How to Secretly Track a Phone | A Complete Guide

Misplacing your phone or getting it stolen is undoubtedly a mishap, and it gets more frustrating when you don't know how to track a cell phone number. It is, therefore, essential to protect your stolen phone, especially for the sake of your important data saved on it. What if we make your life easy by telling you how to track a stolen phone without alerting the thief? In this blog, we are going to do exactly that.

In addition, for parents tracking their children's real-time location or partners wanting to keep track of each other, knowing how to track a phone without them knowing will be of great help. We will tell you six different ways to track someone, including a hidden tracker app (Msafely), Google Find My Device, Find My iPhone and more.

Stay with us till the end of this blog and find out which location tracking method is the most suitable for you.

Part 1. How to Secretly Track a Phone-6 Working Methods

Method 1. Use a hidden phone tracker app-Msafely

The simplest and easiest method to track someone without them knowing is by using a hidden tracker app like Msafely. It is certainly the best because it works in 100% stealth mode and doesn't require installation, so your target can never catch it tracking them. Also, you don't need to physically access the phone; you just need your target phone's iCloud or Google Cloud credentials.

Msafely is undoubtedly the best phone tracker app without permission, as it offers real-time location, location history, and geofence alerts to track your target person secretly. Not just location tracking features, Msafely lets you track browsers, emails, SMS, calls, photos, videos, cameras, 16 social media apps, installed apps, and more. In addition, you get access to the app's powerful screenrecorder, keylogger, and web/app blocker features.

The connection is a simple 3-step process where no tricky jailbreaking or rooting is required. Follow these three steps to know the most straightforward answer to how to track people without them knowing:

Step 1. Go to Msafely website and sign up for a free account.

Step 2. Select your target device and subscribe to a plan.

Step 3. Connect the phone with account credentials and start tracking.

From here, you can track almost every phone activity of your target phone without leaving a trace of it.

Method 2. By Google Find My Device (Android)

If you don't know how to track a stolen phone without alerting the thief, Google Find My Device is here to help you. It is a default feature in all Android phones that helps track the location of someone and locate a misplaced phone nearby. To use this feature, you don't need to install any app or root any device.

However, you must have physical access to the target phone to enable this feature beforehand and their Google account credentials for location tracking. Here's what you need to do to track a phone without them knowing:

Step 1. Enable Find My Device from Settings > Security >Remotely Locate this Device on their phone.

Step 2. Go to the Google Find My Device website or install the app on another device (Android or laptop).

Step 3. Now, log in to the Google account associated with your target phone.

Step 4. Tap on your target phone from the list of devices.

Once done, you can view their location on Google Maps and get notified about their location details every 10 minutes.

In addition to that, you will have three more options:

• Ring Phone - To ring and find it, if misplaced nearby
• Lock Phone - To remotely lock the phone on suspicion of losing it
• Erase Data/Phone - To remotely erase all data on the phone to avoid misuse if it's stolen

Method 3. Via Find My iPhone (iPhone)

If you want to know how to trace phone number for free on an iPhone, Find My iPhone is your ultimate best call. It is a built-in iOS software, which means you don't have to install any extra apps, and there is no need to jailbreak either of the iPhones. However, you still have to physically access the target iPhone to enable location-sharing and add your contact to the location-sharing contacts.

With Find My, you can track your target iPhone's real-time location and location history 24/7. You can even get access to their last tracked location if you turn on the Send Last Location feature. Other than the location features, it doesn't offer any phone monitoring features.

Here's how to track someone by their phone with Find My iPhone for free:

Step 1. Go to Find My app on your target phone and enable Share My Location.

Step 2. Turn on the Send Last Location feature (optional).

Step 3. Tap on the People icon at the bottom of the screen and click Start Location Sharing.

Step 4. Add your contact to the list.

Step 5. Now, go to the Find My app on your iPhone, create a plan, and add your target phone as a contact.

From here, you can start tracking the real-time location of your target person.

Even though your target person can't find out the exact person tracking their location at the moment, they can always see whoever has access to their location.

Method 4. Through Google Maps (Android & iPhone)

If you're looking for a free tracking method, Google Maps is your answer to 'How to trace phone number for free?' While the app is built-in for Android phones, you will have to install it on your target iPhone. This means it is compatible with both Androids and iPhones, where it provides access to real-time location and location history.

