing options. But what if you need to follow someone’s place without them knowing? mSpy is possibly the best overall cell tracking app that you can use to track a cell phone’s location. This app offers an impressive and accurate place-tracking feature that allows you to monitor where the target mobile device is at any point in time. It works on iOS and Android devices.

Features

Some of the key elements of its place-tracking feature include:

• Tracking the person’s location
• Monitor the history of locations visited
• Dates and timestamps for each location
• Access to open Google Maps to track the location

Additionally, mSpy also offers an incredibly accurate geofencing feature to track a phone with which you can set virtual boundaries to mark restricted areas on the map.

Some of the other key features of this app include:

• Phone call monitoring
• SMS and MMS monitoring
• Monitoring all keystrokes entered + a keyword tracker
• Monitoring texts and media shared on social media apps
• Tracking web browser history
• Blocking apps on the target mobile phone

Pros

• Offers several accurate tracking options
• Fully invisible to the phone owner on the target device
• Offers geofencing along with location (place) tracking
• Accurate keylogging and keyword tracking
• The free trial allows you to track phone location for free

Cons

• Certain advanced features require rooting
• Filtering through records isn’t easy
• Only offers monitoring for one device per account

Try mSpy

SpyBubble

Another fantastic cell tracking app that you can use to get someone’s exact location is SpyBubble. Just like mSpy, you can use it to track a phone and someone’s location in real-time. While it can be installed remotely on iPhones, you will need physical access when installing it on an Android.

Features

The app gives you lots of key location data, which includes:

• The full address of the location
• Location coordinates to track a phone
• Dates and timestamps for each location
• A link to track the location on Google Maps

Unfortunately, SpyBubble doesn’t offer geofencing, so users are restricted to the GPS tracking feature alone. However, the tracker is highly accurate, making it extremely reliable.

Some of the other key features this phone tracker app offers are:

• The ability to track browser history
• Monitoring calls logs and incoming and outgoing texts
• Monitoring media files stored on the phone
• Social media monitoring on apps like WhatsApp, Tinder, Instagram, Messenger, Snapchat, and more
• Full access to Facebook and Instagram on iOS devices

Pros

• Offers a user-friendly UI
• Relatively affordable to purchase
• Completely undetectable in Stealth Mode
• Offers full access to Facebook and Instagram

Cons

• Doesn’t offer geofencing to track a phone
• Certain features are exclusive to iOS devices

Try SpyBubble

eyeZy

EyeZy is one of the best phone spy apps for Android. It’s a great way to track someone’s location without them knowing. This cool phone tracking app enables you to fully access someone else’s phone in a matter of minutes and track a phone location silently and in real-time.

Features

The app offers a list view with key details about each location. These include:

• The target’s location history
• Coordinates for each location
• Full address to track a phone
• Time at which location was tracked
• Google Maps link to track someone’s location exactly

EyeZy also offers an intuitive geofencing feature as a part of its GPS tracking, so you can also set virtual boundaries on restricted areas. By the way, this app is really very convenient to track a phone for those people who cannot imagine their life without Google Maps. Whenever the target enters or exits these areas, you’ll receive an alert informing you about the breach.

Some of the other key features of this GPS location tracking service include:

• Tracking for incoming and outgoing phone calls
• Monitoring SMS and MMS messages
• Monitoring audio, image, and video files stored on the device
• Logging all keystrokes entered on the device
• Tracking all conversations on social media apps like Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Snapchat, and more

Pros

• Offers accurate place tracking
• Offers geofencing as an added bonus
• Fully invisible on the target phone in Stealth Mode
• Doesn’t require rooting/jailbreaking to track a phone

Cons

• Certain advanced features require rooting or jailbreaking
• Requires iCloud credentials to remotely set up on iOS devices

Try EyeZy

uMobix

Next among the best location tracker apps is uMobix. This app offers accurate location tracking abilities along with a host of other features with which you can monitor all the activities on the target phone, be it an Android or iOS device.

The real-time location tracking feature provides the following information:

• Location coordinates for each location tracked
• Address details for each location
• Dates and timestamps to track a phone
• A link to view the current GPS location on Google Maps

Features

Like SpyBubble, uMobix misses out on a geofencing feature. However, some of the other key features of this app include:

• Monitoring call logs
• SMS tracking
• Monitoring texts and media files shared on social media apps
• Monitoring the user’s browser history
• Tracking app activity
• Tracking all keystrokes entered on the device
• Monitoring the target’s address book

So, when location sharing ended, you definitely know the point where the person is.

Pros

• Completely undetectable on the target device
• Accurately monitors the device’s location
• Easy-to-use interface to track a phone
• Relatively adorable to purchase

Cons

• Doesn’t offer geofencing
• Some features can only be used on an iOS device

Try uMobix

Scannero

Scannero (Localize) makes it simple to track someone’s location using their phone numbers. All you need to do is enter the target’s phone number, and you’ll be given access. There is no difference whether it’s used on iOS or Android devices, and it only costs $0.89, making it pretty much a free app. Further, you don’t need physical access to the device to track it on Google Maps using Localize.

How Does It Work?

Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Purchase a subscription from the website or enter the number you want to track and click “Locate.”

