To track a phone, there are several methods depending on the phone type and circumstances:
- Use a dedicated phone tracking app like "Track Any Phone" which offers one-way real-time GPS tracking with privacy controls and features such as geo-fencing and emergency alerts. These apps usually need to be installed on the phone to be tracked.
- For Android phones, use Google's Find Hub (formerly Find My Device) which can locate, ring, lock, or erase a lost device. You can access it by signing in with the Google account linked to the phone on android.com/find or the Find Hub app. Location is determined using GPS, Wi-Fi networks, and cell towers for accuracy. The phone must have Location and Find Hub enabled in its settings prior to being lost.
- Mobile phone tracking technology generally includes methods like multilateration of radio signals from cell towers, GPS, Wi-Fi positioning, or hybrid systems combining these. This tracking can be network-based or handset-based and often requires the phone to emit signals or have GPS enabled to provide location data.
In summary, to track a phone, enabling location services and using either built-in services like Find Hub for Android or installing trusted tracking apps are common and secure ways to see the phone's location in real-time or retrieve the last known location if it's lost.
