How to Track Someone’s Location Without Them Knowing: 6 Most Effective Ways

Our loved ones may sometimes hide their whereabouts from us, making it challenging to ensure their safety. In this situation, you may be forced to take measures that prioritize their well-being above all else. So, how can you track a phone without them knowing? This guide will walk you through practical methods for finding someone’s phone discreetly, helping you stay aware of any potential dangers.

How Can You Track a Phone Without Them Knowing: The 6 Best Ways 

Not being able to connect with your loved ones can be worrying. However, tracking a smartphone is relatively easy today due to its built-in advanced technological features. 

The convenience of these technologies can help you locate your loved one and confirm their safety and security. However, the challenge is how to track a phone without them knowing.

Below, we provide the 6 most effective ways to do this.

1. How to Track Someone’s Phone with a Phone Tracking App

If you’re wondering how can I track someone’s phone, you’ll get no better option than XNSPY. It offers a way to keep track of online activities without drawing attention. You can monitor texts, social media activity, and even what websites someone visits. This can be helpful if you want to ensure your kids are safe online or just want to understand someone’s digital habits better.

The app leverages the phone’s built-in data points and sends it to a remote server. You can access this data via a user dashboard. This is one of the best methods on how to track a phone without them knowing. 

XNSPY is supported and functions on most iOS and Android devices. With its advanced technology and algorithms, the app lets you track: 

• Calls 
• Social media chats
• Location 
• Web activity 
• Messages 
• Emails 
• Installed apps. 

Before you start to track a cell phone without permission, make sure that you’re fulfilling privacy and ethical concerns. Always communicate openly with the person whose phone you plan to monitor. Consent is key to maintaining trust and respect. It’s important to understand the boundaries of monitoring and to use XNSPY as a tool for safety rather than control.

2. How to Track a Person’s Phone with Google Maps Timeline

Google Maps offers a handy way to learn how to get someone’s location without them knowing. One useful feature is Google Timeline, which tracks any device connected to a Google account. This can provide insights into where someone has been, making it a useful tool if you need to keep tabs discreetly.

Let us view the steps to use:

1. Go to Google Maps Timeline from a web browser or open the Google Maps app on the device.
   
2. Log in with the Google account linked to the target phone.
   
3. Once logged in, Google Maps will show a detailed timeline of the places the phone has visited.
   
4. Google Timeline usually tracks location history, but it can show the last known location if the device is active and connected to the internet.

Note that Google Timeline relies on GPS, Wi-Fi, and cellular networks for location tracking, so the accuracy varies due to signal strength. Also, you must have the consent to track someone’s phone.

3. How Do You Track A Phone Without The Person Knowing with WhatsApp Location Sharing

Popular social media platforms like WhatsApp allow users to share their real-time location with others. 

Here is what you need to use this method:

1. Ask the person to share their location through the attachment option on WhatsApp.
   
2. Open the attachment on the map and see the real-time location of the person’s phone.

If you’re looking for a way for how to track a person’s phone without their phone being active, the short answer is that you can’t. You can only track their movements on the map if the live location is active. Furthermore, the location sharing will automatically stop after the selected time period. This method is convenient for temporarily tracking someone’s phone.

4. How To Find Someone Location Without Them Knowing via Carrier Tracking Service

Generally, network providers won’t allow you to track a cell phone without permission, so you’ll need to ask the person whose phone you want to monitor.

One is ‘’triangulation,’’ which measures the signal strength and time delay from at least three towers to estimate the phone’s location. 

The location can be determined as mobile phones constantly communicate with nearby cell towers to maintain a connection. 

Cell phones have built-in GPS receivers that provide precise phone information. The carrier can use this data to provide accurate phone details if the phone’s GPS is enabled.

Here’s how to get someone’s location from the carrier:

1. Call the customer service department of the phone’s carrier (e.g., AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint).
   
2. Provide necessary details, such as the phone number, account information, and possibly the phone’s IMEI number.
   
3. The network provider can use triangulation to track the phone by identifying which cell towers the phone is connected to.

