How to track an iPhone without an app?

We have all felt that mini heart attack when we can’t find our iPhones. Aside from the hefty price you paid for this phone, you’ll lose all data that wasn’t synced with iCloud. So, it is best to use a tracking application with your iPhone as a safety measure. This tracking app will guide you to the device when it gets lost. Even though some people find these apps intrusive, they are necessary as a backup. Moreover, most people don’t know how to track an iPhone without an app.

After removing tracking apps from the equation, you’ll only be left with services like Google or iCloud to track your iPhone. These services are not that accurate, and you’ll only get a rough idea of the last known location. So, keep that in mind if you wish to track an iPhone.

How to track an iPhone without an app?

Track an iPhone via iCloud

Even when you’re not using a dedicated tracking app for your iPhone, the “iCloud Find Devices” features will help you track it. These features will not only track all the devices linked to your iCloud account but also save location history for up to 24 hours. So, if you lost your iPhone recently, do not worry! Your device’s last known location will still appear within the iCloud Find Devices features.

On the other hand, if it has been more than 24 hours, then you’re in trouble. The approximate location provided by iCloud will no longer be valid. However, you can still enable the “notify when online” feature to get an email when the iPhone is turned on.

Here is how to track an iPhone without an app using iCloud Find Devices features.

  1. Open up the browser on your PC and log in to your iCloud account.
  2. Select the available device from the Find Devices feature.
  3. Analyze the iCloud app to track the location of your lost iPhone.
track an iPhone location via iCloud

This method will work if the device is currently active. If the device is offline, you’ll see an “offline” status below the device name. In such a situation, the “find my iPhone” features won’t work to track the live location. Instead, you will only get the last location of the Apple device.

Track an iPhone via Google Maps

One more method that you can use here is Google Maps. Assuming that you’ve enabled the location history and other location services on the Google Maps app, you’ll get a brief timeline of your travels. You can log on to the Google Maps Timeline using any browser and track the last location of your iPhone without an Apple ID.

Here are the steps that you need to consider.

  1. Open the browser on a PC or any other device.
  2. Log in to your Google account.
  3. Go to Google Maps Timeline.
  4. Select the Today tab (or the day you lost your phone).
  5. Check the timeline to track the location of your iPhone.
Track an iPhone via Google Maps timeline

You can track location easily if the device is online. However, if you need a complete timeline to get a rough idea of your device’s location, the Google Maps features are better.

How to track an iPhone location from another iPhone?

Having access to another iPhone can also prove to be useful when tracking your lost Apple device. You can rely on family sharing group features or the “help a friend” features in the Find My application. Moreover, if you use multiple iOS devices with the same iCloud account, the Find My app can help you track the lost device. Here are some details on how to track an iPhone’s location from another iPhone.

Method 1: Using family sharing groups.

It’s common for people to set up family-sharing groups where your family can track the locations of each other’s devices. If you also had a similar system set up with your family, then you can use it to track your lost device. Just follow these steps after you’ve made sure that your location was shared with the family members.

find an iPhone via family sharing groups
  1. Open the Find My app on any of your family member’s devices.
  2. Go to the devices section and find your device.
  3. Tap the directions features to see its location on the map.

If the device is offline, you will still be able to see the last location of the lost device. So, don’t despair if your device is inactive within the family-shared devices.

Method 2: Using another iPhone with the same iCloud.

The Find My app works wonders for you with multiple devices. You won’t even have to ask your family members to track your lost device in this situation. Just follow these steps, and you’ll be in the green.

track an iPhone via same iCloud account
  1. Open the Find My app.
  2. Select your lost device.
  3. Navigate to the given location.

To track location effectively, you should hope that the lost device is online. Otherwise, you’ll have a harder time tracking its exact coordinates.

Method 3: Use the help a friend feature.

Lastly, to track location for an iPhone without an app or any tracking accessory, you can rely on the help a friend features. Assuming that you didn’t share your location with your family and you don’t have any other iPhone on you, you can rely on a friend to help you track your lost device. Here are the steps that you can follow.

  1. Open the Find My app on your friend’s device.
  2. Scroll down after accessing the “Me” tab.
  3. Click on the “help a friend” option.
  4. Log in with your personal iCloud credentials.
  5. Check the device status and get directions to your lost device.

