How to Track Mobile Number Location in Google Maps

Have you ever wondered how to track a phone number using Google Maps, or have you misplaced your device and need to find it using mobile number tracking? This article delves into the process of tracking a mobile number’s location via Google Maps, exploring the methods, third-party tools, prerequisites, etc., that make this technology accessible.

These methods yield the desired results most of the time, although a few hiccups might occur once in a while, which is why I have also included their resolutions. While selecting the third-party sites, we spent over 90 hours testing them for almost two weeks and shortlisted the 4 best among the 20+ other tools that we tried. You can now dive into the methods one by one to find what suits your needs. Read more…

Method 1: Google Maps Sharing Technique

One of the best methods for people who want to keep track of their loved ones is using the Google Maps sharing technique. During our Italian summer vacation, my friends and I would use this method to meet up at a certain spot after we wrapped up our separate plans in the town. However, make sure there’s no GPS interference, as it hindered my location accuracy at times when I was indoors. I tested it on different terrains and noticed that it tracks better when there is a clear sky view.

Here’s how you can set it up:

Step 1) First, open Google Maps on your device, tap on your profile for the menu, and click on Location Sharing.

Step 2) Now tap on Share Location and add the contacts you want to share your whereabouts with instantly with one click whenever you want. (This name/contact will be added to your quick location-sharing list till you remove it.)

Step 3) You can also choose the duration according to your preference for sharing the location.

Link: https://www.google.com/maps

Method 2: Using Third-Party Apps

Here are the best third-party apps that I came across while looking for tools to track a phone number’s location on Google Maps. However, caution is advised while using such third-party sites as they may invade privacy. Hence, avoid stalking people and track them only when needed.

1) Spokeo

Spokeo is great for looking up people you are trying to verify for recruitment or dating. It is a robust reverse lookup site that offers complete details of a person, including their current and past addresses. However, I won’t recommend it for users who need real-time location data as it is not a GPS tracking service.

A few issues that I came across while using Spokeo include outdated address data and an information gap in the reports. In such cases, I waited for some days for Spokeo to update the information in the existing report. You will be notified when the addresses are updated, or try using other lookup services if it’s urgent.

Here’s a step-by-step demonstration of how I used Spokeo:

Step 1) Go to https://www.spokeo.com/, select the Phone search parameter, enter the number, and hit Search Now.

Step 2) Allow the tool to search and get the full report in under a minute.

You can click on the addresses to view the location.

Visit Spokeo >>

7-Days Trial for $0.95

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2) mSpy

mSpy is one of the most powerful mobile number location tracking tools. It is great for parents and married individuals who want to monitor their kids and spouses. I would not recommend it for people who want to track anyone other than family members, as it is a phone spy app and is highly invasive. However, I must admit it’s one of the most reliable apps, given the fact that it provides real-time location updates and has a geo-fencing feature with alerts.

The drawback that I noticed was the draining of the phone battery. This may indicate that a spy app has been installed on the target’s device if you have not taken their consent. To eliminate this issue, I limit the tracking and check the route history later. That’s because you must also be mindful of their battery life since constantly tracking them may lead your family members to trouble if their phone dies in the middle of nowhere. Please check their battery percentage on your dashboard so you know when to stop tracking.

Here’s a step-by-step on how you can use mSpy:

Step 1) Visit https://www.mspy.com/, purchase a suitable plan and download it on the target device if its an Andoird. In case of iPhone you can use iCloud credentials to access phone data.

Step 2) Add the device to your mSpy account dashboard and allow the data to sync for some time. Once the data is synced, you can go to the GPS location option and start tracking the device’s location.

Step 3) The List View also has direct Google Maps access.

Visit mSpy >>

14-Days Money-Back Guarantee

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3) Geofinder

Geofinder is a no-nonsense, direct phone number location tracker. I simply had to input the number on a search bar and look for it directly from the site, which is excellent for finding misplaced/lost phones. The other way to use it is to download its app and send an SMS to your friend with a tracking link. I tested it multiple times with my colleague. When she clicked on the link, it triggered her location sharing. Allowing me to view the pinned location immediately with the date, time, geo coordinates, and complete street address.

However, at times, I noticed that the tracking takes longer than expected in the case of direct search. Also, cross-check to see if you are using a valid number and correct country code. The app was also unable to pinpoint the correct location of the person a few times, and I had to resend the tracking link. When this happens, just close your app and restart it or check if it needs an update.

Here’s a step-by-step on how to use this mobile number tracker with Google Maps:

Step 1) First, go to the https://geofinder.mobi/, type the number in the search bar, and hit Find.

