Affiliate Disclaimer When someone’s phone location is off, you cannot track them with standard methods. So, what to do then? Maybe, there’s something wrong with the phone’s location services on your child’s cell phone, or a vulnerable family member risks getting lost. At times, your rebel teen could turn off their location services on purpose. Or perhaps you need to serve legal papers or track down a parent for custody, but how to find their location when phone location is off? There are some tools.
The HeyLocate team has researched different ways how it is possible and which of tracking apps work without phone’s location services or activate them forcibly.
Note: HeyLocate does not advise illegal usage of location tracking tools. All our recommendations should be used legal and for solving real problems.
Top Pick Based on Our Research
Here are our top-3 services to track someone’s phone when their location service is off:
This service activates location services on the target’s phone, enabling you to track it. While the person will permit you to track their phone, they won’t know who made the request.
? mSpy
It is a famous monitoring app that uses an internet connection to upload information about the tracked phone on your dashboard.
? Eyezy
This app allows phone tracking using GPS, Wi-Fi, or even IP address. Thus, you have options depending on the mode the phone is.
How Can Someone Track My Phone If My Location Is Off?
The truth is that the phone can still be tracked even if all location services and GPS are turned off. That’s because your phone’s built-in location services include not only GPS, but also Wi-Fi, network triangulation, and Bluetooth beacons. Apps and websites often use these services to offer location-based services.
GPS (Global Positioning System) uses satellites to determine the precise location of a GPS-enabled device. GPS is usually accurate by a few meters and is, therefore, reliable for navigation. But it works only when the phone’s location services are on.
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Your device also has an IP address, a unique identifier assigned to every device when it connects to the internet. This IP address can be tracked to reveal the phone’s general location. While the IP address is not as accurate as GPS, it can be used when a device turns off location services.
There are more other methods someone may use to track your phone’s location. They include:
Cell Carrier Towers
Cell tower triangulation can determine a device’s location based on the signal strength and proximity to nearby cell towers. This method measures the strength and timing of the signals received by multiple cell towers. Nevertheless, this method works accurately if the phone’s location services are on. If the cell phone is turned off, it can only be tracked to the last location when the phone had connected to a network.
The average Joe lacks the knowledge and tools to use cell towers to track a phone’s location. Only law enforcement and private investigators, including accident investigators, possess the necessary skills and tools to use cell towers to triangulate a phone’s location.
Free Wi-Fi Networks
If your phone’s location services are turned off, but your Wi-Fi is on, it’s possible to track your phone using free Wi-Fi networks. Free Wi-Fi hotspots are everywhere across the US, including shopping malls and airports. When you connect to the free Wi-Fi, it’s owned by third-party companies that use Wi-Fi location tracking.
These companies ask you to agree to location tracking when you sign on. They can also use words like “location data” to get you to sign on. Once you sign on, they can track your location whenever you’re in the free Wi-Fi hotspot range.
Moreover, if your phone is ever near a router belonging to the company you initially signed on to, the company will automatically recognize the device and can track your location across different locations.
Spyware and Malware
Someone can use spyware or malware to track someone’s phone secretly. One method is phishing, where you will receive a text message or email with a link. Once you click the link, the spyware is downloaded to your device automatically.
According to the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG), in the second quarter of 2022, total phishing attacks in the US raised to 1,097,811 – it is a new record and the worst quarter for phishing that APWG has ever observed.
Spyware and malware collect information, including the device’s cellular network, Wi-Fi networks, and GPS coordinates. This information can track a phone in real-time even if location services are off. Some malware collects data such as text messages, browsing history, call logs, and other sensitive information.
If you suspect that someone is using spyware or malware to track your location, uninstall any suspicious apps or reset your phone to its factory settings. You can also report to the authorities for further protection.
Cell Site Simulators (StingRays)
Cell site simulators are also known as stingrays since they pose as legitimate cell towers, tricking phones within a certain radius into connecting to them rather than a tower.
