How To See Someone’s Location On iPhone [2024]

The iPhone has unique location services and features for location sharing. Besides, one can use dedicated apps and services to see someone’s location on iPhone.

To this end, have you ever been curious about where your friends are at a specific moment? Wondering if your teenage child is telling the truth about where they are? Or tired of being played by a cheating boyfriend or girlfriend? Never fear. You can now track someone’s location on your iPhone, even without them knowing!

In this article, we will review some of the most valuable and practical iPhone features and tools that allow you to conveniently track someone’s location on iPhone.

Table of Top-8 Online Tools to Track a Phone Location

We have reviewed many different services and here is a summary of some.

We took some resources from the top reviews of the best, and almost all of them were awful. So trust only verified sources of information or blogs of specialized services related to telecommunications. For example, like our HeyLocate blog.

How To See Someone’s Location on Find My iPhone

“Find My” is an app developed by Apple Inc. for iOS and macOS devices. It allows users to track the location of each other. However, it must be activated to make the Find my iPhone app play its part. Your friends need to accept the invitation on their iPhones.

Here’s how to go about it:

1. Open Find my iPhone on your iPhone, iPad, or MacBook.
2. Tap the “People tab” at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap the “Start Sharing Location” icon at the bottom of your screen.
4. Enter the recipient’s iCloud email address or phone number from your contact list, and tap “Send”.
5. Your friend will receive a message with a link to enable Find my iPhone on their phone. Tap “Accept” to allow it access to your location information. Once you have accepted the person’s invitation, you can view their location on Find my iPhone as many times as you want, as long as they have locations turned on.

You can also tap “Notifications” to turn notifications on when they leave, arrive, or are not at a specific location.

How To See Someone’s Location on iPhone Messages

Apple presents an imessaging service that allows you to exchange messages between iPhone and iPad users. One of the strong features of this app is that it will enable users to share the locations of other users. But this functionality is not something Apple offers by default, so to use it, you will have to enable a certain option for your iPhone messages app to show your location whenever someone wants to see it.

Steps to allow and see someone’s location on an iPhone message:

1. From the home screen of your iPhone, select messages and a certain conversation where you intend to show your location or select a group conversation.
2. Go to the top portrait icon or the name at the top of the screen and select “Start Sharing Location”.
3. Once you have done this, you will see various options appear on your iPhone (Allow once, Allow while using an app or Don’t allow). Pick the one that corresponds to your choice.

Note: The other person will have to accept the sharing to access your location. Once they have accepted this option, you will be able to see their location at any time, and they will be able to see yours. Bear in mind that you can deactivate the sharing at any time.

Here are steps to seeing someone’s location on iPhone messages:

1. Open the message thread where the location was shared.
2. Tap on the name of the person who shared the location with you.
3. Tap on their location to view it on a map.

Track iPhone Location by Phone Number: Proven Services

There are many third-party apps and services that are compatible with iPhone to track someone’s location. We tried enough to see the good and bad ones, so here are our reviews of the best trackers and some others for comparison.

1. GEOfinder.mobi

GEOfinder.mobi is a web service operated and owned by ERSTEN GROUP LTD. It was registered in the United Kingdom for the sole purpose of tracking a phone location by phone number. With their unique technology and their highly trained staff, they have been providing the best in this field.

Compatibility:

All types of phones and desktop computers.

Features:

• unlimited lookups;
• no installation is required;
• receive detailed location on the map;
• you’re welcome to adjust the message for the recipient as you wish.

User Experience:

The service is relatively simple to use. There is no need to install anything or download a separate app, which is great for people who are not very tech-savvy.

When the target phone number is entered, GEOfinder shows a form for a text message with a link that will be sent to request the location. I could customize the message to be sure that the target person clicks on the link. Once the user did this, the location of their phone was sent to my GEOfinder account instantly.

Try GEOfinder.mobi

2. Scannero

Scannero phone tracker is a service owned by AVIWELL LIMITED in Cyprus. It works by sending a location request via text and you’ll receive the phone’s exact location on a map. Scannero can track iPhones and Androids. It also offers reverse phone lookup, and anonymous voice and text messaging. You can use this platform to find a person’s current location, their name, and their phone carrier.

Compatibility:

Android, iOS, PC.

Features:

• tracks location by phone number;
• allows dashboard mapping to see a phone’s exact position;
• reverse phone lookup;
• private and anonymous location tracking.

User Experience:

Setting up Scannero was straightforward since I did not install an application on the target iPhone. After sending a text message with a location tracking request, I waited for the phone’s location. It did not take long before Scannero showed me the tracked geolocation. Scannero was cost-effective since it only cost $0.89 to try the service for 24 hours. I liked that my anonymous experience proved to be a trustworthy service for finding an iPhone anywhere on the planet.

