How to Track Phone Without a Sim Card (5 Simple Ways)

A Sim card is the chip inside your cell phone that enables it to communicate with your network operator. Before the emergence of the smartphone, a cell phone would be useless without the sim card as the sim card is the only chip in your cell phone that allows you to connect with other cell phones. Now, with the integration of personal computer and cell phone, you got this powerful smartphone that can also be able to be utilized without a sim card. Without the sim card, your smartphone can still be connected with other smartphones as long as you are connected to a Wi-Fi.

The GPS in your smartphone can always emit transmission using the internet. By leveraging the connection on the internet, you can still communicate even without the sim card. This also includes the ability to track your phone’s location even without a sim card on your smartphone.

So, how are you able to use that smartphone ability to track your phone without a sim card? Here we show you several ways how you can do just that.

TRACK USING WEB-BASED TRACKING SERVICES

Both the iOS and Android Device Manager use internet connection to find and track your phone. It leverages on your phone’s GPS connection to the internet instead of the link to your cell network. Therefore, it can always track your lost phone even without the sim card installed in your phone.

Find My iPhone

If you are using iPhone, you can log into your Apple account at https://www.icloud.com/#find and track your lost iPhone

Read here if you want to know the step by step on how to track your iPhone using the Apple services.

Android Device Manager

If you are using Android Device Manager, you can log to https://www.google.com/android/find?u=0

Read here if you want to know how to track a phone using the Android Device Manager.

TRACK USING SOCIAL MEDIA APP

Social media apps nowadays can track the location of your phone based on the GPS coordinate. This helps the social media platform to send ads based on your location. It also helps to geotag the location of your post. In specific social media app such as Snapchat, it can also show your location on a map.

Your phone only needs the sim card if you want to use the data plan that is connected to your service network provider. Here we show you how to know the location of your phone based on the last login of your devices using the Snapchat account.

Snapchat has the feature of showing your location in a map. You can access this Snapchat map using the website browser. So, if you lost your phone, you can use this web browser to track your phone based on your Snapchat account.

Snapchat Map

Step 1

Go to https://map.snapchat.com

Step 2

Log into your Snapchat account, and you will be able to see your location if your phone is active and connected to the internet.

TRACK USING IMEI NUMBER

The IMEI number and the ICCID number is two different numbers that identify your cell phone. The IMEI number represents your smartphone, and the ICCID number represents your sim card number. Therefore, if you do lose your phone and the sim card is taken out of the phone, your IMEI number is the next best thing to use to identify and track your phone.

However, your IMEI number is just a number similar to a plate number in your car. However, it is vital information if you want to get your service network operator to assist you in tracking your phone. The network operator can identify your phone by using their cell tower network each time your phone is connected to a cell phone network tower.

IMEI number

How to Get Your IMEI number

And if you are wondering how to know your IMEI number, here are the steps

Step 1

In General settings of your phone, go to “About.”

Step 2

You will see your phone’s IMEI number listed here. Keep a record of your phone’s IMEI number somewhere safe in case you lost your phone

TRACK USING GOOGLE ACCOUNT

Google services such as Gmail keep tracks of your location based on the latest login using your phone. So, if you are using Gmail in your phone, you can use Google account to track your last position.

Here are the steps on how to track your phone using Google account

Google Account

Step 1

Log into your Gmail

Step 2

Go to https://myaccount.google.com/security

Step 3

Go to “Your Devices”

Here you can see your devices that use any of Google services such a Gmail together with its detail that includes the last location you used that service

TRACK USING CLOUD SERVICES

If you are using cloud storage services in your phone such as Dropbox, you can use that account to help track the last login position of your phone.

Dropbox

Step 1

Go to https://www.dropbox.com/account/security

Step 2

Log into your Dropbox account

Step 3

In your security settings, you can see the login details together with the last login or syncing location that your device have with Dropbox

So, there you have it. Five simple ways how you can track your phone without a sim card in it. Please leave us a comment below on what other ways you know on tracking a phone that has no sim card.

Please also read our previous article on the ultimate guide on how to track the lost phone.

What is Android Device Manager? (And How it Can Track Your Phone)

One of the most useful applications created by Google in recent years is the Android Device Manager. So, what is the Android Device Manager? Android Device Manager or ADM, in short, is a way you can track your lost Android devices that includes your phone or tablet.

How does Android Device Manager Work 3

How does the Android Device Manager work?

Google is able to track the location of your Android devices such as your phone and tablet via the Global Positioning System or GPS in short. The GPS transmitter in your smartphones or tablets will transmit its location to a constellation of 24 satellites that are circumventing our earth.

The location will then be shown on the Android Device Manager website in which it is only accessible to you via your Google account.

However, there is a pre-requisite condition for the Android Device Manager to work.

Pre-requisite for Android Device Manager 4

1. The phone or device is turned on
2. It is connected to the Internet via Data or Wi-Fi
3. The phone or device has already been signed on to your Google account
4. The Location Reporting is enabled

So, how you can use the Android Device Manager? Here are the steps:-

How to use Android Device Manager 5

Step 1
Go to https://www.google.com/android/find

Step 2
You then need to log into your Google account. You can use your Gmail account to log in

How to use Android Device Manager 6

Step 3
If you have already logged into your Google account on your Android devices, it will automatically detect which phone or devices that are connected. You can then choose either “Ring”, “Lock” or “Erase” your Android device.

