How to Track a Cell Phone Location for Free

Gone are the days when people relied on tech experts to track a phone. These days, anyone can do that, provided they have a device with a good internet connection. You need the right method and the knowledge of how to use them.

This post contains five ways to track a cell phone's location for free. It can provide valuable benefits such as finding a misplaced or stolen phone and ensuring the safety of loved ones. Read on to find out more!

Things to Consider before Tracking a Phone

It's important to use location tracking services responsibly and ethically.

Consent & Privacy: It's crucial to have the phone owner's consent before tracking. Unauthorized tracking is illegal and unethical. Although parents can track their children's phones to ensure their safety, it will be a better practice to enlighten them about the tracking process.

Accuracy: The accuracy of the location tracking depends on the method used. GPS-based methods are generally more accurate than those based on cellular network data or Wi-Fi signals. A location tracker like AirDroid Family Locator, which deploys all location tracking technologies, will be more accurate.

Security Risks: The tracking app or service should be secure to prevent unauthorized access to location data. Opt for trustworthy and dependable applications or services that precede data privacy and possess transparent privacy policies. This strategy will safeguard your data as well as the data of the individual being monitored.

Battery & Data Usage: Location tracker apps may use a considerable amount of data, which could lead to additional charges depending on the user's data plan. It may also consume more battery power, so remind your kids to fully charge their mobile devices before hanging out.

Method 1. Built-in Tracking Features

Both Android and iOS devices offer built-in tracking features, which make it easy to locate, ring, or wipe your device. Ensure that these features are enabled on your phone before it gets lost or stolen.

1Google Find My Device (Android)

Find My Device is designed for locating lost phones and can track location with pinpoint accuracy. It works if the target Android device has logged into a Google account and enabled its Location permission. Provided the phone is online, you can access its Google account; this feature allows you to track it free of charge.

Here are the steps:

1. You can directly visit the website of Find My Device in a browser: www.google.com/android/find.
2. If the browser didn't log into the Google account of the target phone, enter the email and click Next. For target phones with multiple user profiles, please sign in with a Google Account associated with the main or personal profile.

   

3. Now, you will see the Find My Device platform with a map on the right. Suppose there is more than one device connected to the account; choose the phone you need to track.

   

4. As far as their phone is on and has Wi-Fi or mobile data, you will see where they are.

   

This app tracks phones via GPS, and you can play a sound on the phone for nearby detection or lock it remotely. You can even use it to erase all the content on the device.

2Samsung SmartThings Find

Samsung SmartThings Find is a feature developed by Samsung Electronics that helps you locate and manage your Samsung Galaxy devices, such as smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and earbuds. It is similar to Find My Device. With SmartThings Find, you can easily locate lost or misplaced devices. To track a Samsung phone using Samsung SmartThings Find, follow these steps:

1. Ensure that the Samsung phone you want to track has the SmartThings Find feature enabled. You can check this by going to Settings > Biometrics and Security > Find My Mobile, and then enable SmartThings Find.

   

2. Open a browser and navigate to the website findmymobile.samsung.com. Sign in with the Samsung account associated with the phone you want to track.

   

3. Select the phone from the menu on the left side of the screen. If the phone is located, it's shown with a dashboard on the map, displaying its status and the functions of remote controls. You can also click track location to get updated lication every 15 mins.

   

4. You can also use additional features like "Ring" to make the phone ring loudly, even if it's on silent mode, or "Notify when found" to receive a notification when the phone is detected.

Please note that for SmartThings Find to work, the phone must have an active internet connection, location services enabled, and be within a Wi-Fi or cellular network range.

3Apple Find My

The Find My feature on iPhone is a built-in app that helps you locate your device if it's lost or stolen. This feature makes the device difficult to steal. It can also be used to track an iPhone's location for free if the feature is enabled. You may go to "Settings," and tap on your name at the top, then select "Find My" to have a check.

If you know the iCloud account and its password logged on the target iPhone, you can track its location with the below steps. Otherwise, you can share the target iPhone location with you in Find My app if you can access it. Please note that the Fine My app is called Find My Friends on iOS 9 to iOS 12.

Track iPhone Location with Find My

To use Find My to track your lost phone, follow these steps:

1. Open a web browser on any device and go to the iCloud website (www.icloud.com/find). You can also use Find My app
2. Sign in to the iCloud account with the Apple ID and password. Ensure you use the same Apple ID associated with the target phone.

   

3. Click the "Find iPhone" icon once logged in. iCloud will attempt to locate your lost iPhone. If successful, it will display the location on a map.

