There are many reasons why you might want to track a cell phone’s location and figure out where exactly it – and the user of the phone – might be.
However, the process of trying to discover a cell phone’s location can be overwhelming, and if you don’t want to install a third-party app that helps to share locations between cell phones, you might think that you are out of luck.
Fortunately, our article gives you the best advice for trying to track a cell phone’s location without installing any software. Read on for everything you need to know.
Reasons to Track a Cell Phone’s Location
Though tracking a cell phone’s location might feel a little suspect, there is nothing wrong with attempting this as long as you aren’t using the location information gained to harass, stalk, or otherwise plan a crime against an individual. I
n fact, there are several common reasons to try and figure out a cell phone’s location, some of which we list below.
- You want to discover where a stolen or lost cell phone might be located
- You are concerned about the safety of a loved one that is in possession of the phone
- You need information on where someone has been and the locations they visited
- You want to figure out a timeline of the places you have visited with your own phone
Of course, tracking a cell phone’s location is a highly subjective process, and you might have a different reason for doing this that’s not on our list. As long as you remember to remain respectful when figuring out this information, you don’t need to worry about the reason behind your search.
It’s also important to note that if you are tracking a cell phone’s location because you want to gain the address information of an individual, you can also use a reverse address search tool. A tool like the one on Information.com utilizes the name and general location of a person to compile a report on their address history; all of this information is accessed from public records, making it a safe and easy way to find address information.
Best Methods for Tracking a Cell Phone’s Location Without Installing Software
Tracking a cell phone’s location without installing software on your phone or the phone in question is possible. We give you an idea of the best methods below to complete this process.
Android Find My Phone
Android systems, including Samsung phones, all have a similar method for location and ‘find my phone services.
For this method to work, you will need to use Google’s find my device page or visit Samsung’s find my device page, depending on which type of phone you have. From there, you can set up the phone you are trying to track in the system, or, if your phone is already set up, you can utilize the location tracking device.
If the cell phone you are trying to track is turned on and searchable, you will be able to see its exact location with this service. Using the find my phone page, you can also lock your device, erase the information on your device, or tell your device to play a sound so that you may find it if it is lost nearby.
Apple Find My Phone
Apple offers a similar system to the Android find my phone services, via iCloud. Your phone will most likely already have this app installed, but if it doesn’t, make sure the find my phone feature is downloaded and enabled on your phone or the cell phone you are trying to track.
Once everything is set up, you can access the iCloud page online or on an app on your phone that tells you where every connected device is.
Apple’s find my phone feature also gives you the option to lock your device, set a message for whoever finds the phone, or play a sound to the device so that you can locate it.
Location Sharing Texts
Location-sharing texts are one of the best ways to easily track a cell phone’s location without installing any software. For these texts, you will need the user of the cell phone you are tracking to track to compose a text message to you.
They will need to select the share my location option which can be found on both iPhones and Android devices. Once they send their location over, you can click on the included link and view their location.
Keep in mind that the party you are tracking will need to participate in this; if you are trying to keep your search subtle, this might not be the best option for you.
Google Maps Timeline
Accessing the Google Maps timeline of your phone or another person’s phone is an easy way to track the locations that the phone has been. You will need access to the Google account connected to the phone in question for this process.
To find location information, simply log into the connected Google account, visit Google Maps, and select the option for ‘timeline.’ You will then be able to see all of the location information about that specific device in an easy-to-read format complete with dates.
Accessing Important Location Data
Tracking a cell phone’s location might seem confusing and feel a little weird to do, but it’s an essential part of trying to find a lost or stolen phone, keeping tabs on loved ones, and gaining information about your own location activities.
Make sure that you are always respectful when accessing this data and utilize the easy search methods on our list, and you will have no problem figuring out a cell phone’s location data.