You can ring your device if you feel that your device location is nearby

You can lock it if your device is lost

You can erase the data on your device if you think that someone has stolen your device

So, there you have it. A simple explanation of what is Android Device Manager and how you can use it if you have lost your Android-based smartphone or tablet. Please leave us a comment on what do you think of the Android Device Manager. Please check also our previous article on the top 3 ways how you can track your phone using Google.

5 Steps To Do If You Lost Your Phone

If you just got your phone stolen or lost, keep calm. These are the 5 steps that you need to do first. These few simple steps may help you to secure back your phone.

1. GIVE YOUR PHONE A CALL

The easiest thing to do once you realised your phone is no longer in your pocket to is to give your phone a call. However, this would not work if you set your phone on silent and non-vibrating. Just borrow your friends or family’s phone and try calling your phone.

For iPhone users

If you are using iPhone, you can make your phone to ring by either going to iCloud.com or use the “Find iPhone” app. You can use the “Find iPhone” app from other Apple devices such as iPad. Here are the steps to make your iPhone to ring

And if you are using Android, you can use Hangout or Skype to call to your phone from a laptop. Depending on the instant messaging application, there might be cost to call your phone.

lost iphone

2. LOCK YOUR PHONE

After you done step 1 but you still could not find your phone, you must always assume that it is stolen. Even though there is a possibility that you misplaced or left it at other places, always lock your phone immediately if you are not sure where they are.

This is a security precaution to protect your valuable confidential data in your phone. The loss of monetary value is not that significant if compared to the loss of your private confidential data in your phone. So, how do you lock your phone immediately once lost?

Here are the steps

For iPhone Users
You can remotely lock your phone by using this simple steps. You can also visit iCloud.com to do the same function.

Step 1
Tap on the “Find iPhone” app or go to iCloud.com

Step 2
Choose the “Lost Mode” option to lock your phone.

iphone lost mode

When your iPhone is in Lost Mode, you can basically Lock your iPhone and can only be open with the passcode that you have set earlier on.You can display a custom message on the screen iPhone remotely. You can type a message asking anybody who found your iPhone to return it back to you. Any credit or debit cards in the wallet for Apple pay will be suspended immediately.

For Android phone users, you can use these steps to lock your phone

Step 1
Go to android.com/devicemanager and sign in to your Google account.

Step 2
Choose the device that is lost.

Step 3
Choose Lock


3. PROTECT YOUR DATA 

So, after you have lock your phone, the next best thing is to protect the data in your phone. This must be done if you feel that your phone have been stolen and might be in the wrong hands. Here are steps you can do to protect the data in your lost phone

For iPhone, you can erase your data remotely by using this simple steps.

erase iphone

Step 1
Go to the Find iPhone App or iCloud.com

Step 2
Choose the Erase iPhone Mode

The erase process will only begin once your device is online. However, if you have erase your iPhone but you manage to found it later, you can restore the information on your iPhone using the iCloud Backup.

For Android Users, you can erase your data by following these simple steps.

Step 1
Go to your Android Device Manager at Android.com/devicemanager

Step 2
Choose Erase

Log out from your Gmail account on your phone

Another step that you need to take to protect your data is to quickly log out from your Gmail that is connected to your phone remotely. This is to protect any private and confidential data from your Gmail to fall onto the wrong hands. Follow these simple steps to log out from your Gmail account in your phone remotely.

Step 1
Go to myaccount.google.com

Step 2
Log onto your account

Step 3
Choose the ‘Find Your Phone’ option

Step 4
Choose the ‘Sign out on your phone’ option

4. TRACK YOUR PHONE’S LOCATION

After locking and erasing your phone, the next best step is to try tracking your phone’s location. Luckily, we are now in the era of smartphones and therefore tracking your phone either by GPS or IP is now possible. Here are the steps you need to take to locate your phone.

For iPhone users
The best method to track your lost iPhone is by using the ‘Find iPhone’ app that already pre-installed in your iPhone. With the iCloud environment, you are able to track where are your Apple devices are located in a map. Follow these simple steps

find iphone

Step 1
Tap the Find iPhone app or go to iCloud.com

Step 2
Choose the device that you have lost

Step 3
The app or the website will immediately shows you the location of your device if it is on or the last location it is on.

Read more on the top 3 ways how to track your iPhone here.

For Android Users
You can use Google Maps to see the Timeline of your location. The timeline tracks the device that you singed into using your Google account. Google uses your location, search and browsing info to track the location.

Step 1
Go to Google Maps and logged into your account

Step 2
Click on Your Timeline

Step 3
Google Maps will show you the route your devices have taken. You need enable this prior to using this feature

Read more here on the top 3 ways you can track your phone using Google

5. DO A POLICE REPORT

After all of that steps have been done, you then need to do a police report if you are convinced that your phone have been stolen. Important information to put in the police report are
1. Description of your phone. (Model, Colour, etc.)
2. IMEI number of your phone. Read here on how to find your IMEI number
3. Last place that you remember having your phone
4. Suspected place where it was stolen or missing
5. Show the location of the phone that you have tracked using Step 4 (Applicable only if you manage to track that phone)

So, there you have it the 5 steps you can immediately do if you just got your phone stolen or lost.