Step 2) Allow the site to search for the number’s location. Once found, it will directly lead you to the maps with details.

Visit Geofinder >>

24-Hours Free Trial

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4) Scannero.io

Scannero.io is an anonymous location tracking tool that allows users to search for a phone number’s whereabouts directly from its site. It offers a location-by-link service that lets you send a customized SMS with a tracking link. I found it suitable for tracking both family members and verifying an unknown phone number’s location. Scannero.io has also helped me locate my kid’s phone when he left it at school.

The direct search is ideal for anonymous search if you want to track people without them knowing or need to find a missing phone. However, the link technique can be used when you want direct consent from the individual. During the first few times of testing, my friends and family members didn’t receive the SMS with a tracking link. After trying multiple times, it finally worked, hence, make sure to confirm about the message delivery.

Here’s a step-by-step on how I used Scannero.io:

Step 1) Go to https://scannero.io/, enter the desired number, and tap the Locate button.

Step 2) Allow the tool to search and get a complete report with the location details for the particular phone number.

Visit Scannero.io >>

1-Day Trial For $0.89

Method 3: Using Google Family Link

Google Family Link is best for parents and families to track their kids and members. It helps you remain connected with your family at all times. I have recently started using it a lot since my kids started middle school and my grandparents moved in with us. However, it works slightly better on Android devices. Hence, you can use additional apps such as Find My or other parental control apps if your family uses iOS.

Here’s how I use Google Family Link to locate phones:

Step 1) After you install Google Family Link, launch the app on your device.

Step 2) Select the targeted device, for example, your kid’s phone, and tap on the location option to find the Android/iOS phone.

Link: https://families.google/familylink/

Method 4: Using Google Maps Timeline

Using Google Maps Timeline, you can check the location history of the device associated with your Google account. This method was quite helpful in locating my spare phone, which I had misplaced at work. However, when I tried this method, my timeline didn’t show any updates in the beginning. To fix this, I checked if my location history was activated and ensured the targeted Google account synced properly with my device. Additionally, you can try signing out and signing back in or clearing the app cache.

Here is a step-by-step on how to use Google Maps Timeline:

Step 1) First, open your Google Maps, and click on your profile when using your phone or the burger menu on the left if you are on a desktop to find Your Timeline.

Step 2) If it shows Timeline is off, turn it on and choose the account linked to the device you want to track. This will start tracking your device’s location history.

Step 3) Once the location is tracked, you will be able to see the details about all places visited with timestamps.

Link: https://www.google.com/maps

Method 5: Using Find My App (iOS)

Find My app is a built-in tracking service developed by Apple. I have used it numerous times to find my kid’s location, especially during school hours. It is pretty robust and supports all Apple products. If you are requesting the other person’s location, ask them to share it directly from the app. While using it, I came across incorrect and outdated locations a few times; this usually happens when the target phone is not connected to the internet. Therefore, ask the person to keep their device connected to Wi-Fi or turn on their data. Note that it’s only possible if a Google account is linked to the device you want to track.

Follow the steps given below to track the targetted mobile number easily:

Step 1) Open the Find My app on your iOS device and enable Find My.

Step 2) Now, go to the Devices option and select the device you want to track. This will show exactly where a particular iOS phone is.

Link: https://www.apple.com/in/icloud/find-my/

Method 6: Using Find My Device (Android)

Find My Device app is a similar phone location tracking service to Find My. It can locate any lost or misplaced Android devices. Along with locating the device, it also helped me lock and erase the phone for privacy reasons and even play a sound to find it easily. However, while testing the method, it showed me that the device was unreachable, and that’s when I realized the missing phone wasn’t connected to the internet. It also doesn’t work if the device is not linked to any Google account. If you notice that the location data is not updating accurately, check if the app is updated.

Here’s a step-by-step process of using Find My Device to locate a phone:

Step 1) Launch the app on your phone and make sure you are signed into your Google account.

Step 2) Turn on your device’s location for better accuracy and tap on Devices. Select the device you want to track and find it on the map.

Method 7: By Setting emergency Location Sharing

Setting emergency location sharing is the best option for sending out SOS during a crisis. I have requested all my family members to set it up on their devices for instant phone location. This setting differs for iPhone and Android; hence, I’ll demonstrate them one by one. Although it’s a helpful method, you must ensure that you have a strong network connection for accuracy, it also consumes a lot of battery life, thus, be careful while using it, lest your phone dies during an emergency.

1) iPhone

Here are the steps:

Step 1) Open the Health app and set up your medical ID.

Step 2) Once it is set, add the emergency contacts and enable the location services for SOS.

2) Android

Here’s a step-by-step demo:

Step 1) Go to settings and scroll to Safety & Emergency.

