How to Monitor an iPhone Without Having the Phone?

How to Track an iPhone Without Having the Phone

As mentioned before, accessing an iPhone without having it is tricky but not impossible. Some methods require direct intervention and others may work without installing the software required.

In the list below, we’ll discuss methods for determining what someone is doing on their iPhone without their knowledge.

1. XNSPY

XNSPY is a remote activity supervision tool used to see activity on iPhones. It is primarily used to see activity on iOS devices remotely through a dashboard where all activity is synced. The data XNSPY collects includes from iPhones includes, but is not limited to :

• Call Logs and Recording
• Photos and Videos
• Location Data
• Social Media Chats and Activity

In effect, the app works in complete discretion, meaning you can know what someone does on their iPhone without raising suspicion. The app is supported on iOS versions 6 to 17. The initial setup takes 8-10 minutes and can be done using iCloud credentials.

To download and install the app, follow the steps below.

Buy A Plan

Visit the website and sign up for a user account using your email. Next, pick a plan and subscribe to the app by entering the details. Once you have done this, you will receive an email with the download link, activation code, and dashboard user credentials.

Install the App

Get physical access to the target iPhone to download the setup file mailed to you. Run the installation, provide the necessary permission, and activate the app.

Please note that you will be required to enter iCloud credentials to sync the app with the device.

Open Dashboard

The XNSPY dashboard can be accessed online from anywhere and anytime. Open the website again and click on Login. Enter your email and password here.

Use Features to Check Activity

From the menu on the left, you can use the following features:

• Phone Logs

View complete logs and information about the calls, text messages, emails, contacts, calendars, and internet history on the target iPhone.

• Messenger

Read all sent and received messages along with date and time stamps for each chat for apps that include Facebook, WhatsApp, iMessage, Viber, Skype, and others.

• Installed Apps

You can get a list of all the applications installed on the iPhone, along with their versions and date of installation. You can even block or unblock the apps.

• Locations

XNSPY’s geolocation lets you see the iPhone’s location in real-time. The pointers on the map show the address with pinpoint details and relevant date and time information.

• Photos

Check all photos present on the iPhone. You can click on the image to enlarge it and even save it.

• Remote Control

Send remote commands to trigger screen recordings, surround recordings, and app locks, and wipe the phone if needed.

2. iCloud Backup Tool - iMazing

iPhone backups are mostly done through iTunes and iCloud. iMazing is an app that provides more flexibility and control when backing up data. You can selectively back up specific data, such as messages, photos, or apps, without backing up everything.

It also enables easy file transfer between devices. However, to access the backup remotely, you must install the app on the computer. Back up your iPhone and ensure the backup is stored in a location accessible via a shared drive or a synced cloud folder.

Here's how you can use iMazing to look at the contents of someone's iPhone without them knowing

Launch iMazing and Connect the iPhone

Select the iPhone and Click Backup

Select How You Want to Enable Backup

If you have someone’s iPhone and their iCloud credentials, you can back up their phone to your computer or laptop and monitor the contents of their device without having their phone. This requires you to download the app to your device since it won’t work without installation.

iMazing makes it easy to view iPhone backups remotely, but there are some downsides. A hacker can access an insecure iCloud or unprotected network drive and obtain the backup files. If the computer is infected with malware or a virus, it could compromise iMazing and its backup data.

3. Access Apple ID/ iCloud Account

Apple natively allows iPhone users to back up the contents of their devices using an Apple ID and the associated iCloud account. This backup is saved to a remote server and can be retrieved in case of data loss on the device.

If you can access this backup, you can effectively monitor a copy of their phone without actually having physical access to the device itself.

To do this, follow the steps below:

Enable iCloud Backup

On their iPhone, go to Settings, tap their name at the top, and select iCloud. Next, click on iCloud Backup. In the final step, tap on Back Up Now.

Access the Backup

Using your computer, log into their Apple ID with their credentials.

For Mac: Open the Finder window on macOS and connect the iPhone to the computer through a USB cable. Next, select your device, and in the General setting, click on Back Up Now.

For Windows: Open iTunes on the computer, connect iPhone Cloud for Windows, then open Summary and click Back Up Now.

Manage the Backup

When you click Backups, you see devices with iCloud Backup turned on. Here, you can access any and restore any backup to your device to see a copy of someone's iPhone without having their device.

However, accessing an Apple ID to track an iPhone is challenging. First, it requires the user’s login credentials, which might be difficult to obtain legally or ethically. Apart from legal consequences, it is also considered a violation of privacy since you cannot go without installing the software secretly onto your device. Even if access is gained, there’s a risk that the owner will be notified of unusual login activity.

Furthermore, the Apple IDs are secured with a password and two-way authentication (2FA), which requires the password and a code sent to a trusted device.