The carelessness of phone owners leads to their gadgets being lost or stolen. But this same carelessness can help track a person’s location using a mobile device. The whole reason is that people do not pay enough attention to the phone functions that may be running in the background.
And in this article I will tell you how to use this if you need to track the location of a person using his phone. As an example, we will consider a situation where you need to track the movements of the owner of Apple.
iCloud.com website
On Apple's official website, iCloud.com, any iPhone owner can track the location of their own device or another person. What is required for this procedure:
- the presence of the “Find iPhone” option enabled on the desired gadget;
- ID information and password used on the desired iPhone.
If the listed data is activated and known, begin searching for the person’s location on the iPhone:
- First, go to the official Apple com website.
- Next, the user enters the Apple ID and, accordingly, the password.
- Then click on the icon that says “Find iPhone.”
The official Apple website works fully only in computer mode. However, searching for the location of an iPhone can also be done on another phone running the iOS operating system. When you go to the site, three positions will open. The user selects the “Find iPhone” item and enters the necessary information from the desired gadget.
How not to track an iPhone
It would be wrong to say that all methods for tracking a device on Android are ineffective for iPhone. Many applications and spyware work on both operating systems.
Nevertheless, the question “Why doesn’t the Android remote control function work on the iPhone?” often found in search queries. To once and for all differentiate the methods for each of the systems, it is best to remember the rules:
- system search settings – specific for each OS;
- Open source applications can run on both systems.
"Find Friends" service
In some cases, you will need to search not your own, but someone else’s iPhone. The procedure is carried out only with the consent of the device owner. For this purpose, the development company created and implemented a special service. To track a third-party iPhone, you will have to install specialized Find Friends software on your smartphone.
Usually the application is pre-installed on the smartphone by the manufacturer. If the program is missing, it can be downloaded for free from the AppStore. After installing the software on your phone, activate it:
- On a third-party Apple device that they plan to track in the future, open the friend finder program.
- Next, click the button labeled “Add”.
- On your own smartphone, activate the AirDrop option.
- Then wait for the icon of another gadget to appear.
- Then select the line “Share indefinitely.”
The search for the device can be disabled at will or limited in time when required. For example, the duration of a function is limited to 24 or 48 hours. After the operation has been completed, during the time when the search option is activated, it will be possible to receive information about the person’s location. Instructions:
- In the application, they find an icon with the image of someone else’s smartphone and tap on it.
- When pressed, the map opens. On the map, a large green dot indicates the location of someone else's phone. However, a prerequisite for such tracking to work is geolocation activated on a third-party iPhone.
How to find an iPhone if it's dead or turned off
Is it possible to track a turned off iPhone in real time? Of course no. The only thing you can do is view where it was at the time it was turned off. If you just lost it, then this can be a great help with the search, provided that the disabled lost gadget was not found by someone else. If it's stolen, Find My iPhone will be useless.
ATTENTION. This feature can only be used on devices with iOS version 8 and older. In other words, if you have an iPhone 4, you will not be able to use the feature.
Family Sharing
, in addition to the “Find Friends” service, has developed a family version of the program called “Family Access”. The software is used only within the family circle.
The app allows users to share purchases, storage space, and subscriptions. In addition to the listed advantages, there is a special function for searching the location of a family member via a smartphone. Let's look at the instructions for setting up the program:
- The user on his own iPhone goes to “Settings”, then to the account. The “Family Sharing” option will appear there.
- At this point, click on the “Get Started” button and activate the transfer of geoposition.
- Next, they ask you to join the smartphone that needs surveillance. The procedure is carried out through “Messages”.
- On another iPhone they accept an invitation to join a family group.
Search iPhone by IMEI
A unique mobile phone identifier is not a guarantee that it will help in searches, but it is worth trying to get this number on specialized sites. In any case, this idea is not completely meaningless. If you know the IMEI of your Apple gadget (to do this, just dial the combination *#06#), then go to the sndeep.info portal, register your loss here by clicking on the “Add to the list of stolen/lost” button on the main page and enter information that you will be asked for.
Every day, the site’s database is updated with tens and hundreds of new numbers, and the number of daily checks is 20-30 thousand.
Another site specializing in iPhone searches, MissingPhones.org, is less popular among Russian users, but here a similar service is free.
"Beacons" from operators
The movements of the iOS phone can be detected through special services of the cellular operator. This information is provided to the smartphone owner legally, but you will have to pay for the service.
This does not require an Internet connection. The search is carried out by phone number. The phone holder will be able to see the location of the device. The operator also includes SMS notifications about the movements of the gadget. Let's consider the algorithm of actions:
- To activate the service, a service notification is sent in the form of a request. In this case, indicate the number of the subscriber who will be monitored.
- An SMS notification will be sent to the person’s iPhone asking for tracking permission. In response, they send a message with the word “Yes.”
- Now you can see where the other subscriber is at any time. For example, parents often use this service to track their child’s location.
Other options
There is also a lot of hacking software that makes it possible not only to track the movements of the iPhone owner, but also to gain access to all incoming and outgoing calls or messages. Many sites are full of advertisements for the sale of unique spyware for phones that can hack even the most secure device in the world - an iPhone.
However, such surveillance of an unfaithful spouse or negligent employee is not only illegal, but also jeopardizes the safety of both devices involved. No one is immune from the fact that the developers of these programs, through the malicious code written in them, will not gain access to the menu of each phone, and will not be able to hack passwords to steal personal information or finances. Having all the “ins and outs”, you can then blackmail users and demand ransom. Do you need it?
In addition, in order to install such software on an iPhone, you often have to jailbreak, which is certainly a godsend for scammers in the wrong hands. We strongly recommend that you do not use such programs.
It is clear that not everyone likes total control, which is why all applications operating in the legal field require permission to track. Although if you are absolutely honest with your life or business partners, then what should you be afraid of? Such services will be especially useful for constantly busy parents who cannot always accompany their child to school or activities.
Via messages
You can also track a person on an iPhone through messages. Let's look at the instructions:
- First, check whether the required option is activated or not. To do this, go to the “Settings” of the smartphone, then “Privacy”, then “Location Services”. In the geolocation section, enable the “Share geolocation” option.
- On the smartphone that needs to be tracked, open the menu with messages and click on the contact of the subscriber who will be tracked. In the window that opens, select the “Information” item. Finally, click the “Share location” button.
- On the tracking device, messages will display the message “You have started sharing your location with a user...”.
- Notifications about the location of the tracked iPhone will appear in messages from the phone that is conducting surveillance.
What actions would be harmful if you need to find a gadget when the Find My iPhone function is turned on?
If you decide to contact law enforcement about the loss, they may ask you to delete data from iCloud, citing the fact that in order to search for a gadget by IMEI, the smartphone must be activated. After erasing your data from the cloud service, Athos can indeed be activated without a password. Yes, the chances of finding the device will increase, but it is far from a fact that they will give it away - a police officer may well appropriate it without any consequences for himself.
You should also not respond to calls made to your contact phone number if you are asked to delete data from iCloud, posing as service center employees, support staff, or in another suspicious manner. Remember that only those who found/stole an iPhone can call you on this number, and they do not intend to return it.
"Locator" program
When friends share a location, the person can use the Find My app to see the location on a map. The program will display “People” at the bottom of the display. They click on it and select the name of the user whose location they want to track. After this, two notification options will appear:
- When a friend's location is available, an icon with the location will appear on the map.
- When the location function is turned off, a message will appear stating that the geolocation was not found under the contact of a friend or relative.
There are several ways to track a person with an iPhone. In some cases, you will need to have the geolocation option enabled.