   

4. You can use the options provided to play a sound on your iPhone, put it in Lost Mode, or erase its data remotely. Choose the appropriate action based on your situation.

In addition to locating your device, Find My also allows you to lock your iPhone remotely, play a sound to help locate it, display a message on the lock screen, and even erase all your data to protect your personal information. It's a useful tool to ensure the safety and security of your iPhone.

Show Location in Find My

1. Open the app on the target iPhone and tap "Start Sharing Location" from the bottom. Tap the plus icon if the target phone shares its location with others.

   

2. Select the plus sign to add you to the contact. Your information should include the email of your Apple ID.
3. Tap your email in your profile. Then Tap "send" and choose "Share Indefinitely."

   

4. Now, you can open the Find My app on yours to see the location of the target iPhone.

Method 2. Third-party Mobile Location Tracker Apps

1AirDroid Family Locator (Android)

AirDroid Family Locator holds the topmost position among the list of best location tracker apps. We suggest you communicate with your kid before using it. However, if you can't get permission from your kid, the program is still an excellent choice. Since you can choose to keep it stealthy.

It offers a 3-day free trial for new users and up to 14 free days (seven days more than other phone trackers) for a yearly license, and its subscription plan is also very cost-effective.

Besides, it has many features to ensure your kids' online safety. You can sync app notifications (including text messages) and detect inappropriate content to monitor cyberbullying. For emergency cases, the Screen Mirror feature can even help you view the live screen of your kid's phone. You can also schedule the screnn time of the whole device or specific apps.

The app is easy to use; here is how:

Step 1. Download the accessible version of the app on your device. Install it and create your account.

Step 2. Download and install the AirDroid Kids on your kid's phone. Enter the pairing code to link their phone to yours and set up the necessary settings

Step 3. Tap the "Location icon" at the bottom middle of the screen, and you will see the real-time location of your kid's Android phone.

Step 4. You can also tap the geofences icon to set safe zones and receive alerts of some specific places.

Step 5. If you want to watch and hear what is happening around your child, tap the Remote Camera under remote operations.

2Life360 (iPhone & Android)

Life360 app gives live locations and has interactive maps of cities and neighborhoods. It saves top and frequently visited places and has cloud storage for saving locations. You can also see the ongoing timelines of previous locations. It allows tracking, locating, and communicating with others. Other features of the app include Family Safety Network. It allows easy coordination of family get-togethers and helps them stay in touch with each other.

It will be free if you only need to use the location-sharing service. You must upgrade to a premium plan with $4.99 monthly for more than two geofences or a two-day location history.

Steps to track a location with Life360:

1. Download the app from Goolge Play or App Store. And then create an account to get started.

   

2. Tap "create a new circle" and enter a name as your Circle name.

   

3. Now, you will see an invite code on the screen.

   

4. Enable the two permissions to enjoy the full features.

   

5. Install the app on the target phone and register another account.
6. Enter your invite code and tap Join to confirm.

   

7. Now, you can see the target phone's location.

   

Method 3. Google Maps Location Sharing

Google Maps is built initially as a navigator for directions while driving or exploring new places. Its location tracking is real-time and precise due to GPS. It allows tracking more than one device as far as location share is in place.

To use Google Maps to track phone location, please follow the below steps:

1. Open the app on the target cell phone and ensure it has signed into a Google account.
2. Tap the Google profile option at the top right side.

   

3. Select "Location sharing" from the menu.

   

4. Tap "New share" in the lower right corner.

   

5. Choose the sharing duration "Until you turn this off." You may select Share with a link or not.

   

6. Tap your profile to share the location. If you are not in the listed contacts, swift to the right and tap more to add yourself to the option. Tap "Send," and you are done.

   

7. Now, you can see the shared location on your Google Maps app.

   

Method 4. Cell Phone Carrier Service

Cell phone carriers can track the location of a phone through various methods. However, it is important to note that tracking a phone requires proper authorization, such as a court order or the owner's consent.

However, many cell phone carriers offer location-tracking services with a few days few trial for their customers, such as Verizon Smart Family, T-Mobile FamilyWhere, AT&T Secure Family App, and Sprint Safe & Found. These features might only be accessible with certain plans or gadgets, so it's a good idea to confirm their availability and suitability with your service provider. You may also check online first.

Method 5. Location Sharing Feature of Social Apps

Many social media apps allow users to share live locations for free, such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Snapchat, Line, etc. If your family members or friends want to share their location, tracking their phones for free will be easy. This option is available for all users but must be enabled by default.

