Top 3 Ways to Track Your iPhone

However, unfortunate event does happen when you least expected and this also involves losing your iPhone. This can happen either you misplaced it or it was stolen. Good thing for the users of iPhone is that iPhone can be considered as a small powerful computer that have GPS installed in it. With the wonders of modern technology, you can actually track your iPhone as long as it is not switch off and is connected to the internet. Here we will list down the top 3 ways you can track your iPhone if you did lost it.

find iphone

1. Track using Find iPhone App

The best method to track your lost iPhone is by using the ‘Find iPhone’ app that already pre-installed in your iPhone. The app is available for any Apple devices that have iOS 5 and above. Any users of Apple devices will have a unique Apple ID in which they are recognized within any of their Apple devices. If you have an iPhone and an iPad, it is likely that you are using the same Apple ID.

The good thing about having the same Apple ID throughout your Apple devices is that all your Apple devices interconnected to one another in iCloud. The reason for this is for the seamless interaction you can have with your data or files that you can share or upload across multiple Apple devices. With the iCloud environment, you are able to track where are your Apple devices are located in a map. Below are the steps.

Step 1
Login to your Apple account or iCloud account using other devices such as iPhone, iPad or MacBook.

Step 2
It will then show your iPhone location in a map. However, the iPhone must be connected to the internet via Wi-Fi or Cellular network for it to show in the map

Step 3
You have the option of play sound if you find that the iPhone is nearby, or erase the data if your iPhone is stolen and do not want any confidential information to fall in the wrong hand, or put it on lost mode.

find iphone 1


2. Track your iPhone using the internet

Besides the Find iPhone app, you can actually use other different apps and also services out there to track your iPhone. Remember that your iPhone is a small powerful computer that has an embedded GPS in it. Therefore, you can use this function to track your iPhone using other options such as Google and also third party apps. If you want to track your iPhone using Google Timeline, below are the steps.

Step 1
You can start by visiting Google Timeline. Just type Google timeline in the Google search engine.

Step 2
Login to your Google account. The Google timeline will then show the last location of your iPhone was connected via the internet or cellular network.

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3. Track your iPhone using IMEI

IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity and which typically consists of 15 numbers. Your iPhone have a unique IMEI number. You can obtain your IMEI number by typing *#06# at your keypad and it will show you a 15 string of numbers. That number represents your iPhone IMEI and only unique to your iPhone.

Another way to know your IMEI iPhone number once you lost your phone is by looking at the back of your iPhone at the bottom. However, if you already lost your iPhone and did not recorded your iPhone’s IMEI number, you can always look at the box packaging that comes with your iPhone when you first purchased it. Normally, it is included together with the Box. What you can do with that IMEI number is to bring the number to your cell phone network operator and request for it to be blocked once it is connected to the network.

However, some disclaimer here - Not all network operator have a tracking services for lost phone. Read more on how to find your phone using IMEI here. Below are the steps.

Step 1
Type *#06# at your keypad. Your iPhone screen will show a 15 digit string of number. That is your iPhone's IMEI number. Record it and keep it somewhere safe.

Step 2
Give the IMEI number to your Cellular Network Provider for them to track it. However, please check with your service provider as not all provide this services.

Top 3 Ways to Track Your Phone Using Google

With the advancement of mobile technology, almost all smart phone nowadays comes equipped with GPS. The smart phones ability to automatically connect to the internet wherever it is based also provides many ways and methods in tracking your devices. There are also many applications that have been developed to utilize this technology. Read our previous articles to know more on GPS in your phone and also how you can turn off your smart phone’s GPS.

Google has also developed several services that utilizes the GPS installed in our smart phones so that you are able to track your location as well as your friend’s location in real time. Google can also track your devices location based on Wi-Fi and nearest cell towers connected. This services will also come in handy if you lost your phone and want to track it.

Here in this article, we will list down the top 3 ways to track your lost phone using Google.

1. TRACK YOUR PHONE USING ANDROID DEVICE MANAGER

In order for you to be able to track your phone using the Android Device Manager, your android based phone must be activated first. Follow this steps to enable your phone.

Step 1
Open your administrative settings of your phone. Enable the Android Device Manager. This will enable you to track, lock and also erase your phone from anywhere in case you lost your phone.

Step 2
You will also need to enable your Location Reporting in your setting. This will allow your phone GPS to send and receive signals from Google.

So, in the case that you misplaced or lost your phone, you can use Android Device Manager to track your phone but with the condition that
1. The phone is turn on
2. The phone must be connected to the internet via a mobile data or Wi-Fi connection

track phone using android device manager

Now, here are the steps that needs to be followed if you want to use the Android Device Manager:-

Step 1
You need to sign in to your Google Account. You can visit this site
Android Device Manager

Step 2
Once you logged in, the Android Device Manager will show your devices exact location in a Google Map. If you have more than one devices connected, click on the arrow next to the device name.

Step 3
You will then have the option to ring it so that you can know where it is if it is nearby, lock it if you are afraid someone have stolen it and also erase all the data inside your phone so that the person who stole your phone will not get the sensitive and confidential information inside your phone.

2. TRACK YOUR PHONE USING YOUR TIMELINE IN GOOGLE MAPS

Google Timeline

This feature has been long in the Google services but not many are aware of it. It was once known as Google Location History but have been revamped to now known as ‘Your Timeline’. ‘Your Timeline’ was designed by Google to help you track back the places and routes you have travelled. It is set at private and therefore only you can see your timeline.

The interesting thing with this service is that it does not rely on GPS but to the internet connection in which your devices is connected. Therefore, this device that it can help to track can be your laptop, tablet and also your smart phone.

However, the pre-requisite for you to start using this services is that you must:-
1. Have your device log in to your Google account.
2. Location Reporting must be activated in your device
3. Your device is connected to the internet.

Here are the simple steps required if you lost your phone and want to use this feature to track your phone.

Step 1
Visit ‘Your timeline’ page here
Google ‘Your Timeline’
Log into your Google account.

Step 2
Once you log in to your Google account, it will show whether you have a connected devices or not.Choose the time and date in the left bar. The timeline will then show your devices previous location and the time it was connected to the internet.

3. TRACK YOUR PHONE USING YOUR GOOGLE ACCOUNT

track phone using google account

Another way you can track your phone or devices using Google is by accessing your Google account. It works similar as tracking in ‘Your Timeline’. However, instead of giving you the devices footprint over time, the google account will only show you when was the last time your devices was connected to the internet.

As long as your devices are log in into your Google account, it will record the last time you log in whenever there is an internet connection. It will show you the location, date and also time information. Similar as using ‘Your Timeline’, it uses Wi-Fi and cell tower information in tracking your devices. Read our previous article on how cell towers can track your phone.

These information would prove useful at least to know an estimate location of your lost devices. Follow the steps here to track your phone using your Google Account.

Step 1
Open a browser and log into your Google Account

track phone using google account 2

Step 2
Once you are in your account, choose ‘Device Activity & Notifications’

Step 3
In the ‘Device Activity & Notifications’, you will see a list of devices connected to your Google account in ‘Recently used devices’. Tap on ‘Review devices’

Step 4
In the ‘Review devices’, choose the device that you want to locate. It will then show you the device’s last location, time and date recorded.

So, there you have it. The top 3 ways to track your phone using Google. Please leave a comment or visit our Youtube channel to subscribe to our community.