Can You Find a Phone's Exact Location Online?
How to find the location of a phone online? How to locate a phone by number? Notice the shift to asking how to do it instead of whether you can do it. This is because we have advanced well enough technology-wise that tracking a phone’s location could be easily done online. You can track a phone’s current location by number, built-in GPS or location sharing/tracking features, and more.
How to Find the Location of a Phone Online
The method you use to track the location of a cell phone depends on a number of factors. Such factors include your purpose, the data that you can use for your search, location-sharing settings on the specific phone you want to track, the circumstances surrounding your search, and more.
In terms of finding a phone online, there are a couple of ways you could look at it. One, you can use various online search tools to locate a phone; and two, the phone you want to track must be online in order to more accurately pinpoint its location.`Either way, there are several ways to find a cell phone’s location online.
Google Maps
While it is mainly designed to provide directions, you can use Google Maps to locate a phone. It’s a free GPS phone tracker online that can locate a phone’s whereabouts in real-time. You can track a device using the Find My Device feature built-in to Google Maps or use the Timeline feature.
To use Google Timeline, Location History must be enabled on the device you wish to track. Also, you must know the Google account used on that device. To locate a device, simply:
Google Maps
While it is mainly designed to provide directions, you can use Google Maps to locate a phone. It’s a free GPS phone tracker online that can locate a phone’s whereabouts in real-time. You can track a device using the Find My Device feature built-in to Google Maps or use the Timeline feature.
To use Google Timeline, Location History must be enabled on the device you wish to track. Also, you must know the Google account used on that device. To locate a device, simply:
- Open Google Maps
- Sign in with the same Google account signed in on the phone
- Click Menu or the burger icon.
- Click Timeline to see an estimate of the places where the phone has been.
Built-In Tracking Features
Smartphones usually have location-tracking features built-in. You’ll likely need to know certain login credentials though. At the same time, location sharing may have to be enabled on the device you wish to locate. You can use Find My to track iPhones and other iOS devices; use Find My Device to track Android devices.
Both Find My and Find My Device allow you to take specific actions that can help you to locate a device and/or protect data on the device. You can choose to lock the device and/or opt to have a message displayed on the screen. You can also choose to play a sound, mark the device as lost, as well as permanently erase the data on the device. You can also opt to locate the device on a map.
Carrier Apps
There are certain carriers or network providers that can help you locate a phone. Some even have apps for this specific purpose. Take note though that you may have to get cell phone tracking services as part of your package upon purchasing the phone. If you do have the feature, this is a great and more direct way to find a phone.
Phone Trackers
You can opt to use phone trackers and monitoring software to track a phone’s location. Such software usually comes with control panels that users can access anytime from any internet-enabled device.
Some apps are specifically designed to provide real-time GPS location. Some provide a wider array of phone monitoring services.
Reverse Phone Lookup
Another great way to locate a phone online is to find a phone number’s location using reverse phone lookup sites. These sites allow you to acquire a myriad of relevant information using a specific phone number as your search keyword.
ClickSearch is one of the most trusted reverse phone lookup sites you can use. You can track the phone’s location by tracking its owner’s location. You can also check the phone’s location, listed at 15-minute intervals, that comes with the report. This could, at the very least, help you trace the phone’s movement.
Why Track the Location of a Cell Phone
There are multiple ways to find a phone’s location online. But why would you do that in the first place? The reasons vary but are usually related to safety concerns.
Retrieve Lost or Stolen Device
A lost or stolen device could be a cause for great panic. This is because most people usually have a lot of personal and even sensitive files and information saved on their smartphones. Hence, tracking a phone’s location is one of the first actions taken once one realizes that their device is lost.
Track Down a Person
Tracking a phone’s location pretty much means tracking its owner’s location. This could come in handy for monitoring a person’s whereabouts. It could also help in tracking down long-lost and/or estranged family and friends.
Safety and Security
In most cases, tracking a phone boils down to concerns regarding safety and security. For instance, tracking a phone’s location using a phone number could help you put a name and a face to unknown phone numbers that keep on calling you. This is most helpful in filtering out and reporting scammers and pranksters. Acquiring other phone-number-related information, including its location, can also be used in verifying someone’s identity for personal and business-related reasons.
Conclusion: Find a Phone Location and Other Relevant Information Online
It has become increasingly easier to find a phone’s location. Even the simplest details, like a phone number, could help you pinpoint a phone’s location. There are also an array of online search tools, such as reverse phone lookup sites, that make for more convenient tracking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to find the location of a cell phone for free?
Use built-in tracking tools and free online tracking tools like Google Maps to locate a phone for free. You can also explore free tracking apps.
How to track a phone with a phone number?
One of the best methods is to do a reverse phone lookup. Use a specially designed search engine like ClickSearch to perform a lookup using a specific phone number.
How to find who owns a phone number?
You can start by simply asking around or checking your old contacts lists and correspondences. You can also perform online searches on mainstream search engines, social media accounts, and reverse phone lookup sites.
Why would you need to find the location of a cell phone?
Reasons may range from wanting to identify unknown callers to verifying someone’s identity to tracking down a person’s whereabouts.