Sometimes we need to find out where someone is. This could be for safety or security reasons. Our guide shows how to track someone’s location with a phone number using different methods and tools.

Using Built-in Tools to Track a Phone Location

Smartphones come with their own tools for sharing and seeing someone’s spot. Google Maps lets you share your area with friends, and Find My iPhone helps Apple users locate each other’s devices.

How to Use Google Maps Location Sharing

Using Google Maps to share your location is easy and free. It lets you see friends’ spots on a map if they agree. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open Google Maps on your smartphone or tablet.
2. Sign in with your Google account details.
3. Tap your profile picture on the top right corner.
4. Select “Location sharing.”
5. Choose “New Share.”
6. You can pick who to share your location with from your contacts.
7. Decide how long you want to share your spot, from 15 minutes to 3 days, or even until you turn it off.
8. The person you are sharing with gets a link through a text message or email.
9. They can tap the link to see your real-time location on their Google Maps.
10. If needed, you can stop sharing at any time by going back into ‘Location sharing’ and tapping ‘Stop.’

This feature is part of Google Maps’ built-in tools and doesn’t cost anything extra to use. It works well on both Android and iOS devices, making it a handy way for family members or friends to track each other’s whereabouts for safety or meeting up purposes.

Tracking with Find My iPhone (Apple Devices)

After exploring Google Maps for location sharing, let’s shift focus to Apple devices. Find My iPhone offers a built-in solution for tracking.

• Open the ‘Find My’ app on your Apple device.
• Sign in using your Apple ID and password.
• Tap on the “Devices” tab to see a list of all your Apple products.
• Select the device you want to find to see its location on a map.
• If the device is nearby, you can make it play a sound to help you find it.
• The app also allows you to mark your device as lost. This locks the device with a passcode and displays a custom message with your phone number on the locked screen, making it easy for someone who finds your device to contact you.
• For added security, you can erase the device remotely to delete all personal information.
• The erased phone or tablet will display your custom message, even after being wiped clean.
• You can share location access with family and friends for easy meet-ups or safety reasons.

This method relies solely on having an active internet connection and being logged into iCloud. Always get permission before tracking someone’s location for their privacy and peace of mind.

Third-Party Apps for Location Tracking

Exploring third-party apps opens new doors for tracking a mobile’s location using just a number. These applications specialize in pinpointing positions with great precision, offering features beyond the basics found on your device.

Detectico – The Best App for Tracking with a Phone Number

Detectico stands out as the top choice among apps for tracking a phone number in 2025. Users pick Detectico because it offers pinpoint accuracy and real-time updates on someone’s location.

This app makes keeping tabs on family or friends easy without them needing to share their location actively. It simply uses their mobile number, making it very straightforward.

The app provides features like geofencing, which alerts you when the person enters or leaves a certain area. Parents find this feature useful for monitoring their kids’ safety. Employers use it for keeping track of employees during work hours.

With Detectico, users enjoy control over tracking without complicated setups or technical know-how.

Scannero

After exploring Detectico, we move to another excellent tool for location tracking: Scannero. This app lets users see the real-time whereabouts of a mobile device using just a phone number.

It boasts an easy-to-use interface that makes locating friends or family straightforward and quick. Users can also set up geofences, which alert them when the target device enters or leaves a designated area.

Scannero stands out with its advanced features like unlimited tracking and custom messages without needing jailbreaking or rooting of devices. It offers a free 14-day trial for new users, allowing them to test out the full range of capabilities before committing to a subscription plan at $66.45 per month or opting for a more flexible 24-hour plan at $1.19.

This mix of functionality and pricing options ensures Scannero meets various needs for precise and secure location tracking.

mSpy

mSpy stands out as a top app for tracking locations using a phone number. It excels in parental control, providing powerful features like real-time GPS locating, monitoring calls, text messages, and social media activities.

This app also features geofencing alerts and operates in stealth mode, allowing parents to oversee their children’s phones without them having any idea.

