Your smartphone comes with built-in location services, a useful function that helps you find your device if you lose it or if you use an app that needs to know your location. However, deactivated location services on your phone can also be advantageous as it helps conceal your location from third parties who are tracking your movement. What if you don’t want your phone to be tracked? Can your phone still be located even if you turn off the location services? Yes, it’s possible to track mobile phones even if location services are off.

This article explains how your phone can be tracked and what you can do to enhance your mobile security.

Methods of tracking phones

Whether you have an iOS or Android phone, there are ways it can be tracked even if the location services are turned off. You may have used some of these yourself to find a lost or stolen phone. For example, the Find My iPhone app uses Bluetooth to help you find a smartphone even if it’s offline. Meanwhile, if you have an Android phone and the Find My Device app, you can log into your Google account and use Google Maps to check your phone’s location history.

Here are four ways that your phone could be tracked:

Cell towers

As of 2024, the Wireless Infrastructure Association reported that the United States had 154,800 purpose-built cellular towers and 248,050 macro cell sites. When you use your phone, signals travel back and forth to the nearest cell tower, enabling cell carriers to calculate the general area of your phone by measuring the time it takes for a signal to travel back and forth.

This technology, known as cell tower triangulation, combines location data from three cell towers to pinpoint your phone’s location within a 300-meter area.

Public Wi-Fi

A smartphone that has Wi-Fi enabled communicates with nearby networks even if it’s not connected to one, noting their signal strength. When you use public Wi-Fi, the provider commonly asks you to agree to location tracking then records your location whenever you’re in range of one of its hotspots.

Cell site simulators

Cell site simulators, also known as stingrays, trick smartphone users within a vicinity to connect to them rather than to legitimate cell towers by transmitting a stronger signal. Once your device connects to a cell tower simulator, it collects your location data and other information, while also conducting a search of all nearby devices.

Malware or spyware

A device that is infected with malware or spyware can track your location even if your location settings are turned off. Malware can also record your online activities, allow cybercriminals to steal personal information, and slow down your operating system.

Bluetooth

Even with GPS (Global Positioning System) and location services off, your phone’s location can be estimated through its Bluetooth signal. Many stores use Bluetooth beacons to detect your phone as you pass by, helping them analyze customer traffic. Additionally, crowdsourced finding networks such as Apple’s Find My network allow devices to anonymously report the location of other nearby devices through a unique signal identifier.

Reasons for phone tracking

Various entities might track your phone, often for different reasons. Legitimate tracking usually happens with your consent. For example, your mobile carrier uses your location for network management and to locate you in an emergency such as a 911 call. App developers use location data for features, analytics, and targeted advertising. Public Wi-Fi providers may track devices to analyze foot traffic. Consent-based monitoring is also common in parental control apps or employer-managed devices.

On the other hand, malicious tracking occurs without your permission, typically through spyware installed by criminals to steal information. Even law enforcement access requires proper authorization, such as a warrant. To stay in control, it’s wise to regularly review app permissions and your carrier’s privacy settings.

Signs your phone is being tracked

While many reasons for tracking a phone’s location are benign, such as parents seeing where their children might be, scammers and hackers may track phones in an attempt to steal personal data. Luckily, some telltale signs can help you spot whether your phone is being tracked:

Fast battery drain and high data usage

When your phone has spyware, the program continuously runs in the background, draining your battery faster while spiking your data usage. To check your iPhone’s battery health, follow these steps. You’ll see a maximum capacity score that shows your battery power compared to when it was new. An older phone with a battery capacity of 75% could explain why your battery loses power throughout the day. If your battery capacity is 95% or 100% and it drains quickly, however, a virus could be to blame.

Checking the battery health on an Android device is a slightly different process. Depending on the phone manufacturer, you may need to download an app.

Overheating

Using apps with high processing demands can cause your mobile device to heat up. A spyware app that tracks your device’s location will use GPS, which causes the phone to work harder and overheat. If you’re using your smartphone normally and it overheats, it could be a sign of malware.

