Can You Track an iPhone Without Them Knowing? [Answered]

Did your teens hang out late but never tell you where they went? You may want to track their iPhone location without them knowing. However, to prevent privacy violations, Apple makes it difficult to track an iPhone covertly. Let's explore how to locate an iPhone while balancing privacy.

Can You Track an iPhone without Them Knowing?

Well, yes, it's technically possible to track an iPhone without the user's knowledge. Besides Find My, location-sharing apps and authorized tracking tools can locate a device without the owner knowing, if you have their account password or install apps on their device.

However, tracking should be done with the person's consent, especially if they're not children. Tracking without consent breaches the owner's privacy and may have legal consequences, depending on local laws.

When tracking is essential, it's best to get the owner's consent through transparent methods.

Tracking can be misused by stalkers to pose a danger. It's important to know how to protect your privacy on your iPhone and prevent unwanted tracking.

Track an iPhone with the Owner's Permission

In this section, we consider three of the most reliable methods for you to track an iPhone with the owner's permission.

Method	Summary	Compatible
iCloud Find Devices	Need to know the password of the iPhone's Apple ID Need to log in every time you check the location.	Devices with Browser
Find My Location Sharing	Location sharing needs to be enabled in advance May be stopped at any time	Apple
Google Maps Location Sharing	Need to install Google Maps and enable location sharing in advance May be stopped at any time	Apple & Android
AirDroid Parental Control	Need to install apps in advance Difficult to bypass	Apple & Android

1Built-in Find My Service

You can use the Find My service on the website or the Find My app. The iCloud Find Devices website is the easiest way to track a lost iPhone. If Find My iPhone is enabled, follow these steps to locate it:

Use a web browser to visit www.icloud.com/find and sign in with your Apple ID.
Once logged in, click on "Find iPhone" to access the device tracking service.
From the devices list, select the iPhone you need to track. If the iPhone is online, its approximate location will be shown on a map.

Tips:

If it's offline, you can still see the last known location within the last 24 hours.
If you think your iPhone is nearby, you can play a sound on it to help locate it.
Even if your iPhone is offline, the Find My network can help locate it by leveraging millions of Apple devices around the world.
You can also choose to get a notification if your device comes online by selecting "Notify When Found."

The Find My service integrates well with all Apple devices, and its location is accurate and secure. Besides, if you are sharing your location with the iPhone, you need to track it; you can also get its location from the People of Find My app.

2Google Maps Location Sharing

Google Maps is the most comprehensive geo-mapping app on the internet. This app works on iPhones to share locations with people using iOS or Android devices. To use the app, Google Maps has to be installed and location-sharing enabled on both devices.

Open the Google Maps app on the iPhone you want to track.
Log into a Google account and click on the Profile icon.
Select the Location Sharing option.
Tap "New share" and choose yourself as the recipient.
Set the duration for sharing as "Until you turn this off."

You can also use apps like iMessage and WhatsApp, which support location sharing. However, WhatsApp can share locations for a maximum of 8 hours, and it's easy to notice when location sharing is active on iMessage or other social apps.

3Family Locator Apps

Family Locator apps are built to help loved ones keep track of themselves at all times. Hence, we recommend using AirDroid Parental Control as the Family Locator app on your iPhone. It is ideal for parents or caregivers who need consistent updates on a kid's location.

Track the real-time location of the person
Send alerts when the battery is low, or the person is offline
Check the location history if you are not able to follow their movement in real-time
Set safe zones and get alerts if the target device exceeds the geofence

Here are steps to use AirDroid to track your child's iPhone.

Download and install AirDroid Parental Control on your device. Set up the app on your device with your details or create an account.
Download and install the AirDroid Kids app on your child's iPhone. Use the code on the monitoring device to link your kid's device to your account.
Tap the GPS icon in AirDroid Parental Control, and you will see the current location of your child.

Part 3. FAQs about Tracking an iPhone

This section answers the most asked questions about tracking an iPhone.

1 Can I Track an iPhone without Using Wi-Fi or a Cellular Connection?

Yes, you can track an iPhone even when it can't connect to the internet or has little to no battery life. The alternative approach is relying on a nearby Apple network. When the iPhone is connected to Bluetooth devices, Find My can use these signals to relay its location data.

This feature works best in populated areas with multiple devices. However, in remote or offline areas, tracking accuracy decreases due to limited signals. Likewise, you can use AirTag to track an iPhone on a Bluetooth network.

2Is It Possible to Track an iPhone Using Bluetooth Alone?

Yes, you can track an iPhone using Bluetooth alone. It can be used to locate iPhones within a short range of up to 100 meters. However, Bluetooth alone does not allow continuous tracking because it does not provide long-distance tracking.

Instead, it is essential to enable Apple's offline Find My network, which helps locate lost devices when they are near other Apple devices. Hence, you need GPS, Wi-Fi, or cellular data to transmit location information for accurate tracking.

3Can an iPhone Be Tracked If It's Turned Off?

Yes, an iPhone can be tracked even when it is turned off. This tracking applies only to iPhones with iOS 15 devices or later. Offline tracking on the iPhone enables the last known location to be relayed even when the device is powered off.

Then, the Find My network utilizes nearby Apple devices to update the last location of the device. However, the device will only send updates once it is charged if the battery is completely depleted.

4How Can I Locate an iPhone without an Apple ID?

You can locate an iPhone without an Apple ID if you have Google Maps location sharing enabled. Alternatively, you can install a third-party family locator app like AirDroid Parental Control.

Protect Your iPhone from Being Tracked by Someone Else

Below are listed top-notch solutions to protect your iPhone from unwanted tracking.

Keep Your Password Safe: Use a strong password for your Apple ID and never share it. Even if it doesn't trigger Two-Factor Authentication on iCloud Find My Device, 2FA adds an extra layer of security. Also, lock your device with a strong password, Face ID, or Touch ID.

Disable Location Sharing: If you are sharing your location with friends or family, turn off it. Open the Find My app and tap on the person you are sharing with, then select Stop Sharing My Location. You can also go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Share My Location to toggle the switch off.

Uninstall Suspicious Apps: Regularly review your installed apps and remove any that seem suspicious or unnecessary.

Restrict Location Permissions for Apps: If some apps have unnecessary location permissions, go to Settings > Privacy & Security. Select Location Services and set the permissions for each app to Never.

Turn Off Location Services: It will stop all apps from accessing your location. You can go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, then toggle Location Services off.

Use Airplane Mode: It will turn off all wireless signals and stop apps from accessing or sending your location data via the internet.

Enable Tracking Notifications: This feature alerts you when an unknown tracking device is detected moving with you. It is located in Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, scroll down to find Tracking Notifications and toggle the switch on.

Turn Off Tracking for Apps: It prevents apps from tracking your activities across other apps and websites. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking, and toggle off Allow Apps to Request to Track.

Final Note on iPhone Tracking

Tracking an iPhone is essential to prevent device theft and keep an eye on loved ones. Regardless of the benefits, tracking someone requires respect for their privacy. Hence, getting permission before tracking them is vital. While technology makes it easy to track devices without permission, it is essential to use these features ethically. Hence, it would help if you used official apps like Find My or Google Maps. If you need more parental control features, subscribe to reliable solutions like the AirDroid Parental Control app.