5. Track Someone’s Phone using Find My iPhone

Find My Phone is a fantastic app developed by Apple that helps locate lost iPhones, tablets, headphones, and other accessories.

Here’s a quick guide to use Find My iPhone to track a phone:

1. Open the Find My iPhone app from another Apple device or on a web browser.
   
2. Enter the Apple ID credentials associated with the iPhone you want to locate.
   
3. The iPhone’s current or last known location will be displayed on a map.

You can even Play Sound, activate Lost Mode (which locks the phone), or Erase iPhone if the device is stolen. However, like other methods, the target iPhone must be switched on, and location services must be enabled. 

6. How to Track a Phone Without Them Knowing with IMEI

Using the phone’s IMEI is one of the methods you can use to track a cell phone. However, due to its technical nature, it can be more challenging to use than other methods. 

This is why law enforcement and network providers use this method to locate lost or stolen phones. Let’s see how it works.

1. Install third-party apps or use websites that offer IMEI tracking services.
   
2. You must know the 15-digit IMEI code that must be entered. The code can be found by entering *#06# on the target’s phone.
   
3. After opening the website or installing the app, enter the IMEI code, and the phone’s last location will be revealed. 

You must note that for this method to work, the target’s phone needs to be switched on and have an active connection to the Internet. 

Also, for some apps to work, you must pre-install them on someone’s phone. Most importantly, you must have the IMEI number for this method. 

How to Track a Phone for Free? 

Almost all the methods we discussed for how to track someone’s phone are legal and require you to subscribe to a particular app or web service. 

Most Android and iOS phones have built-in apps that can track phones. While there are plenty of free apps out there that advertise tracking capabilities, if you’re asking how do you track a phone without the person knowing, it’s essential to consider the risks first.

The free apps will sell your private data to third parties, lack a strong security system, and make the device vulnerable to malware. However, by using a reliable, subscription-based all-in-one phone tracker app, you can avoid all these risks.

How Can I Track Someone’s Phone by Cell Phone Number Without Them Knowing?

Some third-party apps and websites advertise to track a cell phone location by number. However, only a few of these are reliable and authentic. Many other apps are unreliable and often scams. Your data and device can become vulnerable to hacking and malware. 

Legitimate apps and methods can let you track a phone without them knowing. This includes XNSPY, the phone’s in-built apps like Find My Device for Android and Find My iPhone for iOS devices. But, for ethical and legal tracking, consent from the person is necessary.

Can You Track Someone’s Phone Without Installing Software?

No, you cannot track someone’s phone without installing software.

Simply put, any method that claims to show how to get someone’s location without them knowing is a scam. These unreliable methods only exist to defraud people looking for a legitimate service.

The methods we discussed above all require you to access either existing software on the device or install a new one on the phone. 

Even the most advanced hackers will have you download something to your device before they can track you – and even then your phone’s security will protect you from illegitimate access.

Can Someone Track My Phone Without Me Knowing?

Yes, someone can potentially track your phone without you knowing, especially if they have access to certain apps or software designed for that purpose. For example, some tracking apps can be installed on your device without your consent, allowing someone to monitor your activity. 

However, most smartphones have security features that notify users if a tracking app is active. To protect your privacy, regularly check your installed apps, keep your phone’s software updated, and be cautious about granting permissions to unfamiliar applications.

How Do You Track Someone’s Phone If It Is Turned Off?

Tracking someone’s phone when it’s turned off can be challenging, as most tracking methods rely on an active connection. If the phone is powered off, you won’t be able to receive real-time phone updates. 

That said, XNSPY can still provide insights even if the phone is switched off. While you won’t be able to track the phone live, XNSPY keeps a record of various phone-related activities, such as call logs, messages, and app usage, up until the point the phone was turned off. So, if you’re trying to find out what someone was up to before the phone lost power, this information could be invaluable.

You can also check with services like Find My for iPhones or Google Maps, which might provide information on the last recorded location. Keep in mind that tracking someone without their consent is often illegal, so always ensure you have permission.