A Step-by-Step Guide: How to Put a Tracker on an iPhone

You’ve asked the question, "how to put a tracker on an iphone," and you deserve a direct, no-nonsense answer. The internet is filled with myths and misinformation, so let's cut through the noise. This guide will provide a clear, step-by-step walkthrough of your options.

We will cover three distinct methods, explaining what each is best for, how to set it up, and its real-world limitations. We'll explore everything from Apple's free, built-in tools to advanced professional services for comprehensive monitoring.

Part 1. Is It Actually Possible to Put a Tracker on an iPhone

The direct answer: Yes, it is 100% possible. But the way it's done is the most misunderstood part of the entire topic.

Let's be perfectly clear about the myth versus the reality. The myth is that you can go to a shady website, download a "spy app," and secretly install it directly onto someone's iPhone. This is impossible. Apple has built a billion-dollar security "fortress" around its iOS operating system. You cannot get a malicious monitoring app through the official App Store, and you cannot sideload intrusive software onto a non-jailbroken iPhone. That path is completely blocked.

So, how is it possible?

Legitimate tracking works by using authorized access points that Apple itself has created. Any advanced monitoring solution must work around the App Store model, not through it. There are two primary ways this is done:

Using the iPhone's built-in GPS system: Tracking a device you own using its native location services.

Accessing cloud backups with authorization: Monitoring a device's data when you have the legal right and the credentials to do so (primarily, a parent monitoring their minor child).

So, "putting a tracker on an iPhone" is not about breaking in. It's about having the right key to the right door. Let's explore the methods that use these keys.

Part 2. How to Put a Tracker on an iPhone | 3 Proven Methods

Here are the three proven methods, from basic to advanced.

Method 1. Activate Apple's "Find My" service

Best for: Finding your OWN lost or stolen device.

How it works: This is the iPhone’s official, built-in GPS tracking system. It’s powerful, free, and every iPhone owner should have it enabled.

Step-by-step activation guide:

• On the iPhone, open the Settings app.
• Tap on [Your Name] at the top, then tap Find My.
• Tap Find My iPhone and ensure the main toggle is ON.

Crucially, also turn ON Find My network and Send Last Location. The "Find My network" allows you to locate the phone even if it's offline, and "Send Last Location" sends its position to Apple before the battery dies.

How to use it:

• From any web browser, go to iCloud.com/find and log in.
• Use the "Find My" app on any other Apple device (iPad, Mac, or a friend's iPhone).

Result: You can see your iPhone's live location on a map, play a sound, or put it in Lost Mode.

Key limitation: This method is strictly for location. It cannot show you any activity happening on the phone, such as text messages, calls, or app usage.

Method 2. Use Apple's "Family Sharing" for live location

Best for: Mutually sharing your current location with trusted family members for coordination and safety check-ins.

How it works: This official Apple feature allows a family group to voluntarily and transparently share their locations with each other in real-time.

Step-by-step activation guide:

• Designate one person as the "Family Organizer."
• On their iPhone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing.
• Follow the on-screen prompts to invite family members (like your child's Apple ID).
• Once they've joined, go into the Family Sharing settings and enable Location Sharing.

Result: You can open the "Find My" app, tap the "People" tab, and see your family members' live locations.

Key limitation: This is a great step up for knowing your child is safely at school or a friend's house. However, it has the same core limitation as Method 1. It answers "WHERE they are," but provides zero insight into "WHAT they are doing."

Method 3. Use a professional monitoring service (like Msafely)

Best for: Parents who need a comprehensive solution to monitor their child's communications and online activities for safety.

How it works: This is where we use the second "authorized access point" we discussed in Part 1. Instead of trying to install a "spy app" on the phone (which is impossible), this method intelligently accesses the data that the iPhone automatically backs up to iCloud. The leading solution that utilizes this method is Msafely.

Step-by-step guide:

• Visit the official Msafely website and sign up for a free account.

• Select "iPhone".

• Msafely offers several subscription plans (typically 1-month, 3-month, and 12-month options).
• Follow the simple instructions provided. This process requires the target iPhone's iCloud ID and password. By providing these credentials, you are giving Msafely authorized permission to access and organize the data from the iCloud backups.
• Log in to your secure Msafely control panel from your own device. Msafely fetches the data from the cloud and displays it for you in an easy-to-read format.