However, it requires physical access to the target phone to add your contact to the app and install the app (only on iPhones). Using Google Maps to track someone without them knowing is free of cost and doesn't require jailbreaking or rooting any device. To know the secret to track someone's phone without them knowing, follow the instructions given below,

Step 1. Start by ensuring your target phone has Google Maps installed. If not, install the app on the phone first.

Step 2. Now, launch the app on the target phone and tap on the profile icon in the top right corner.

Step 3. Click on location sharing from the list of options that appear.

Step 4. Add your contacts to the location-sharing contact list.

Step 5. Start tracking their location right away.

Even though the process is simple, always remember that Google Maps doesn't work secretly, and your target person will know that you have access to their location.

Method 5. Try tracking by social media

Social media apps like Facebook and Instagram are another way to track someone's location. For instance, you can track someone's residential area through the location tags on their account, which may include country, city, and even the neighborhood where they currently live. In addition, Facebook check-ins and location marks on Instagram stories tell you where your target person was at that specific time.

Besides that, Facebook also has access to visit history, which may include all the destinations your target person has ever added to their account. However, all these features only work if your target has a public account or you're friends with them on social media.

One crucial fact is that social media is not really the right choice for real-time location tracking or the correct route to take to track someone without them knowing.

Method 6. By connecting to cell phone carrier services

Connecting to cellphone carrier services can help you track down a stolen phone in no time. A service provider is available for most carriers, and you can contact your service provider to track your phone's location and lock or wipe it remotely. When you contact them, provide them with all the necessary information that they ask about your phone and the incident.

However, they may ask you for proof of ownership and legal documentation or a police report supporting your theft claims. You will appreciate how this method doesn't require any physical access, app installation, or changes in settings on the target phone beforehand.

One thing you must know is that connecting to cell phone carrier services is the best answer to 'How to secretly track a phone that's stolen?' This method works best for situations when the phone has no internet connection or is switched off.

Note: Carrier services are paid and may vary based on your provider, location, and carrier.

Part 2. What is the Best Way to Secretly Track a Phone

From the above comparison of the six methods of tracking someone, it is evident that Msafely is the best way to go. It serves as the best phone tracker app without permission with its extensive tracking features, ease of use, top-notch customer service, and ability to stay hidden while tracking.

Part 3. FAQs

Q1. Is it possible to track someone live location from my Android phone?

Yes you can easily track someone’s live location from your Android phone. The best way is to share the target phone’s location through Google Maps. At the same time, you can send their location from their WhatsApp to yours, or track their location on Snapchat.

Q2. Can you track any phone with just a phone number or IMEI?

Unfortunately you cannot track someone’s phone with their phone number. Only mobile service carriers and law enforcement can access someone’s phone location through their mobile number.

Q3. Can I put a tracker on my partners' phone without them knowing?

If you want to ensure your partner’s safety or suspect them of cheating, you can connect their phone to a tracker to monitor their location. Most popular choices include Msafely, mSpy, and SpyX. However, it is not legally appreciated, and is suggested to take your partner’s consent regarding location sharing.

Q4. How to track anyone’s location without their knowledge & avoid being tracked?

Spy and parental control apps are the most common choice when tracking someone’s location without their knowledge. Many of them work in stealth mode on the target phone, and can be connected to your account without the need to install the app on their device.

Q5. How to know if someone is tracking your phone?

If you believe that someone is tracking your phone, check for all the chats where you have shared your location. Moreover, thoroughly check location sharing permissions on your phone. Lastly see if there’s any unusual app on your phone that you do not remember downloading. Sudden screenshot taking or call recording could also be a sign of a tracker.

Part 4. Conclusion

For everyone looking for answers to, “How to secretly track a phone,” we hope this article helped you understand your options better. You can use Google Find My Device for Android devices and Find My iPhone for iOS devices. Similarly, Google Maps and location sharing through social media can be of help. If you want to add an extra layer of security to your phone in case or theft, you can install a phone tracking app that helps you track a phone without them knowing; it will allow you to locate your phone without intimating the people involved.