Phone tracking
Is someone tracking your phone?
Updated September 2026
Phones are even easier to track than cars, and most of the time it isn't a spy app. It's a setting someone turned on, or an account someone can log into. Here's how people actually do it, and how to check yours.
Short answer
Start with the simple checks: see who your location is shared with in Find My or Google Maps, look at which devices are signed in to your Apple or Google account, and change those passwords. Then check for apps you don’t recognize. On iPhone, Safety Check does most of this in one place.
If you think someone is stalking you, read what to do first before changing anything, and consider using a phone or computer they can’t access. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is free and confidential 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788.
The three ways phones get tracked
1. Location sharing (the most common)
Find My on iPhone, location sharing in Google Maps, and family apps like Life360 are built to share your location, and someone with your phone for a minute can turn them on. How to check every one of them.
2. Someone knows your account password
Anyone signed in to your Apple Account or Google Account can often see your location, photos, messages, and backups from their own device, no app required. Check which devices are signed in, sign out the ones you don’t recognize, and change your password.
3. Stalkerware
These are apps sold for “monitoring” that hide on a phone and send out location, messages, and more. They usually need someone to have your unlocked phone for a few minutes. They’re much easier to install on Android than on iPhone.
Signs worth taking seriously
- Someone knows where you’ve been, who you’ve talked to, or what you’ve said, and you can’t explain how.
- Location sharing is on with someone you didn’t share it with.
- An unknown device is signed in to your Apple or Google account.
- An app you don’t recognize has permission to use accessibility, device admin, or location “always.”
- On iPhone, a configuration profile you didn’t install is listed under VPN & Device Management.
Battery drain, a warm phone, and extra data use get mentioned a lot, but they have plenty of normal causes. Treat them as a reason to check, not as proof.
Keep reading
Check your car too
If someone is tracking your phone, they may have put something on your car as well. Our free guide covers the 10 places trackers get hidden and how to scan for AirTags with your phone.
Common questions
+Can someone track my phone without me knowing?
Yes. The most common way isn't spyware. It's location sharing that was turned on in Find My, Google Maps, or a family app, or someone who knows your Apple or Google account password. Stalkerware apps exist too, but they usually need someone to have your unlocked phone.
+What are the signs my phone is being tracked?
The strongest sign is someone knowing where you've been or what you've said when they shouldn't. Battery drain, heat, and data use can have other causes. Check your location sharing and account devices first.
+Can someone install spyware on my phone remotely?
It's rare for everyday stalkerware. Most of it needs a few minutes with your unlocked phone, or your account password. That's why changing your passcode and account passwords matters.
+Should I factory reset my phone if I think it's being tracked?
Not as a first step if you might be in danger. A reset can alert the person watching you and erases evidence. Read what to do if you find stalkerware before acting.