Result: Because Msafely interfaces with the cloud backup rather than the phone itself, no app is visibly installed on your child's phone. It is completely discreet and tamper-proof. You can now see:

• Text messages (including deleted ones that were backed up).
• Social media chats (WhatsApp, Instagram, etc.).
• Browser history, call logs, and contacts.
• Real-time GPS location and detailed location history.

Part 3. What is the Best Way to Put a Tracker on an iPhone

This is the most important question, and the answer depends entirely on your specific goal.

If your goal is to find your own lost phone, the best way is Method 1: "Find My." It's free, powerful, and perfectly designed for this one job.

If your goal is to simply share your live location with family for coordination, the best way is Method 2: "Family Sharing." It's free, easy, and transparent for everyone involved.

If your goal is to ensure your child's digital safety by monitoring their communications and online activity, then the best and only effective way is Method 3: A Professional Service like Msafely.

"Find My" and "Family Sharing" are the wrong tools for monitoring online behavior. They can't see a dangerous conversation or evidence of cyberbullying. Msafely is specifically designed to solve these modern parenting challenges.

Feature comparison table:

Part 4. The Truth About iPhone Tracking (Myths vs. Reality)

Before we conclude, it's crucial to address the dangerous misinformation surrounding iPhone tracking. The internet is filled with scams designed to prey on people's curiosity and concerns. Understanding these myths will not only save you time and money but also protect you from potential fraud.

Here are the three most common myths—and the reality behind them.

Myth 1: "You can track an iPhone with just a phone number."

The reality: This is the most prevalent and deceptive scam. Your mobile carrier (like AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile) holds your location data under extremely strict privacy protocols, protected by federal law. The only entities that can legally request this information are law enforcement agencies, and they require a court-ordered warrant to do so.

Bottom line: It is technologically and legally impossible for a public service to track an iPhone using only a phone number.

Myth 2: "You can download a free, secret, and effective spy app."

The reality: This myth preys on the desire for a free lunch. The truth is, developing, maintaining, and updating sophisticated monitoring software that can keep up with Apple's constant iOS updates is an expensive and full-time job.

Ask yourself: how would a "free" app make money? The answer is always at your expense.

• They steal your data: The app may be designed to steal your own contacts, passwords, and financial information.
• They install malware: The app itself could be a virus or ransomware.
• They don't work: Most are simply poorly made apps that fail to deliver on their promises after you've watched dozens of ads or filled out endless surveys.

Bottom line: There is no such thing as a safe, effective, and "free" secret monitoring app. A legitimate, working solution will always be a paid service because it requires professional development and customer support. That is the only viable business model.

Myth 3: "You can remotely install a tracker by sending a secret link or text message."

The reality: This is fundamentally impossible on any modern, non-jailbroken iPhone. Apple's entire ecosystem is built like a fortress to prevent exactly this kind of unauthorized installation.

The App Store "Walled Garden": Every app on the official App Store is vetted by Apple. Any app with spy-like behavior would be rejected immediately.

User Permissions are Required: Even if an app is installed, it cannot access the location, microphone, or photos without the phone's user physically tapping "Allow" on a pop-up permission request.

This is why legitimate advanced monitoring services do not use this method. As we explained in Method 3, professional solutions like Msafely don't try to "hack" the phone by installing a malicious app. Instead, they use the one legitimate "backdoor" that Apple provides for data access: the iCloud backup. This requires having the user's authorized iCloud credentials, making it a method of authorized access, not a secret hack.

Bottom line: Any service promising a "one-click" remote installation is not telling you the truth about how iPhones work.

Part 5. Conslusion

As you can see, "putting a tracker on an iPhone" is a task with three distinct solutions. Your mission determines the best method. While Apple provides excellent free tools for locating your own device and sharing your location, they fall short for parents who need to protect their children from complex online dangers.

For that critical mission, a professional service is not just the "best" way—it's the only way. Msafely provides the complete visibility required to turn parental anxiety into informed peace of mind.

Part 6. FAQs

Q1. Do I need to jailbreak the iPhone to use Msafely?

No. Modern, reputable solutions like Msafely work by accessing iCloud backups and do not require jailbreaking. Jailbreaking can void the phone's warranty and expose it to major security risks.

Q2. Will the person know they are being tracked by Msafely?

Msafely does not place a visible app icon on the phone's home screen, so it operates discreetly. It is designed and intended for parents to monitor their minor children, for whom they have legal guardianship.

Q3. Is it legal to use an app like Msafely?

It is widely considered legal for parents to monitor their own children under the age of 18. However, using such an app to track another adult (like a spouse or employee) without their explicit, informed consent is illegal in most places. Always check your local laws.