So, your kids are all grown and starts to go out to the world more often. Sometimes it is best to trust your kids and let them be but sometimes as a parent, at least knowing where they are removing some of our worries.
With the advent of smartphones and GPS technology, we as a
parent can keep track of kid’s location. As long as you and your kids have the
right equipment, you can track your kid’s whereabouts in real time.
However, before you start to track your kid’s whereabouts,
it is best that you discuss first with your kids and tell them that you want to
follow their location for security reason. Don’t track their whereabouts
without their knowledge because as a parent you also need to respect their
privacy sometimes.
The advantage of keeping track of your kid’s location are
Know where they are so that if anything happens, you would be notified instantly
Know that they hold to their promise of going to someplace instead of going to another place that you don’t know
Know that your kids are nearby and within reach in case of an emergency
So, here are three ways how you can track your kids by monitoring their mobile phone
TRACK YOUR KIDS USING IPHONE
One of the simplest ways to follow your kids is by
monitoring their iPhone.
However, first, the necessary equipment that you need
– Your kids iPhone (Update the iOS to iOS 8 or later)
– Your iPhone (Update the iOS to iOS 8 or later)
– Install the “Find Friends” app in both the
iPhone. Usually, the app comes pre-installed in your iPhone
– Sim Card with a data plan for both the iPhone
Here are the steps.
Step 1
Open your iPhone that will act as the tracker. Open “Find
Friends” app
Step 2
In the “Find Friends” app, tap “Add.”
Step 3
Put both the iPhone close to one another and your iPhone will detect your kid’s iPhone via AirDrop. Tap the iPhone icon
Step 4
A menu will be shown. Tap “Share Indefinitely”
Step 5
In
your kid’s iPhone, tap “Accept”. Tap “View” to start tracking your kid’s
location
Step 6
You
will see your kid’s location by tracking his or her icon in the Apple Map
You can also set a notification via the “Notify Me” function when your kid’s iPhone leaves or start moving.
2. TRACK YOUR KIDS USING GOOGLE MAP
Besides using iPhone, you can also use Google Map as a way
to track your kids.
Here are the steps.
Step 1
Install the Google Maps app on your phone and also your
kid’s phone. Open your kid’s Google Map app.
Step 2
In the Google Map app, tap the three line icon at the top left to go to Settings.
Step 3
In the Settings, tap “Location Sharing.”
Step 4
In the Location Sharing, set the duration for the real-time location sharing
Step 5
Tap “Select People” here
Step 6
Add your name, phone or email here so that you will be able to start receiving the real-time location of your kid’s phone
3. TRACK YOUR KIDS USING SNAPCHAT
If
your kids always on Snapchat, this application can be used to notify you of
their location by utilising the Snapchat Map feature. However, for you to use
this, you also need to download and open a Snapchat account.
Here are the steps.
Step 1
In your kid’s phone, open Snapchat. Swipe down to enter the
Snapchat Map
Step 2
In the Snap Map, tap the Settings icon at the top right
Step 3
In the Settings, enable the “Ghost Mode”. This will make
your kid appear in the Snap Map.
Step 4
If you do not want others to see your kids location in the map but only you, tap at the option below the Settings and choose “Only These Friends.”
Step 5
If you have to open your Snapchat account, search for your own Snapchat username in the “Search” bar and add your name to the list.
So, there you have it. Three effective ways of how you can
keep track of your kid’s whereabouts in real-time location sharing using your
mobile phone. Please leave us a comment on what do you think about the need for
parents to keep tracking their kids all the time.
We have gotten a lot of requests from our visitors asking us to track their phone. It is very unfortunate that we could not help due to the fact that we are not providing that kind of services to track your phone. However as to keep to our tagline and that is to help you learn how to track your phone, we decided to give you the ultimate guide on the steps you need to take once you have that dreaded experience of losing your phone.
We think this guide can be one of the best way for you to have a higher percentage to recover back your lost or stolen phone. This guide is also useful to help you to make certain steps to protect sensitive data or information that you might have in your phone in case it got stolen and falls into the wrong hand.
However, need to put a disclaimer to this guide as this guide is only prepared for people who have smartphones only. You can read on our previous article on how to track non-smartphone here.
So, let’s get to it.
Ok, let’s lay out the scenario here. You just get back from work or eating outside and just lying in your sofa and catching up on some Netflix. Then you are reaching out to your phone in your pocket to check for your email or Facebook, and then you realize that your phone is not there in your pocket.
So, there is probably three possible scenario here… it is either you simply misplaced your phone in your house, you left your phone at work or maybe someone have stolen your phone on the way home during your quick stop at a Starbuck outlet. The last scenario is maybe the scariest one as you come to realize that maybe your precious phone is now on the wrong hand. So, once you realize that your phone is gone, follow this step:-
STEP 1 – CALL YOUR PHONE
First of all, you need to make sure that you have not simply misplaced it in your home. If you in your house, you probably have a landed phone line. Try putting a call to your phone to see whether it rings. Or you can also use your spouse or friends phone to call your phone out.