Let's take WhatsApp as an example. If you need to know your kids' live location, please tell them to follow the below steps:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services, and enable the permission.

   

2. Tap on the attachment icon on the bottom right corner of the screen in your chat box.
3. Select "Location" from the six options and then tap on "Share live location" to select the duration.



4. Then you can track the phone's location during your chosen period.

Video Tutorial: Track a Cell Phone Location for Free

FAQs about Track a Phone Location

Now that you know five easy ways to locate a phone for free, you may wonder why we don't recommend other ways like with phone number; let's discuss it in detail.

1Can You Track a Location with Just a Phone Number?

Yes, there are many mobile number trackers and reverse phone lookup services. However, the accuracy may vary. For detailed information, most services require payment.

You can type a phone number on many websites tracking mobile numbers. After completing a few questionnaire surveys, viewing several ads, or paying about one dollar, you will see its location on a map. However, it is important to note that almost all of them only show the registered location or no information at all.

Besides, several websites or apps, such as Truecaller, Spokeo, and IPQualityScore, offer free reverse phone lookup services. They analyze public records and social media networks linked to the phone number, so this does not reflect the exact location. Some even generate a link in your account, which you can share via messenger, SMS, or email. You'll see the current location only when the target phone clicks the link.

2Can a Phone Be Located Using the Sim Card Number?

No, it is impossible to locate a phone using the SIM card number alone. The SIM card number is a unique identifier for the SIM card itself and contains no location information. However, mobile network operators can use other methods, such as cell tower triangulation or GPS, to locate a phone, but this requires additional information beyond the SIM card number.

3Is It Possible to Locate a Phone with IMEI Number?

Yes, it is possible to locate a phone using its IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number. Each phone has a unique IMEI number, which is a 15-digit number. However, only authorized individuals or organizations, such as law enforcement agencies or mobile network operators, can track a phone's location using its IMEI number. Usually, network providers use it to track lost phones for their customers when Find My Device can't.

You may find many IMEI trackers online. However, most show no results even after completing all the on-screen guides. The best way to track your phone using IMEI is to report it to the police and seek their help.

4Can I Trace a Phone Using Its IP Address?

No, you cannot trace a phone's physical location using only its IP address. IP addresses can provide information about the general geographic location of the network or internet service provider (ISP) associated with the IP address. Still, they do not directly reveal the precise location of a specific device, such as a phone.

Tracing a phone's location typically requires specialized techniques and access to additional data, such as GPS or cell tower information, which are inaccessible through IP addresses alone.

5Is It Possible to Track a Phone without Installing Any App?

Yes, if you have an iPhone or an Android device, you can use the built-in tracking features of Apple, Google, or Samsung. You can also get your service provider to do that or do it via websites that provide such services.

6Is There Completely Free Cell Phone Location Tracking?

Yes, there are completely free ways to track a cell phone's location. Some examples are Find My Device, Samsung SmartThings Find, Find My, Google Maps, etc. You can use these ways to locate a lost phone free of charge. Many third-party family locator apps like AirDroid offer free trail with more features such as watching and listening to phone surroundings.

How Does Mobile Location Tracking Work

In this section, we will show you some of the technologies behind location tracking. We have highlighted four of them that we will be discussing.

GPS

GPS uses orbital satellites to send signals to the GPS receiver in the phone. This signal is crosschecked with about four other satellites to ascertain your phone's location. The accuracy of the location depends on the strength of the signal received by the GPS. Hence, obstructions like dish installation, heavy rains, and snow should be avoided for maximum strength and accurate location tracking.

Cell Tower Triangulation

Cell Towers, also known as base stations, are physical locations where antennas and electronic communication equipment are placed. This communication lets the network know which cell tower your device is connected to and, thus, roughly where you are.
Its location tracking accuracy is not as high as other methods like GPS, especially in rural areas where cell towers are spread out. However, it is still a useful method for providing a general idea of a device's location, and it works even when GPS is turned off.

Wi-Fi Position

Wi-Fi Positioning System (WPS) uses nearby hotspots and wireless access points to locate a device. This system can be found in routers, computers, phones, and other gadgets. This method may not be as accurate as GPS, but it can provide a general idea of the phone's location.

Conclusion

Tracking a cell phone location has become increasingly common in today's digital world. Fortunately, there are several freeways, and you can pick the right one for your situation.

Want to safeguard your child's safety all around? Try the reliable family locator app today!