what do i need to locate a cell phone

Just the thought of losing your smartphone is enough to evoke panic, even though there are plenty of means to runway and recover a lost telephone. While it's easier to track a smartphone, y'all can also locate older phones, so don't give up promise if yous're rocking a first-gen Motorola Razr — we've all the same got your back.

If you've got a smartphone, recollect to first prepare and enable any included phone-locating software that's native to your device, such as Apple'southward Find My iPhone, Google's Find My Device, and Samsung's Find My Mobile. Afterward this, if you're looking for more than choices, endeavour out the post-obit apps.

Oh, and have yous ever wondered what really happens to a stolen phone? Cheque out this weird and voyeuristic film — if you dare.

Tracking smartphones

Prey

Casualty is free to utilize for upwards to iii devices, there are paid plans for more than, and the service can be used across platforms for both computers and phones. After signing up, just sync your devices, sit down dorsum, and relax. If your phone ever goes missing, all yous have to practise is notice a computer, log into your business relationship, and commencement tracking. Prey runs discreetly in the background and won't track your phone's location until you tell it to, so at that place is no need to worry about your privacy while the telephone is in your possession. Recent updates improved network configurations, enabled TouchID and Face ID on iOS, and extended functionality to Chromebooks. The Camouflage characteristic has now been removed from Android.

iOS Android

Avast Antivirus

Avast is a familiar proper noun to anyone interested in computer security. The Avast Antivirus app is a complete bundle that offers virus scanning and protection, backup options, power-saving, and anti-theft options. Yous tin remotely lock or wipe your smartphone, heed remotely, or take a "theftie" of the criminals who fabricated off with your phone. Yous can also activate stealth mode on your device and then the thief doesn't know Avast is protecting your phone. Avast provides SIM card change notifications and locking, also, with similar services for Android, Mac, and PC. Avast is offering an all-in-one package for device protection from viruses and thieves as a paid premium service.

Android

Lookout

Lookout man combines security, tracking, and antivirus or malware protection. Headline features include the ability to record a telephone's final location right earlier the battery dies, a take chances to back up contact data before a remote erase, and an choice to snap a photograph of any would-be thief and email it to yourself forth with location information. Picket provides Safe Wi-Fi and System Advisor features to protect against Wi-Fi attacks and to check your device to make certain the operating organization is working properly. It's free, but you can upgrade to Premium for $30 per twelvemonth for features similar safe browsing and breach reports — which send you alerts if a company, service, or app you apply reports a data breach — or Premium Plus for $100 per year to go features like identity theft protection and lost wallet recovery.

iOS Android

Tracking non-smartphones

Fifty-fifty if y'all don't own a smartphone, yous tin can still track your handset. In that case, we recommend using a GPS tracking service. There are a few options out there, but AccuTracking is a practiced choice that works well.

AccuTracking

AccuTracking uses GPS to track the location of your phone — and it works with a wide variety of characteristic phones. As long equally your phone is GPS-enabled — equally virtually modern phones are — AccuTracking should help you locate it. When the twenty-four hour period comes that you can't locate your phone, just log in to AccuTracking's web interface from any internet-connected figurer, and — and so long as your telephone isn't dead — it volition immediately show y'all its location. The service features 4 plans costing $13, $16, $21, and $26 per month which update every 120, 60, 30, or 15 seconds, respectively. It'south a pay-as-you-become deal with no contract and a costless trial. And if you have a smartphone, you can use the iOS or Android app.

iOS  Android

Tracking your phone after you lose it

If yous didn't install a device recovery app on your telephone earlier you lost information technology, don't worry. There are nevertheless some easy ways to get it back, particularly for smartphones.

On the other hand, if you lose a non-smartphone feature phone, you take minimal options. If you didn't register your phone with AccuTracking or a similar service beforehand, you can try calling your service provider and hoping they can help. Most providers do offering GPS location services for a reasonable fee, so if your phone is GPS-enabled, finding it is sometimes but a matter of activating the GPS fleck.

Find My Device

Android users can utilise Find My Device. Because information technology's a Google service, it links with your Google account and can locate any device associated with it. There are also options for locking your device, resetting your PIN remotely, and erasing stored data. You lot can even add a recovery message or phone number to the lock screen to boost your chances of getting it back, or prompt your device to play a sound in the event it may be nearby. Updated versions include support for indoor utilise to help you find your device in airports, malls, or other big buildings.

