How to Track Someone’s Phone Without Them Knowing: 6 Proven Methods

Ever wondered if there is a way to keep tabs on someone’s phone without them catching on? It might sound tricky, but with the right methods, it is easier than you think. In this guide, we will show you how to track a phone without them knowing in 6 different ways.

Why Is It Important to Know How to Track Someone’s Phone

Smartphones take up a significant part of a person’s daily routine, whether adults, kids, or the elderly. Beyond constant screen time, excessive cell phone use exposes individuals to digital threats like cyberbullying, identity theft, and privacy breaches. You can prevent it if you are aware of it and have access to the target device. 

For one, parents are wary and concerned about their kids’ online and physical safety. They need tools to access their online activity and keep tabs on their whereabouts. 

Conversely, the elderly are not only less tech-savvy but can develop health conditions and go through cognitive decline. You may look for a solution to be aware of their movements and check up on them. Additionally, tracking is invaluable when recovering lost or stolen phones and ensuring sensitive data does not fall into the wrong hands.

How to Track a Phone Without Them Knowing: 6 Best Ways

A lot of people ask us “Can you track someone’s phone without touching it? And if so, how?”

The simple answer is, yes, you can.

Your daily routine may include ensuring the kids arrive safely, checking on your parents, and occasionally waiting for your partner to return home from work. Not being able to fulfill these only increases doubt and uncertainty. 

Here are the 6 ways for how to track a cell phone without them knowing.

1.  XNSPY

If you are looking for how to track someone’s phone without them knowing, XNSPY is your best bet. It is an innovative app that offers advanced tracking tools and features. Most importantly, the app functions in stealth mode, which is necessary to track someone’s phone discreetly. 

XNSPY is compatible with both Android and iPhones. Once installed, the app collects all the phone and app data while running in the background and uploads the information to its servers. You have credentials to log into your user account, track the phone, and view the recorded data. 

With XNSPY, you have remote access to social media activity, messages, calls, whereabouts, multimedia, and web browsing history of the target phone. 

Here is how it works

1. Make a user account and subscribe to XNSPY
2. Access the target phone and download the installation file
3. Install and grant permissions to the app
4. Log into the dashboard and use the available tabs to track the phone.

2.  Google Family Link

Google Family Link was a native Android app, but now it works on iPhones running iOS 11 and higher. The app was designed for parents but can serve to track whereabouts, review browsing history, and check someone’s phone activity. However, you need to set up the app on your device and the phone you wish to track

Let’s see how to track someone’s phone without the other person knowing with Google Family Link.

1. Open the Google Family Link App
2. Sign in to the Google account linked to someone’s device.
3. Open the person’s profile, and you can track features like the current whereabouts of the device and view screen time and app activity. You can even remotely lock the phone and erase data.

For this method to work, you must have the consent of the person to be tracked on Google Family Link. Moreover, the target phone must be switched on and connected to a network. 

3. Apple Family Sharing

If you are looking for an effective way for how to track someone’s phone discreetly who is an iPhone user, Apple Family Sharing is a great option. It is similar to Google Family Sharing and lets families share Apple services, apps, and content across multiple iOS devices. 

You can add someone to the group and share not only Apple Music and iCloud storage but also check app usage and track device whereabouts using Find My App. However, that person has to turn on particular settings to find the device.

Here is what to do:

1. Open Apple Family Sharing and ensure the person has accepted the group invitation
2. As the Family Sharing organizer, you can easily access someone’s activities. You can set app limits, manage iCloud backup, and view whereabouts.  

You can only track the Apple devices that are linked to an Apple ID. Also, the iPhone must be powered on and connected to the internet.

4.  Phone Link Apps

Another way to track a cell phone without permission is by using the Phone Link app, available on Windows 10 or 11. This app, formerly known as “Your Phone,” allows you to connect your Android device to your PC. 

You get access to notifications, messages, photos, and even calls directly from your computer.

Here’s how can you track a phone without them knowing using this method: 

1. Install and open the Phone Link App
2. Ensure that the same app is installed on someone’s phone
3. Link both devices with the same Microsoft account
4. Once the permissions are accepted, you can track the phone and access notifications, messages, calls, and photos.

The Phone Link does not offer the level of control provided by a dedicated monitoring app. Furthermore, for this method, both devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network or paired with Bluetooth. 

5.  Phone Built-in Tracking Feature

Most modern smartphones come with built-in tracking features that you can use as a phone tracker without them knowing. Google has Find My Device, while Apple has Find My App, respectively. Once the feature is enabled, you can track family members, friends, or devices in real-time.

Here is how:

1. For Android, open the Find My Device app or visit Find My Device on a web browser.
2. Log in with the Google account associated with the target phone. Select the device and start tracking it on the map.
3. For iOS, open the Find My App and send an invite to the person. 
4. Once they accept the invitation, you can track their whereabouts

For the steps above, you need to obtain consent to track someone. Also, tracking will not work if the device is not connected to the internet or is powered off altogether, 

6.  IMEI

Yes, it is possible to track someone’s phone if you know the IMEI number. It’s a 15-digit code that is unique to every smartphone. This code helps telecom operators and service providers to track, block, and authenticate devices on their networks. 

However, it is crucial to know the IMEI number, which is found on the box the phone comes in, or you can dial 

So how do you track a phone without the person knowing using IMEI number? Let’s find out.

1. Get the IMEI number of someone’s phone
2. Make an account on an authentic online IMEI tracking service
3. Enter the code, and you will get details to track the phone

Accessing the IMEI number of someone’s phone is not easy. Even if you have it, tracking is a bit complicated. You have to ensure the tracking service is authentic, as some only claim to provide the feature. Most services turn out as scams and only get personal details that leads to data breaches and theft of personal information.

How to Track Someone’s Phone Without Them Knowing for Free

How to track someone’s phone for free is possible if you have consent and use the right apps and tools. In your search, you will come across many that advertise to give remote access and phone tracking features. However, most are unreliable, contain malware, and compromise privacy. 

You can use apps like Google Family Sharing or Android Family Sharing to track someone’s phone for free. However, these methods require prior setup and depend on obtaining consent and the phone being active to track it. 

Can Someone Track My Phone Without Me Knowing?

Yes, with the methods discussed above, someone can track your phone without you knowing. Also, tracking can occur through spyware apps or malware installed on your device, often without your consent. Cybercriminals may even get access to your Google account or Apple ID and then track the phone. 

To protect yourself, set strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and regularly check for suspicious apps. If you suspect tracking, you can even reset the phone and run a security scan.

How Do You Track Someone’s Phone Without Installing Software?

If you are looking for ways for how can I track someone’s phone without installing a software or using any app, then the built-in tracking features of the phone are your best bet. Find My App allows you to track a device if it’s linked to a particular Apple ID. On Android, Find My Device offers similar functionality for devices linked to a Google account. 

But remember, they come with limitations. These methods require the phone to stay connected to the internet and be linked to the correct Apple ID or Google account. Plus, they don’t offer advanced tracking options like monitoring app activity or messages.

That’s where XNSPY stands out. You only need one-time access to install the software, and from there, it works seamlessly in the background, giving you detailed insights. It is a reliable and easy way to track a phone without constant hassle.

How to Secretly Track a Phone If It Is Turned Off?

It is not impossible to track a phone if it is turned off. Tracking on all the phones relies on the device being connected to a network. When a phone is powered off, it cannot transmit data.

However, if the phone is on but not connected to the internet, XNSPY can still track it. Thanks to its advanced features, XNSPY works discreetly in the background, gathering data even without an active internet connection. Once the connection is restored, the data is uploaded to the dashboard.