Try Scannero.io

3. Detectico

Detectico is a phone tracker that can find the location of any phone worldwide. You don’t need to install an app and it supports all types of phones and carriers. Detectico uses advanced GPS technology to receive a phone’s exact address. This service also offers features like finding out the owner of a phone number and sending an anonymous voice message to a phone.

Features:

• precise geolocation tracking;
• operates through text messages for wide compatibility;
• simple location tracking process;
• secure user and target data.

Compatibility:

iOS, Android, PC.

User Experience:

I used Detectico to find a loved one’s location. I found the process straightforward. I sent a text message and received a quick response with a GPS point on a map. I could zoom in on the map to see the precise phone’s location. The absence of installation was convenient since I could track someone anywhere even on abroad trips. I liked using its diverse features like reverse phone lookup to discover an unknown caller’s identity. Overall, Detectico was one of the best tools for finding someone’s location on iPhone.

Try Detectico

4. OverWatch

OverWatch is another private service that offers accurate and fast results to track iPhone location by phone number. It was founded in 2002 by OverWatch. The company provides employee monitoring and parental control solutions for customers worldwide.

It also brings its customers global support and the highest levels of quality, reliability, and technology to its products, which help them stand out among the competitors.

Compatibility: 

iOS and Android.

Features:

• GPS tracking;
• keylogger and other features that work with all devices, including searching through the target’s photos and videos;
• customer support is available and swift.

User Experience:

OverWatch has a very accessible, easy-to-use interface that makes it easy for me to get the results that I need. The tool is extremely user-friendly, and with the multiple features that the service provides. It is an excellent choice for parents and individuals with devices they do not have easy access to and need to keep tabs on, or want to track iPhone location by phone number.

Try OverWatch

5. LocationTracker.mobi

The Service is operated and owned by ERSTEN GROUP LTD, registered in the United Kingdom. With Location Tracker, you can track the position of a phone number on a map. This website offers precise and accurate results for anyone who wants to know how to track iPhone location by phone number.

Compatibility:

Compatible with any operating system and all phone models.

Features:

• IP Logger;
• GPS Tracker;
• VPN Checker;
• Cell Phone Carrier Lookup.

User Experience:

The great thing is that I didn’t need to install the app. After registration, I’ve just downloaded the image that allows the service to generate a unique link. Then I could copy the link and send it via any messenger – I chose Facebook.

After the person followed the link, I got their location. There are no delays and hiccups for the detailed reports compared with many other trackers.

Try Locationtracker.mobi

6. Cocospy

Cocospy is one of the top-rated, trusted, cutting-edge parental control and monitoring tools. It was created by an experienced team of IT strategists, developers, researchers, designers, and marketers.

The target of this service is to help parents to track the location and everything their kids are doing on the web or mobile phones. Cocospy was built with a simple interface that makes viewing and managing the target phone easy and effortless.

The service can be used by businesses, schools, parents, couples, or anyone who wants to monitor their own or others’ mobile phones.

Compatibility:

You can track any device from a PC or a mobile phone.

Features:

• parental control, tracking, and remote surveillance;
• works remotely and 100% discreetly;
• track locations, messages, calls, and apps;
• customer support.

User Experience:

Cocospy is easy to use. You will need to create an account and subscribe to monitor the target phone. The app also has to be installed on the target phone. Choose Android or iOS as the target platform. Once you launch the app on the target phone, you can see all the target’s activities history.

You also have the option to control which apps can be used (among other multiple features). Thus, the service is great for parents that want to keep an eye on their children. But of course, you can use Cocospy for just tracking location if you are ready to install it on the target device.

Try Cocospy

How to Have Someone’s Location on iPhone Without Them Knowing

To see someone’s location with iPhone without them knowing, use special trackers that work in hidden mode and can hardly be identified on the target phone. Usually, such apps are created for parental control.

1. Phonsee

Phonsee is a newly launched parental control app for family safety. This monitoring tool allows you to control and monitor your children’s phone activities remotely. The app features a web-based control panel to access synced data. Phonsee has comprehensive features from text and call monitoring to GPS tracking, geofencing, photo and video monitoring, and keylogging.

Compatibility:

Android, iOS.

Features:

• remote phone monitoring from an online control panel;
• invisible tracking through the stealth mode;
• real-time tracking of calls, text messages, and location;
• allocates safe and danger zones through geofencing;
• social media and internet monitoring.

User Experience:

I found Phonsee to be a reliable parental control app since it provided me with details about my target’s phone activities online. It showed me the phone’s location in real-time and I could also get alerts when my child left the safe zones. Phonsee monitored other phone’s features such as the text messages, contacts, call logs, and social media activities. I could also see the browser history which made it a good option for monitoring a child’s digital activities.