Android

Notice My iPhone

If you own an iPhone you tin can employ the Find My iPhone app. This feature has been a part of iOS since version v, so no download is necessary. Information technology works with iCloud — so you can easily admission it through a browser or another iOS device — and the location of your missing device volition show on a map, forth with the option to show where it has recently been. You can remotely lock the phone, brandish an emergency bulletin, or erase stored information if the phone has been lost forever.

iOS

Tracking someone else's phone with permission

While at that place's always an option to only phone call and ask where someone is, in that location's an equal chance that the person in question doesn't pick up or is terrible at giving directions. And so, if you tin can't always attain or trust the person you're trying to locate, here are some options.

Those with smartphones tin can use a number of different location-sharing apps to permit you know where they are. Facebook and Twitter both have location-aware check-in features, and Swarm has some pretty robust location-sharing features equally well. However, we take a few more than favorites for you lot to check out.

Google Maps

If you want to keep tabs on a friend or family member, there's a proficient chance yous already have the tools to do so, because Google Maps allows you to share your location in real-time. Simply open up Google Maps and tap your profile moving picture at the summit right, choose Location sharing, and you lot can cull to share your location with the people yous select. You tin choose to share your location for a limited menses of time or until you plough the function off. Anyone you share your location with volition encounter your icon on the map when they open Google Maps. Google is constantly tweaking and improving this service, and it has become a great resource over time.

iOS   Android

Find My Friends

One of our favorite apps for keeping track of people'southward whereabouts is Find My Friends. Information technology's available for iOS and Android. Although the two apps aren't from the same programmer (Apple makes the iOS version, which is also supported on the Apple Spotter), they offer roughly the same service. The apps permit you to runway multiple people at the same time, which is useful when y'all're trying to meet up with a big group. Find My Friends for Android also works on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, and characteristic phones. The app uses cell phone signal triangulation to notice people and makes location sharing piece of cake. Ship a non-smartphone user a text invite, and when they reply "yes," their icon appears on the app's map.

iOS  Android

iMessage and Google Hangouts

If you and your companions utilize iPhones, you tin can utilize iMessage to share your location. The Google Hangouts app has a similar feature and is bachelor on both Android and iOS. The app even watches for phrases like "Where are you?" and volition then automatically suggest sharing your location. It'southward also a great app for chatting and video calling.

iOS  Android

Carrier apps

Several major networks offer phone tracking services and apps, paired with a multitude of family safety and location services and features. AT&T offers its Secure Family, Dart has Safety&Found, Verizon provides Smart Family, and T-Mobile has the FamilyWhere app. All come with a free trial, but you will take to pay a subscription fee to proceed using them.

Tracking someone else's telephone without their permission

You should always exist upfront most tracking somebody and respect their correct to privacy, and you should never alter someone else'southward telephone. Withal, if y'all're the possessor of the phone and absolutely must runway it without its current user's total cooperation — perhaps an ever-in-trouble teen — here are a few tips on how to do information technology.

Tracking a smartphone user

You tin ever employ whatever account your child or another pocket-sized has that's connected to your own. You just need to log into the Notice My Device or Find My iPhone services to observe their location on a map. In that location are likewise tracking apps yous can apply, similar Detect My Friends , available on Apple tree. These tin can connect your entire family and friend circle together. But install the app before y'all give the telephone to your preteen or perhaps an elderly family unit fellow member, for instance, and yous're ready to get.

You can employ these features without your kids knowing past hiding the app in an undetectable folder. Of course, you'll have to practice this before handing them the telephone. Most apps require permission to do this, but those rules usually operate a little differently when information technology'due south your family or relative. If you'd rather be open about it instead of hiding the app, talk to your teen or kid most why you've installed it and how it benefits them.

Tracking a not-smartphone user

Similar we mentioned to a higher place, tracking is much more difficult on a not-smartphone device. Fortunately, you do accept a few options. You can employ your telephone substantially as a GPS device, so information technology volition prove you its verbal location if you lose it. Many feature phones have GPS capabilities, giving you the chance to rails your phone should the need arise. To enable it, only log in to the Accutracking site and follow the simple steps to set up your account.

Tracking features like those we've explored here are just the beginning of all the privacy and protection features available for smartphones. Cheque out our roundups of the all-time Android security apps and the best iPhone security apps  for other tips and suggestions for ways that you can protect your valuable handset.

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Source: https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/how-to-track-a-cell-phone/