Step 2: Log in with your credentials and pay for the trial.

Step 3: Select a message from the pre-defined options or draft your own and tap “Send.”

Once you click on Send, Localize will send the target the text with a link. When the target clicks on the link, the process of location sharing will start and you’ll immediately be shown their location on Google Maps.

Pros

• Doesn’t require any installation
• Easy to use
• Compatible with both Android and iOS devices
• Offers an affordable one-time trial
• Convenient for you with using Google Maps

Cons

• Relies on the target tapping the link to display the location
• Monthly pricing can be expensive

Try Scannero

How to Track a Cell Phone for Free?

The methods we’ll describe in this section aren’t always as effective as such apps like mSpy or Localize. However, they’re free, so you can give them a shot and see if it works out.

Android Phone Location Tracking Manual

Using Find My Device is an easy method to locate a lost device or track a phone location for free. However, it offers limited phone tracking capabilities, and it doesn’t work unless the location services are on. Also, you will need access to your Google Account to enable the location sharing feature with Google Maps. Here’s what you need to do:

Step 1: Visit android.com/find and log in to your Google Account.

Step 2: Choose from the available phone options if you have more than one mobile phone.

If your lost cell phone is logged in using more than one user profile, sign in to your Google Account using the main profile to have access to Google Maps.

Make sure your internet connection is turned on and ready for location sharing. As you do this, a notification will be issued to the lost cell phone.

Step 3: Check the phone’s location without them knowing on the app.

The mobile phone location might not be accurate but an approximate idea. If your cell phone is not reachable, you will be provided with the last known site.

Step 4: Once you can locate your cell phone, you can decide what you want to do next:

• You can make your cell phone play sound at full volume for 5 minutes, even when it is set to vibrate or silent.
• You can also choose to lock your cell phone using a password, pattern, or PIN.
• If no lock is active on your mobile phone, you can activate one.  You can also add a message or phone number to the lock screen to help someone return your phone.
• You can also choose to delete all the data on your phone (might not work on SD cards). Once you do this, Find My Device won’t work on your phone.

iPhone Phone Location Tracking Manual

Find My iPhone is a proprietary application from Apple that works on iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods, and Mac if they somehow get lost or stolen.

Using this GPS location tracker app, you can locate your lost target device on a map, use lost mode to track your device, erase all the personal information remotely, lock your device, and play a sound to detect it.

Here are the steps that you need to follow to set up this location tracker app:

Step 1: Visit icloud.com/find and sign into the account using your Apple ID.

Step 2: In the drop-down menu, choose the iPhone device you want to track cell phone location of.

Step 3: The app will track cell phone location on the map.

If for some reason, you can’t access the Find My iPhone option on iCloud, there are two possible solutions – enabling the app through Settings or downloading iCloud, presuming that you didn’t have it on your phone already. Here’s how to do that to track a cell phone position:

• Open Settings on your iPhone.

• Type in Find My iPhone in the search box.

• Click on the Find My iPhone tab.

• Toggle all sliders to enable them.

How to Track Location Without Installing Software on Target Phone?

Just like iPhones and Android phones have free built-in GPS tracking tools (Find My iPhone and Find My Device), Samsung devices have a dedicated application that is very similar. Because Samsung devices run on Android OS, you will not only be able to use Find My Device, but also Find My Mobile. 

Find My Mobile is a Samsung tool that helps you find your missing Samsung Device and protect your data. It can even unlock your Samsung phone if you forget your password or PIN. Here’s how to see someone’s location without them knowing with this app:

1. Head to Samsung’s Find My Mobile
2. Log in using your Samsung ID

If you want to use Find My Mobile to track a cell phone location without them knowing or find a stolen phone, all you need is their Samsung ID.

Conclusion

Tracking a cell phone without the target knowing has never been easier thanks to the tools and methods we mentioned in this article – go ahead and try them for yourself! If you’re looking for a quick, cheap, and easy solution, use Geofinder or Scannero. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more comprehensive spy app, you can opt for tools like mSpy or SpyBubble.

FAQ

Can You Track a Cell Phone With Just the Number?

Yes, you can definitely track someone’s location by their phone number with a spy app. These apps allow you to track the target user’s location in real-time.

Can You Track Someone’s Phone Without Them Knowing About It?

Yes, you can use different apps and websites to track someone without their phone secretly. These apps can track the target’s cell phone location, phone calls, SMS and MMS messages, social media accounts, keystrokes, media files, and much more.

How Can I Track a Mobile Phone Location Without Them Knowing For Free?

The best tool to track a mobile phone location for free is to use a tool like Localize. While the tool isn’t entirely free, you can use its one-time trial for just $0.89.

How to Track an iPhone from Android Without Them Knowing?

You can secretly track an iPhone from Android by installing phone tracker apps on the targeted phone. All you need are the target’s iCloud credentials and you can monitor their iPhone’s current location using an Android.

These apps are the best way to track someone by cell phone number without them knowing:

• Scannero – Best affordable instant location tracing app
• Geofinder – Best for Android
• mSpy – Best overall
• SpyBubble – Best for both Android and iOS devices
• EyeZy – Best for iPhone