Stingrays collect visitor location data and can accurately pinpoint the device’s location.
If you’re wondering can police track your phone if location is off, you should be worried about cell site simulators. Law enforcement has been linked to using cell-site simulators to pinpoint mobile phones locations. They can also use stingrays to log IMSI (unique mobile phone identifying numbers) within a given area.
Third-Party Apps and Online Services
Third-party apps and online services obtain location data with the user’s consent. This is visually stipulated in the app’s terms of service. These apps and online services are created for parental controls and legal use, although one can use them as they’d like.
You can use these apps to monitor a child’s cell phone activity. They can track the exact location of a child using GPS data and other built-in location services to transmit location data. The app must be compatible with the phone’s operating system to transmit data, as seen in the next section.
Best Ways To Track Someone When Location is Off
Honestly to say, we have already known these services for tracking location, but never knew that they can do it with phone location off. So, let’s have a look at new options for tracking.
mSpy
mSpy allows parents to keep track of kids online and offline. This app monitoring software can view the activities of a device through the mSpy dashboard on a computer or smartphone. It can monitor locations, text messages, call information, etc.
How It Tracks Location:
- GPS systems;
- Wi-Fi connections.
User Experience:
mSpy monitoring software must be installed on the target device, such as a cell phone, tablet, or computer. This app will access the device’s GPS data and provide the user’s real-time location even if the device is locked and the location services are turned off.
Once I installed mSpy on the target device, I accessed its location tracking feature to see the live location of the device or its location history if the location services were turned off. mSpy also had the option of notifying me when the device was in a specific location if I chose to get notifications for the same.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.9 | 5 | 4.8 | 5 |
Pros:
- can track location to within 65ft;
- collects phone’s location information;
- only needs an internet connection to transmit location;
- compatible with iPhones and Android devices.
Cons:
- can drain phone’s battery power;
- tracks only one phone with a single subscription.
Scannero.io
Scannero.io is focused on location tracking, as it can request locating tracking that can activate location services on the target phone.
How It Tracks Location:
Message with a geolocation link.
User Experience:
Scannero works by sending a message to the target phone. It has a tracking link that will automatically track the phone’s location once the user clicks it. Hence, you do not need to install an app or GPS tracker on the target device.
After entering number on the scannero.io page, I was redirected to create an account. The trial costs $0.89, and after the payment I could create a custom message.
When the target phone received the message, and the person clicked on the link, Scannero requested to activate their location. If a person agrees, then you can get their location on Scannero dashboard.
Scannero.io does not provide a live location and can’t track someone’s automatically, it tracks only a current one-time location. Nevertheless, it’s anonymous. You can read the full Scannero review on the HeyLocate blog.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 5 |
Pros:
- does not need to be installed on the target’s device;
- relies on the phone’s number;
- user consent to location tracking, making it legal and ethical;
- does not have dubious permission requests.
Cons:
- will only work if the target clicks on the tracking link;
- does not pinpoint the exact location of the tracked device.
Locationtracker.mobi
This location tracker activates the location services on the target’s device. It can use any messaging app to send a persuasive message to the person. Be it WhatsApp, Instagram, or Facebook, you can send an image to the person with a location-tracking link.
How It Tracks Location:
- location tracking link using personalized message;
- IP address;
- Wi-Fi networks.
User Experience:
LocationTracker.mobi is effortless to track a person’s location when they have turned off location services on their phone. I did not need to install an app on the Android device I wanted to track.
I already had an account there, so I input the number on LocationTracker.mobi dashboard, which allowed me to create a custom message to send to the user.
The link allowed the phone to be tracked, since it requested that the location services be turned on. After which, the link communicates the phone’s location, and I saw it on the LocationTracker.mobi platform.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 5 |
Pros:
- allows sending unlimited geolocation requests;
- it’s anonymous;
- it can track the device’s location using IP address or nearby Wi-Fi networks;
- compatible with all mobile devices and cell carriers.