The pricing of mSpy makes it accessible to a wide range of users. For one month of service, the cost is $48.99. Choosing a three-month plan drops the price to $27.99 per month. The most economically friendly choice is the yearly plan at $11.66 per month.

This positions mSpy as both effective and affordable for extended use in preserving family safety.

Pros and Cons of Using Phone Tracker Apps

Exploring the pros and cons of using phone tracker apps is essential for informed decision-making. Here’s a concise overview:

Phone tracker apps like mSpy, Scannero.io, and SpyX offer unique features. Yet, users must weigh these against potential downsides.

Tracking a Phone Location Without Installing Software

You can track a phone’s location without downloading any apps by using carrier services. These services let you spot a lost or misplaced device with just a phone number. Carrier companies like T-Mobile and others offer methods to locate smartphones, feature phones, or even basic flip phones through their network.

This approach does not need you to install software but may require permission from the phone owner. Check out how this simple yet effective method works for keeping tabs on devices and ensuring safety.

Using Carrier Services for Location Tracking

Carrier services offer a way to find someone’s location using their phone number. This method works well for emergency situations or when you need to locate a lost device. Most carriers, including T-Mobile and other network providers, have built-in features that help in locating phones.

They use the network’s infrastructure to triangulate the phone’s position accurately.

You must request this service from your carrier, and it might depend on certain policies. For example, some services require consent from the person you’re trying to track or are limited to locating devices within your own family circle.

These carrier-based tracking solutions tap into GPS locators and cellular networks, ensuring that even if internet access is unavailable, you can still see their location.

Is it Legal to Track Someone’s Location?

Tracking someone’s location without their permission falls into a gray area legally. For nonconsensual monitoring, the law labels this as illegal and it carries potential penalties.

This includes using apps or devices to find someone’s location by phone number without them knowing. Parents sometimes use parental control software like mSpy for keeping tabs on their kids for safety reasons.

These applications require users to think about ethical issues deeply.

Legal methods exist for tracking locations, such as Google Find My Device and Apple’s Find My iPhone feature. These tools let users share their whereabouts voluntarily with friends or family members through location sharing features.

It makes finding phones that one has lost easier too. Each method demands that both parties agree to share this information, ensuring that the process stays within legal boundaries and respects privacy rights.

Conclusion

We explored many ways to find someone’s location using their phone number. Apps like mSpy and Google Maps make this job easy. You can choose built-in tools or download third-party apps.

Each method lets you keep track of loved ones easily. Why not try these tips today?

FAQs

1. What are some ways to track someone’s location with a phone number in 2025?

There are various methods available, including using top apps that claim to track locations effectively based on a phone number. These include Google apps and other user-friendly Android or Apple’s applications.

2. How does tracking technology work with these apps?

The tracking technology used by these apps allows for the exploration of location history through a dashboard interface. The app must be enabled on the device you wish to locate.

3. Can social media platforms like Whatsapp and Instagram also offer location-tracking features?

Yes, many popular social media platforms like Whatsapp, Instagram, and Messenger also offer location-tracking capabilities using phone numbers tied to accounts.

4. Are there any privacy concerns related to tracking someone’s location with their phone number?

Yes, it is crucial to have consent before tracking someone’s location due to policy issues around surveillance and personal privacy rights.

5. Can I use this method for locating lost devices like Samsung Galaxy S10 or Moto E running on Android 10 operating system?

Absolutely! You can recover your lost devices such as Samsung Galaxy Note series or Motorola phones running Android 10 by activating their built-in mobile hotspot feature or via Google Play Store if Gmail account is linked.

6. Besides smartphones, can we track other devices too?

Yes! You can even track iPod Touches and cell phones that operate via eSIMs or SIM cards using similar methods.

7. Will the person know I am tracking them?

If you use discreet monitoring apps like mSpy, the person might not know unless you tell them.