How to Ping A Phone to Track its Location
Pinging a phone lets you know the exact geographical location of a device. You can ping a phone for free using various methods that send a signal that is returned with the device’s exact location.
It is the easiest precaution or solution if you happen to lose your phone or have left it somewhere. You can also ping an android phone or iphone to check up on your friends and family to make sure they’re safe.
There are various ways to ping a cell phone:
Using Tracking Software
Location tracking softwares is a great way to ping a phone location if the device’s location is enabled. If your location is not enabled, or if you are using a fake location on your phone via VPN, it can be very difficult to track your location. GoogleMaps is the best option for a location tracking software. You can even track your device using Google’s location history.
Phone Apps
You can ping a phone app to find the location of a device whose GPS tracker might not be active. ‘Find My Phone’ is an app that lets you ping a phone and track its location through your Google account.
All you need to do is:
- Download the ‘Find My Phone’ app from Google Play Store.
- Install the app on your device.
- Login using your Google account (this account must be logged in on the device you’re trying to find).
- Watch the last location of your device appear.
Similarly, an app is also available for iPhones known as ‘Find My iPhone’ that lets you ping an apple phone.
SIM Card Tracing
You can also trace the SIM card that is inserted in your phone rather than tracking the device itself. You can do so using apps like Truecaller that will show you the last active location of your SIM card.
Triangulation
This is a method that involves the cell phone provider of the SIM card that is inserted in your device. Much like the last method, the SIM card is tracked instead of the phone here as well. However, instead of using an app, triangulation involves your cell phone provider which usually helps customers with their location if they lose their phone. They can also help you block your SIM in case you’re unable to find your phone.
FAQ
Can you Ping a Phone with Location off?
Yes, it is possible to ping a phone to track its location if the location has been turned off. Your GPS tracker doesn’t need to be active in order for you to track your phone.
All you need to do is:
- Download the ‘Find My Phone’ app from Google Play Store.
- Install the app on your device.
- Login using your Google account (this account must be logged in on the device you’re trying to find).
- Watch the last location of your device appear.
Similarly, an app is also available for iPhones known as ‘Find My iPhone’ that lets you ping an apple phone.
How to Ping a Dead Phone?
It is not possible to ping a phone or find its location if the phone is dead or switched off. A device can only be tracked when it is active and working. Hence, there is no way to ping a dead phone.
Can I Track Someone with their Phone Number?
It is not possible for you to track anyone with just a phone number. You might be able to check your last location on Truecaller, provided that it is your own number. Other than that, tracking through a phone number for someone else’s number can only be done by the cell phone network provider and not by any individual, app or software.
How to Prevent your Phone from being Tracked?
A person might want to prevent their phone from being tracked for several reasons, the most important one being security. If you suspect that you might be undergoing stalking, there are many ways that you can stop or prevent your phone from being tracked:
- The easiest yet most important option is to disable your location settings and GPS tracker on your phone. Also, do not forget to turn off your live location and location services in your phone settings.
- You can also put your phone on airplane mode. This stops your phone from reaching signal towers.
- The most full-proof way of ensuring you’re not being tracked is to simply turn off your device. There is no way to ping a dead phone.
Can I Track Someone Else’s Phone?
It is possible to track someone’s phone using ‘Find My Phone’ if you know their personal information like email, password, lock screen pattern/PIN, etc. This has been designed in this manner so that if you lose your phone, you can easily use your friend’s phone to locate yours. However, it is absolutely illegal to ping someone’s phone location without their knowledge.