Cons:
- one link monitors only one device;
- no trial, only $39.99 monthly subscription;
- cannot track location when the device is in airplane mode.
GEOFinder.mobi
GEOFinder.mobi can track a phone by phone number instead of using GPS or cell service. You can use it to find a lost phone anywhere, since it works on all mobile devices and cellular services.
How It Tracks Location:
Location tracking link using a text message.
User Experience:
GEOFinder.mobi can track someone’s location using an image anonymously. I already had an account, but here is also a cheap GEOFinder trial. A monthly subscription costs $39.99.
GEOFinder.mobi then took me through tracking someone using an image. I uploaded the image, which it used to generate the tracking link.
After getting the link, I sent it to the person I intended to track and waited for them to click on the link. GEOFinder indicated the message had been opened. I could view the person’s GPS location on Google Maps.
During my experimenting with it, this service showed me the device’s general location without downloading an app on the target device. You can read the full GEOFinder review in HeyLocate blog.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 5 |
Pros:
- generates link using an image;
- $1 trial can track anyone for 48 hours;
- you can edit the pre-written message;
- can track someone using Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp.
Cons:
- only one tracking feature is available.
Eyezy
Eyezy is a parental control application that can track a phone’s activity. It can track the real-time location of the monitored device, among other features.
How It Tracks Location:
- GPS services;
- phone’s IP address;
- Wi-Fi services.
User Experience:
I installed Eyezy on the mobile device I intended to track. I also enabled internet data, allowing the device to transmit data when the Wi-Fi network was unavailable.
This app could show the phone’s location with the GPS turned on or off. This is because it could show the device’s location when connected to Wi-Fi.
To use Eyezy, I had to create an account. I also had access to a free trial, but a monthly subscription costs $47.99. Eyezy’s Pinpoint feature showed me all the places the target had visited on Google Maps.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 5 |
Pros:
- it’s not visible on the monitored device;
- can track location using the phone’s Wi-Fi signals;
- works on iPhones and Android devices;
- can show location history;
- allows setting geofencing areas.
Cons:
- may not sync data immediately;
- requires iOS credentials on non-jailbroken iPhones.
uMobix
uMobix is designed as a parental control tool to protect kids from the dangers of the web. It can monitor everything, including social media apps on iPhones without jailbreaking the device.
How It Tracks Location:
Internet connection.
User Experience:
uMobix was fast and accurate. The service costs $49.99 per month, $27.99/mo paid quarterly, or $11.99/mo paid annually. uMobix gave me a registration code which helped me to download the app on the target device.
I accessed uMobix on the online dashboard and accessed the location feature to view the device’s location. uMobix could track the device with the location turned off using the phone’s internet connectivity. It showed the phone’s location history, and I could view it on a map.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
Pros:
- showcases accurate location results;
- sets up without any difficulties;
- can track location with or without GPS;
- stores a record of the locations the device has been.
Cons:
- map may not show specific area names;
- sometimes fails to update the address section.
Hovervatch
Hovervatch is an ideal monitoring tool for many as it offers a wide range of tracking features, including location.
How It Tracks Location:
- GPS system;
- Wi-Fi signals.
User Experience:
Hovervatch software can gather data about a cell phone. After creating an account, I downloaded the app on the target device. I used its access to monitor the phone on the online dashboard. Payment for Hovervatch varies from $24.99 for personal use to $499.95 for business purposes.
Hovervatch uses Wi-Fi signals close to the device to get the phone’s location history and see the device’s location in real-time. Hovervatch can also track the device’s location using cell phone towers. It can transmit location using signals from the nearest cell tower.
During my test with Hovervatch, I could set the frequency with which I could get location updates.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 5 |
Pros:
- highly efficient when GPS and Wi-Fi are off;
- can show the actual location of the device;
- does not drain battery power when using Wi-Fi signals;
- shows frequently visited locations using red dots.