Step 2) Now tap on “Emergency Sharing and toggle Auto send SMS with location. Then, add at least one contact to send an SOS alert.

Method 8: Using WhatsApp Location Sharing

This is one of the easiest and best mobile number trackers with Google Map methods for daily use cases. WhatsApp offers two types of location sharing– Live and Current. This is not an anonymous tracking service, as the user must share the location link with you to track them. However, make sure they share the current location instead of live, as the latter doesn’t allow you to follow the tracks of the target device. One major drawback that I noticed is that it doesn’t always pick up the exact location; instead, it offers options like “accurate to 20 meters, accurate to 50 meters”, or landmarks. In such cases, I pick the nearest landmark and share it with my contacts, or I go to the closest landmark for tracking and then follow the device’s location.

Here’s how you can share/track the location using WhatsApp:

Step 1) Open WhatsApp, tap on the paperclip icon, and click on Location.

Step 2) Now select Send your current location or the nearest Landmark and tap on it to send.

Step 3) To track the device of your friend or family member, follow the steps above. Once you receive it, tap on the location, select Google Maps, and follow them in real time.

Method 9: Using Social Media to find someone’s location

Without limiting yourself to Google Maps, you can also find someone’s location using social media. I use platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. This trick might not always be real-time tracking and continuous updates, but it can still get you somewhere. Many investigators, business owners, and tech-savvy individuals have found it helpful to gather clues, track competitors, etc. I’ll admit it’s not a direct approach, but depending on the situation, it’s a valuable method to add to the list.

I usually check the stories or directly access the maps on these platforms to find someone’s whereabouts. If you want to remain anonymous, you can use apps like Glassagrm to view IG stories. Below, I have given some simple examples of location updates on social networks. If the user has no stories, I check their posts, tags, and highlights to gather the details.

Instagram story and post with location:

Facebook Story and Snapmap:

Prerequisites for Tracking a Mobile Number on Google Maps

Here are some of the prerequisites you need before tracking a mobile number on Google Maps:

• You need to get proper consent from the mobile number owner.
• Both you and the tracked individual must have an active Google account for the location sharing and tracking to work.
• Always keep your Google Maps app updated to avoid any inaccuracies and lags while tracking.
• Location sharing and tracking require a stable internet connection–ensure the device is connected to a source.
• Make sure that the target device’s location sharing is enabled at all times for accurate GPS tracking.
• Check if you have allowed all the necessary app permissions to Google Maps for real-time tracking and alerts.

Myths vs. Reality of Mobile Number Location Tracking

Let me crackdown some of the myths with the reality of mobile number location tracking:

Myths	Reality
Location tracking provides pin-point location instantly	Not every tracking service offers an immediate pinpoint location. This technology relies on triangulation or signal data and offers approximate accuracy.
Google Maps tracks mobile numbers in real-time	The tracking service depends on what is shared by the user instead of a stringent real-time tracking
Tracking a mobile number is always legal	It is subject to strict regulation, and the laws depend on intent, consent, etc. Unauthorized tracking of any kind is illegal.
Location tracking is always reliable	Even apps with real-time location updates may fail to provide the current location instantly. A user must see that the app is functioning correctly without relying blindly.
Anyone can track a phone number with an app	Legitimate services require proper authorization, subscription fees, and user consent most of the time.

Tips to Track a Switched-Off Phone Using Mobile Number

To track a phone that is switched off can be quite challenging as there are no signals to track. However, I have a few tricks up my sleeve to help you out in such cases:

• You can report the IMEI number to law enforcement, which will help them track your device.
• If the SIM card is taken out and inserted into another phone, then you can track the number’s location.
• Social media can also guide you with the most recent story with location clues, and Snapmap may also show the last location.
• Banking and online transaction apps also provides the last location where they were used. You may need the help of law enforcement for this method.
• You can ask your mobile service provider for the last tower location to help find the phone. However, it requires legal authorization.
• Services like Find My and Find My Device show the last known location, even if the phone is currently turned off.
• Google Timeline is also a great way to locate the phone’s route history and see the most recent location before it was switched off.

FAQs

Conclusion

racking a mobile number’s location in Google Maps is not a complicated process, but the accuracy could be in question at times. It is crucial for both the tracker and the phone number owner to have an active Google account for tracking. As per my observation, Google Maps’s features and Find My/Find My Device are the best options for locating a phone number. I also found third parties like Spokeo, mSpy, Geofinder, and Scannero.io quite helpful. In my opinion, it’s best to use methods that offer real-time tracking rather than just locating the phone number’s position on the map for better accuracy.