Extra apps

If there are unfamiliar apps on your phone, someone may have tampered with it. The mystery app could be spyware. Also, when reviewing your security settings, look for unknown “device administrators” in Android or “profiles & device management” in iOS. These can grant extensive control to third parties.

Unprompted activity

If your phone launches activities that you didn’t initiate, an app might be running in the background. Look for a persistent location icon in your status bar even when you’re not using maps. In some cases, malware could reboot your phone to install updates or change the phone’s settings. A phone that automatically restarts lights up for no reason or makes noises during calls or texts could be infected with malware.

5 tips to stop someone from tracking your phone

  • Update and audit permissions: Always keep your operating system updated to get the latest security patches. Routinely audit app permissions and restrict location, Bluetooth, and background app refresh access to only essential apps.
  • Disable unused radios: Turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and near-field communications when you are not actively using them. This prevents your device from connecting to or being seen by unwanted networks or devices.
  • Control your data history: Go into your Google or Apple account settings to disable and clear your location history. You can also reset your advertising ID to disrupt ad tracking profiles built on your location.
  • Use a VPN on public Wi-Fi: A trusted VPN encrypts your connection on public networks, hiding your IP address and online activity from the network provider and others.
  • Remove suspicious apps: Uninstall any unfamiliar apps or profiles. For peace of mind, run a scan with a trusted mobile security app. As a last resort for a compromised device, perform a full factory reset.

FAQs about phone tracking

Here are answers to some common questions about phone tracking.

Can someone track my phone?

Yes, it is possible for someone to track your phone. This can be done through various methods, including malicious spyware, apps to which you have granted location permissions, your mobile carrier’s network data, or by connecting to compromised Wi-Fi networks. Legitimate tracking, such as by law enforcement, requires legal authorization. In most cases, tracking relies on either software installed on your device or the signals it sends out. To minimize this risk, follow the prevention steps outlined in our guide.

Can a phone be tracked if it’s turned off?

Generally, a phone that is powered off can’t be actively tracked as it stops communicating with cell towers and Wi-Fi networks. However, its last known location is often recorded by your carrier or services such as Google Maps. Some modern smartphones also have features that allow them to be found for a few hours after being turned off using low-power Bluetooth signals, as long as the battery isn’t completely drained. So while turning your phone off is a strong preventative measure, it doesn’t erase its previous location history.

Can a phone be tracked with no cell service/connection?

Even without cell service, Android devices and iPhones can be tracked as long as they are powered on. Your phone’s mapping apps can track your phone’s location without an internet connection. The GPS works in two ways. Through data connection, Assisted GPS (A-GPS) uses the locations of cellphone towers and known Wi-Fi networks to figure out where you are. It also uses data from GPS satellites for more precise information. Even without data service, the GPS radio can receive satellite information.

Can a phone be tracked when it’s in airplane mode?

Yes, your phone can be tracked in airplane mode. While it does turn off Wi-Fi and cellular services, airplane mode doesn’t turn off GPS. You’ll have to disable GPS on your device and turn on airplane mode to prevent your phone from being tracked.

Final thoughts

While it’s true that your phone can be tracked even with location services turned off, you are not powerless to protect your privacy. By understanding the different methods trackers use, you can take practical, effective steps to greatly reduce your exposure by staying proactive with regular privacy and app permission reviews, safe digital practices, and using trusted security tools gives you the upper hand in safeguarding your personal information.

For peace of mind, use a mobile security tool like McAfee Security for Mobile to keep your Android or Apple device free from spyware. Our all-inclusive mobile security tool safeguards your digital life by offering a secure VPN, antivirus software, scam detector, and identity monitoring. It actively protects you from malicious apps such as spyware and unwanted visitors.

With a dedicated mobile security app, you can use your phone without worrying about cybercriminals tracking your location and information.