Cons:
- it lacks a geofencing feature;
- tracking location using Wi-Fi signals is not as accurate as with GPS.
Cocospy
Cocospy can track phones in stealth mode. You can install it remotely on iPhones with the user’s iCloud credentials. Its feature set works without jailbreaking the phone.
How It Tracks Location:
- GPS;
- Wi-Fi signals.
User Experience:
Cocospy works by fetching information from the target device. As such, it can always show you the device’s location. Even when GPS is turned off, it will use Wi-Fi connectivity to show the cellphone’s location.
I scanned a QR code to install Cocospy on the user’s Android device. Installation was straightforward, and soon, I could see the logged-in data on my account. The location tracking was accurate when GPS was on, but a little off when location services were off on the device.
This app did not rely on cellphone towers to transmit the device’s location. It relied on Wi-Fi signals, making it a little hard to pinpoint the exact location.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 5 |
Pros:
- shows the recent location with a timestamp;
- you can see the location on Google Maps;
- has geofencing features and alerts;
- the app is only 2MB on Android; it doesn’t leave a trace.
Cons:
- does not sync data automatically;
- some features are under development.
Spyic
Spyic is a popular monitoring app for iOS and Android devices. It can track features such as text messages, call logs, and browser history.
How It Tracks Location:
- GPS systems;
- Wi-Fi signals;
- SIM tracker.
User Experience:
I needed a few minutes with the phone on Android to install the Spyic app. However, I needed to verify the user’s iCloud credentials on iPhone. I also created an account and used free access for this review. A monthly subscription costs $49.99.
The Spyic location tracking works in two ways. One, I could find the live location of the device using GPS. This feature would help find a lost phone when it’s turned off. In addition, the app could also display the location history to find a phone’s last known location.
If the phone’s internet is turned off, Spyic could also detect the device’s location using the SIM tracker feature. It could tell me when the SIM card was changed, which may prove helpful when finding a stolen phone.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 5 |
Pros:
- can show present and past GPS and Wi-Fi locations;
- lets the phone be tracked when the data connection is off;
- combines location data for accuracy;
- responsive customer support.
Cons:
- does not have a geofencing feature;
- the app can be seen once installed.
FlexiSpy
FlexiSpy monitoring software can track mobile phones using features like call history tracking, locations, apps, and other features.
How It Tracks Location:
- GPS system;
- Wi-Fi signals;
- cellular networks.
User Experience:
FlexiSpy phone tracker needs physical access to the Android or iOS device. Once you pay either $29.95/mo, $119 paid quarterly, or $179 per year, you can start tracking the phone’s features.
This phone tracking tool allowed me to see the device’s location using GPS continuously. I could also choose on-demand location tracking by getting location updates at a particular time to prevent instances where the phone’s battery loses power.
Moreover, FlexiSpy showed the historical GPS on a map, and I could export this location data. I liked that FlexiSpy can use Wi-Fi and cellular networks to transmit the location, date, and time when the phone is connected to those networks. Thus, tracking the phone’s location is still possible if the user decides to disable GPS.
| Quickness | Simplicity | Effectiveness | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 5 |
Pros:
- shows the phone’s estimated location when GPS is off;
- can record all locations where the phone has been;
- you can turn GPS on and off;
- allows downloading of the location history.
Cons:
- no free plan;
- requires rooting or jailbreaking the monitored device.
Conclusion
Tracking someone when their phone’s location is off can be a hit-or-miss experience. However, with the right tools, you can go from wondering about someone’s location to knowing where they are even when their location services are turned off.
mSpy is the go-to app that can locate any phone using Wi-Fi signals. As long as the phone connects to the internet, it will always transmit the phone’s location data. Eyezy app can also track the phone using its IP address.
If you can’t access the phone and want to know the person’s location, Scannero.io is a great choice. With a simple text message, you can activate the phone’s location services and subsequently learn its location.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
You can track a cell phone with just a number using services such as Scannero, LocationTracker.mobi, and GEOFinder.
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