Monitoring a phone’s location history is a delicate matter that should only be carried out with the right authorization and for justifiable reasons, such finding a misplaced or stolen phone, making sure a family member is safe, or for other legal grounds. Unauthorized tracking may be against the law and constitute a privacy violation. Here are a few ways to follow a phone’s location history:
Built-in Phone Features (with Consent)
Usually, built-in phone functions that track a device’s location need permission from the owner. The steps to utilize these functionalities are as follows:
Locate My Device on Android:
On the intended device, log in using the same Google account.
The webpage shows you the device’s current position on a map and gives you the option to lock, unlock, or delete its data.
By selecting the “Last location” link to access location history, you can see the most recent location of the device. Recall this
Third-Party Tracking Apps (with Consent)
It’s acceptable and usual practice to utilize third-party monitoring apps to follow a phone’s location with the owner’s permission; these apps are frequently used for family safety, parental control, and lost device recovery. The general steps for using these apps are as follows:
Obtain Agreement:
Make sure you have the owner’s express permission before installing and using any tracking apps on the phone. Building trust and honoring their privacy are crucial.
Choose a Monitoring App:
Select a reliable tracking app from a store you can trust, like the iOS App Store or the Google Play Store for Android. A few well-known tracking applications are FlexiSPY, mSpy, and Life360.
Set up the app:
On the intended phone, install the selected app. Typically, this entails getting the app from
Google Maps Location Sharing (with Consent)
As long as users give permission, Google Maps has an integrated location sharing capability that lets users share their current location with other users. This function makes tracking a phone’s position easy, and friends and family frequently use it to stay safe and coordinate. Here’s how to consentfully use Google Maps Location Sharing:
Obtain Agreement:
Make sure you have the individual whose whereabouts you wish to track to give you their express approval. They are going to have to start the sharing procedure.
Launch a Google Map:
On your Android or iOS device, both you and the person you wish to share the position with should have the Google Maps program loaded.
Put Location Sharing in Motion:
On the person’s device whose whereabouts you wish to know
Carrier Services (with Consent)
As part of shared data plans or family safety packages, several cell carriers provide location tracking services. Usually, everyone concerned gives their approval before using these services. Here’s how to track a location using carrier services with permission:
Obtain Agreement:
Make sure you have the individual whose whereabouts you wish to track to give you their express approval. This is an important step because following someone around without their consent violates their privacy and might be illegal.
Speak with your mobile provider:
Get in touch with your mobile provider to find out more about their location monitoring services, including family and shared plan alternatives. The names of these services can vary based on the carrier.
Select the Proper Plan:
Choose the suitable cell phone plan.
Lost or Stolen Phone Services (with Consent or Legal Authority)
Using location services for tracking a stolen or lost phone is a necessary and acceptable application. That being said, you don’t always require the owner of the stolen or lost phone’s permission in these circumstances. The following details how to track a stolen or lost phone with permission or legal authority:
Consent (Optional Approach):
Device tracking and recovery are the main purposes of these services.