Try Phonsee

2. uMobix

This tool is created and owned by ERSTEN GROUP LTD in the United Kingdom. The company is dedicated to making apps for parental control. The uMobix app is designed to make it easy for parents who have the desire and need to control what kids do with their mobile phones.

Compatibility:

Works on all Android, iPhones, and iPads.

Features:

• remotely track the location of your loved ones on your iPhone without them knowing – via iCloud credentials;
• monitor 30+ popular apps and social media platforms;
• capture photos and record audio remotely from the target’s device.

User Experience:

The uMobix dashboard is simple enough to understand. It is the first thing you see when you complete the setup and login process. The dashboard has a menu bar on top with all the options and tabs to navigate through the website.

You can easily see the target device’s internet activity, such as browser, social media apps, and location. It also shows the app’s activities and the time that your kid spends on the phone.

Overall user experience is really smooth and easy. It is more suitable for parents who want to monitor their kids’ activities and location.

Try uMobix

3. EyeZy

EyeZy is developed by Fortunex Limited, registered in Nicosia, Cyprus. The service helps you track someone’s location on iPhone without them knowing. The mission of the tracker is to deliver the best parental control solution. With it, you can anonymously control who your kids talk to and what they do.

Compatibility:

All Android phones, iPhones, and iPads.

Features:

• monitor the target device’s internet activity in real-time;
• accurate GPS tracking and Wi-Fi monitoring;
• keystroke and screen recording;
• phone analyzer.

User Experience:

The installation process is easy and takes only a few minutes. You need one-time access to their phone and iCloud credentials. Then the app will run in the background, so the target won’t find out about being spied on.

However, you will have to open the app after the installation to allow permits and link the device to your eyeZy account.

Overall user experience is really smooth and easy. They have a 14 days trial period with a guaranteed money return if the user experiences technical issues. So if you are looking for how to track someone’s location on iPhone, this app can be helpful.

Try EyeZy

How to Track Someone on iPhone Maps

Apple Maps have made it easy to track someone on iPhone. All you need to do is to share your location with someone else, and the map will show their location in real-time. Here are the steps on how to track someone’s location on iPhone.

1. Launch the Apple Maps app.
2. Scroll the handle from the bottom of the screen and tap the “Share My Location” tab.
3. You will be prompted to choose the contact you wish to share your location with.

The location can be shared via a text message, email, or using an app such as WhatsApp and Instagram. Once you’ve made your choice, tap the “Send” button to send your location information.

How To See Someone’s Location History On iPhone

If you want to know where someone has been in the past or what their recent movements are, below is an instruction on how to see someone’s location history on iPhone.

Step 1: Open “Settings” in the main menu of your phone.

Step 2: Scroll down, and tap on “Privacy and security”.

Step 3: Select “System Services” at the top, turn the slider to the “On” position and then tap on it again to open up your location services settings.

Step 4: Select “Significant Locations”. This is where you will be able to view someone’s location history.

Step 5: A list of locations that the phone has been at will pop up on your screen. To view each of the locations in greater detail, tap on it.

Note: You might need access through a password, face ID, or fingerprint to see someone’s location history.

Best free phone tracking app for iPhone

As technology improves, the field of phone tracking has been moving quickly to keep up. There are many quality options out there for people who want to track their loved ones without paying a dime. Here are some free phone tracking apps that we tried:

1. FollowMee GPS Tracker – Track & Locate Mobile Devices

Track & Locate Mobile Devices is a well-known company that develops high-quality cell phone tracker apps. It has over 4.5M+ downloads in its app portfolio and is rated 5 stars by users. Their FollowMee GPS Tracker app is easy to use and provides a variety of features that make it highly useful for tracking your family members or lost phones. The app gives real-time locations with latitudes and longitude points.

Features:

• location monitor;
• tracking multiple devices;
• SOS panic button;
• no internet contingency;
• data privacy.

Compatibility:

Any iOS device and any Android device.

User Experience:

The app was easy to download, however, to use it, you must register an account, which I had to do. But you need the target user to download and install the app too. So, that made it a little inconvenient. Nevertheless, the app is still a good option for family members or friends to track each other’s location and keep an eye on loved ones.

FollowMee can also track multiple devices and works on the website platform. The app gives real-time updates of the device’s location. It does not contain any annoying ads, which is always an advantage. So if you are looking for how to find someone’s location on an iPhone, without paying a dime, this is the app for you.

Try FollowMee GPS Tracker

2. Phone Tracker By Number – Family Locator

The Phone Tracker by Number app is developed by Family Locator, that has been active since 2013. The developers have over 50M downloads in their portfolio. And this is their most popular app, rated 4.6 stars. The app is best for families and those who want to track a phone without paying a dime.

Features:

• GPS feature that provides the users with real-time tracking of the phone in their area;
• it supports multilanguage to make it accessible to almost all users;
• ability to track over 10 phones at once.

