In an attempt to connect iPhone users with friends and family, Apple developed Find My Friends. It was released back in 2011 and has since been bundled with the iOS 9 operating system. The application has been proven to be useful in various situations, such as locating your teen when they are out or if you are checking what time a certain guest will arrive. In turn, your peers may keep tabs on you as well. Secretly track someone using iPhone without them knowing is a challenge and requires skills that do not come so easy.

But if you look at the other side of it, Find My Friends can be used to spy on other people. All it takes is a little knowledge on how to share an iPhone location without the other party knowing about it.

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Invading someone’s privacy is a serious matter, but seeing how easily this can be done through Find My Friends is quite alarming. The person who is being tracked will not have a sense that their every move is being monitored, neither will they receive an alert or notification for that matter.

Not everyone is aware that Find My Friends in iOS 9 or lower even exists. If they do, they’ll view you as a follower and not as some freaky stalker of any kind.

How to Secretly Track Someone Using iPhone

You can set this up in the iPhone of the individual you wish to track. Features include notifications when the time of departure and arrival from a certain area. The app has actually found itself in news headlines before, as a certain “ThomasMetz” had notoriously posted in an iOS forum on how he used Find My Friends to catch his wife cheating on him.

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An important thing to note here is that iOS 8 users don’t have the app by default. So if you want to secretly track someone using iPhone, you are going to have to download the Find My Friends app from the App Store. This goes for both you and your fiend’s phone. But if you both have updated to iOS 9, then this already comes in the software update bundle.

Step 1: Enable share my location in the subject’s iPhone

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Open the Find My Friends app on the iPhone. You might want to check on the “Extras” folder if you don’t see it in the main page. Enter the app and then tap on their contact photo at the bottom to enable Share My Location from the settings.

Note: Make sure that the location is shared from This Device as other iOS devices such as the iPad could be connected to the same iCloud account.

Step 2: Share their location to your iPhone

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In your iPhone: swipe up from the bottom of the screen and activate AirDrop from the Control Center. Make sure you can be discovered to “Everyone”

On the subject’s iPhone: Tap on add in the Find My Friends app. Hit your contact icon (assuming you are now connected via AirDrop) and select “Share Indefinitely” to share the phone’s location to yours for no time limit.

Step 3: Keep in mind that you wouldn’t want you location shared back

Find My Friends will alert your iPhone that your friend’s location is being shared to your device, so you should click accept for it to proceed. A second popup will then appear asking if you want to share your location with your friend. Click on Don’t Share, unless you want them tracking down your location as well.

Step 4: Track Their Location

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Congratulations! You can now track down your subject and secretly track someone using iPhone.  You will receive notifications if they leave or arrive a certain location once you set it up through options.

So your next worry is how long would it take for you to get caught. The chances of them discovering this are slim, as many users are not even aware of the Find My Friends app at all. So unless they are tech junkies or happen to come across this article, then you are safe. To make sure, you may always hide the app by making it disappear using the dock feature in iPhones. But do note that after restarting the phone, it will appear in the home screen again.

The application to secretly track someone using iPhone may come useful if you are trying to track suspicious activity. But at the end of the day, it is still a complete invasion of privacy. So you might want to resort to more ethical methods and use this article as a way to check if someone is monitoring you without consent as well.

GPS technology has continuously been improving over the years, and mobile phones have been the most commercially used device in tracking someone. But there are several disadvantages with tracking a location via a smartphone, including an increase in battery consumption and the probability of it being left behind.

Comparison between tracking location using iOS and using a GPS Tracker

Tracking Location with iOS

Pros:

1. Integration with Apple Ecosystem: Location tracking on iOS devices is seamlessly integrated with other Apple services, such as Find My iPhone, making it easy to locate devices within the Apple ecosystem.
2. Privacy Controls: iOS offers robust privacy controls that allow users to manage which apps have access to their location, ensuring greater control over personal data.
3. Advanced Features: iOS supports advanced location features like geofencing, which can notify users when they or another device enters or leaves a designated area.

Cons:

1. Battery Drain: Continuous use of GPS on an iOS device can significantly drain the battery, limiting its effectiveness for long-term tracking without frequent recharging.
2. Dependence on Internet: Location accuracy and the functionality of location-based services on iOS are often dependent on having an internet connection.
3. Cost: Owning an iOS device, particularly the latest models, can be expensive, which might not be justifiable if the primary use is for location tracking.

Tracking Location with GPS Tracker

Pros:

1. Dedicated Device: Tracki is a dedicated GPS tracking device, designed specifically for tracking; it's compact and portable, making it ideal for a variety of tracking purposes like tracking teen, car, pets etc.
2. Long Battery Life: Tracki devices often feature a long battery life, suitable for extended tracking without frequent recharges.
3. Real-Time Tracking: Offers real-time tracking capabilities that can be monitored through a web or mobile app interface, providing instant location updates.
4. Global Coverage: Tracki devices typically work in numerous countries around the world, providing reliable tracking even when traveling internationally.
5. Versatility: These trackers can be used for a wide range of personal and commercial tracking applications, from monitoring vehicles and assets to keeping tabs on pets and elderly family members.

Cons:

1. Subscription Fee: Tracki devices typically require a monthly subscription fee to access all tracking features, which can add up over time.
2. Additional Device to Carry: Requires carrying an additional device besides a smartphone, which might be inconvenient for some users.
3. Dependent on External Hardware: Since tracking capabilities are tied to a physical device, if the Tracki tracker is damaged or lost, tracking capabilities are immediately lost until a replacement is secured.

GPS tracking devices such as Tracki enables users to track down their loved ones. They can monitor the device’s movements through a Web or mobile application. Overall, the GPS tracking system functions like Find My Friends but with more reliable features and an extended battery life.

Post updated on April 30, 2024.