However, if you have set your phone is silent mode or you have call but you hear nothing not even a vibrate noise… Go to Step 2
STEP 2 – LOCATE YOUR PHONE
For Step 2, we will divide it to two categories – For iPhone Users and For Android Users
For iPhone Users
Step 1 Go to https://www.icloud.com/#find Sign-in using your Apple ID. The same Apple ID you have registered in your lost iPhone
Step 2 If you have more than one Apple devices, drop down the “All Devices” menu and choose the device that you have lost
Step 3 Your iPhone’s location will immediately be shown in a map. However, this will only work if your iPhone is on and connected to the internet.
You can then decide whether to lock it by choosing the “Lost Mode” or “Erase iPhone” to erase all the data in your iPhone if you feel that your iPhone is in the wrong hand.
IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. It is a unique identity for every mobile phone that is manufactured all over the world. It consists of a 15 digit number and each phone has a unique 15 digit number. Therefore, if you lost your phone, one of the way to track it is by using the IMEI number. Even if the device changed SIM card, the IMEI can still be used to track your device.
One of the way you can obtain your IMEI numbers is by using your keypad. Just type in *#06# on your keypad. The IMEI numbers of your mobile phone will then appear in your iPhone’s screen.
But what happens if you just lost your iPhone and you did not manage to check your IMEI numbers using these 3 ways? Luckily, Apple have also included your mobile phone’s IMEI at the box packaging of your iPhone. Try looking at the back of the original box packaging and the IMEI numbers are printed there.
So, once you have gotten your phone’s IMEI, you then need to file a police report on your missing phone. Even though this would be a hassle, but the police report is needed for your next step. A picture of your lost phone if any, description of your lost phone such as the brand or manufacturer, the colour of your phone, where did you lost it, the last place you remember having your phone.
Show also other supporting details such as your phone’s IMEI and also the location that your Android Device Manager or Find iPhone app have shown.
STEP 5 – GO TO YOUR CELL PHONE SERVICE PROVIDER
Here is some disclaimer. Not all cell phone service providers can assist you in helping to track your phone. However, some established and reputable one do have that services.
As long as you can show the police report that you have done and also you have your phone’s IMEI number, the cell phone service provider can assist you. The services they can offer includes locating your phone’s location and also blocking the phone usage from their network.
And finally, never ever try to locate your phone by yourself. Let the police do their job. You never know that by going to the place that your phone is located, it is probably in the wrong and that will probably do more harm if you are confronting the thief.
PRE-EMPTIVE MEASURES NEED TO BE TAKEN
Now you have done the steps above, here I am going to list down several pre-emptive measures on how you can avoid losing your smartphones or help you increase the chance of finding back your phone.
RECORD YOUR PHONE’S IMEI
In case that your phone gone missing, the IMEI number of your phone will become very important when it comes to relocating it. Here are some of the ways you can get your phone’s IMEI before you lost it.
1. Find IMEI numbers at your General settings
Another way to find your phone’s IMEI numbers is by finding it at the general settings menu in your iPhone. Here are the steps.
Step 1 Go to Settings
Step 2 Once in the Settings, go to General
Step 3 In the General mode, tap at the ‘About’
Step 4 There will be a list of details and numbers for your iPhone. Scroll down and you will see the IMEI category together with the numbers at the right side.
2. Find IMEI numbers at the back of your iPhone
The quickest way to find your IMEI numbers even without opening your iPhone, is by looking at the back cover of your iPhone. You can easily check the IMEI number printed at the low centre back of your iPhone.
AUTOMATE YOUR SILENT MODE
Sometimes you lost your phone just due to the fact you have misplaced it. And most likely people like to put their phone on a silent mode. Therefore this makes finding your phone a bit more difficult. Probably many people are not aware of this is that you can actually automate your phone’s silent mode. Follow this steps here on how to automate your iPhone’s silent mode
Step 1 Go to iPhone Settings
Step 2 Choose the “Do Not Disturb” mode
Step 3 Enable the “Scheduled” and set the time
PUT YOUR EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBER OR CONTACT DETAILS
You can increase the chances of getting your phone return back to you by putting your emergency number or contact details in your phone. This emergency number can also be seen by anyone who found your phone even if your phone is locked. Here are the steps how you can set emergency contact number on your iPhone.
Step 1 Go to “Health” app. It is already pre-installed in your iPhone.
Step 2 Choose “Medical ID”
Step 3 Fill in your contact details there
Anybody who find your iPhone will be able to access your emergency contact number even when it is lock. Therefore, the probability that your phone will be return to you is high if the founder know how to get in touch with you.
So, there is our guide on how to find your lost phone. Please visit also our previous article on the 5 tips on how to avoid losing your smartphones. Any other ideas or suggestion that you want to add, feel free to leave a comment in our comment section below.
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