Compatibility:

Any Android device and iOS device.

User Experience:

The app was easy to download and use. The user interface was straightforward. However, it does come with advertisements that pop-up while using the app, which make it a little frustrating.

When I tried to track a random phone, it requested an invitation code, which I did not have. This makes it unhelpful if you can’t get the code. So, this is suitable only for family members to track the location of their beloved ones.

Try Phone Tracker By Number

3. Share GPS location – Glympse, Inc

Glympse is a popular free phone tracker app that is suitable for family, friends, or co-workers that are looking for ways how to track someone’s location on iPhone.

This mobile tracker is developed by Glympse, Inc, a company that is known for producing high-quality apps and providing outstanding services. They were awarded a Webby Award Winner in 201 and have over 5M+ downloads in total, and their app rate is 4.1 stars.

Features:

• GPS tracking location and reporting feature gives users real-time updates of the phone in the area;
• you can find live driving directions on your map without having to enter any address or create an account;
• Versatile iPhone tracking app can be used in many different situations, like speed tracking.

Compatibility:

Any Android phone, iPhone, and iPad.

User Experience:

The app was easy to download and install. I tried creating an account, and it did not go well. I was asked to input my country code number and phone number to receive a verification code, but I never received one.

Another option was to sign in as a guest and then request or share a location. I had to input the username of the person I wanted to share my location with, but still failed to get the location. This was a little disappointing when it is going about such a popular app.

Try GPS location Glympse

How to find someone’s location on iPhone using Apple Family Sharing

If you’re just curious about the whereabouts of your family members, the Apple Family Sharing service can help you locate them. You’ll need to set up the sharing option on your device, and then you can use Find My to check on their location information.

However, this works for a family member who uses an iPhone and is within a family group. Here are steps to help you how to find someone’s location on iPhone using Apple Family Sharing.

Step 1: First, open the settings app on the iPhone, then tap “iCloud”.

Step 2: Next, tap the “Find My” option.

Step 3: Tap your name under the Family section.

Step 4: Finally, tap “Share My Location”.

How to see someone’s shared location on iPhone

Because of safety concerns, it is a good idea to share your location with friends in a limited capacity. Your Apple iPhone allows you to share your location with others by either (1) texting your location to a friend or (2) sharing your location with friends through an Apple iPhone apps, or a third-party app.

Sharing your location is especially useful when traveling – you can notify your family or friends of your location and ensure you are safe.

How to see the location shared with you through Find My

If someone shares their location with you through Find My, the notification will pop up on your Apple iPhone. One of the ways to see this notification is by accessing the Notification Center of your iPhone. You can do so by swiping down from the top of your iPhone’s screen and tapping on the Notifications tab. Alternatively, you can access the notification on your Find My app by tapping on the “People” tab.

When you see the notification and click on it, you will be able to see a message that says: “This person shares the location with you”. To view this person’s location, tap on their name. When you do so, you should be able to see the location they shared with you.

Step 1: Open the Find my Friends app.

Step 2: Go to the notification tab, which will show you the person who shared their location with you.

Step 3: Tap on the name.

Step 4: You should be able to see a map location of this person, the distance along with the distance between this person and your location.

How to see the location shared with you through Messages

If someone you know sends you their location via Messages, the Live-location feature will appear right at the top of your conversation. Any live location that is shared with you will come in a blue bubble.

To check if someone shared their location with you, go to your Messages App.

Step 1: Open the message thread where the location was shared.

Step 2: Tap on the name of the person who shared the location with you.

Step 3: Tap on their location to view it on a map.

How to see the location shared with you through Apple Maps

Apple maps can also be used to see your friend’s locations. This is after a friend has shared their location with you through their Apple maps app to either a message text, WhatsApp, or email. When you receive the link, it will come with an Apple map – with the user’s name and a link to the location. Tap on that link. After tapping on the location, it will automatically come up on the map.

Here are steps on how to see it:

Step 1: Launch the Mail app and pull up the Mail inbox. Depending on how many messages you have, you may need to scroll down to find the email with the location attachment.

Step 2: Tap on the email that contains the location link. It should open on an Apple map.

Step 3: You should see a location pin on your map that corresponds with the email. You should also see the coordinates and a direction to the location.

CONCLUSION

Sharing your location is a great way to keep track of where your friends and family members are and a helpful tool for navigation. The three top-mentioned tools are best for tracking a Phone location: Scannero, GEOfinder.mobi and Detectico. Though they are paid services, they still offer much more than the free apps could. They also track iPhone location by phone number without notifying the user being tracked – unlike Apple tools that require users to give consent and allow sharing in advance.

The Apple tools are useful, safe, and provide a decent solution for anyone looking for how to find someone’s location on iPhone. Yet, to feel secure, it is often better to use paid services, which provide stronger protection and control and guarantee users anonymity.