The Find My app will start showing your devices once you input the right credentials into the redirect browser tab. So, don’t hesitate to provide your iCloud credentials and log in to the given account. You’ll surely get the location details you need to track your lost phone.

How to track an iPhone that is offline or turned off?

The good thing about Apple is that it saves your geolocation data for up to 7 days in some cases. You can access this location data through your iCloud account to check the last location of your lost device. While I won’t deny that tracking an offline iPhone is inconvenient, but it is still possible. So, don’t lose hope and follow these steps.

  1. Use the Find My app to access your device.
  2. Enable lost mode.
  3. Get directions to the last location.

You can also erase your device if you have sensitive data on your phone. Moreover, it can take a while to track the exact location of your iPhone with the last location feature. So, be patient as you rely on the location history from iCloud.

Limitations of tracking an iPhone without an app

Even after going through all the ways you can track an iPhone without an app, I still support the point that it is pretty inconvenient. You’ll lose a ton of time with the methods above, and the chances are still slim that you find the iPhone. So, it is best to get a tracking app for your device while it is safe in your hands.

Here are the issues you will likely have to deal with when tracking an iPhone without an app.

  • You’ll only get the appropriate location of the lost device.
  • There aren’t any safety alerts if you don’t have a tracking app.
  • You will likely have to ask your family members or friends for help.
  • The location history features can glitch out sometimes.
  • Location data is sometimes available for 24 hours only.
  • You won’t get any updates when the device goes offline.

These are some of the limitations of tracking an iPhone without an app. However, you’ll be able to get through the majority of these concerns by using a decent location-tracking app.

Spy app is the best way to keep full track of your iPhone

The best way to track your iPhone is by using spy applications like CocoSpy, uMobix, mSpy, and Spyic. These apps offer a ton of tracking features, from geofencing to complete location history and emergency alerts. You’ll get a notification every time your device leaves the geofence. So, you’ll be alerted if someone tries to leave with your iPhone. The only requirement is that you’ll need a good data connection to keep the spy app working.

Key features of spy apps for tracking iPhone

Depending on the spy app you use, the features can vary a bit. Moreover, you will have to pay a couple of dollars each month for the service charges. Still, it is still much better than trying to track an iPhone without an app.

Here are the spy apps that can be offered for your iPhone.

  • Last location and real-time updates.
  • Geofencing.
  • App monitoring.
  • Keylogging.
  • Message monitoring.
  • Call monitoring.

Sadly, because of the high security of iPhone devices, some spy apps don’t offer as many features as you’d expect. However, these apps are more than enough to track location and find a lost device. So, if you don’t mind letting go of some monitoring features, test out spy apps to track your iPhone.

Bonus-tip: How to track an Android from an iPhone?

On the other side of things, if you want to track an Android from an iPhone, then apps like FlashGet Kids offer complete coverage. You will not miss out on any monitoring features with this tool, and it is only $4.99 each month. So, if you have kids or a loved one that’s on Android, consider pairing their device with your iPhone using FlashGet Kids. They won’t ever have to worry about losing their device as long as you’re tracking them with this tool.

Here is what you can track with FlashGet Kids:

It is one of the most complete parental control tools in the market. Moreover, you can also test out its free trial for 3-10 days. So, you don’t have to risk a penny to make use of FlashGet Kids.

Conclusion

Knowing how to track an iPhone without an app can help you out in tricky situations. However, I always recommend people use a spy app to track their devices. If you’re a businessman or a parent, tracking yourself or your loved ones will secure their privacy. You will not have to worry about lost devices or data theft. So, take out a couple of bucks from your monthly budget and spend that on a tracking app like FlashGet Kids.

FAQs

How do l use Google to find my iPhone?

You can use Google Maps Timeline on a browser to get your iPhone’s location history. Just check the “today history” and go to the last location where your iPhone was active.

How can l find my lost iPhone without Apple lD?

Use the “family sharing groups” feature within the Find My app to find your lost iPhone without an Apple ID. You can also use a different iPhone which uses the same iCloud account.

How can l help my friend find his lost iPhone?

You can use the “help a friend” feature in the Find My app on your iPhone to find your friend’s device. Remember that he will have to input his iCloud credentials to access the missing iPhone’s location.

About the author

Kidcaring, Chief Writer in FlashGet Kids.
She is dedicated to shaping parental control in the digital world. She is an experienced expert in the parenting industry and has engaged in reporting and writing different parental control apps. For the past five years, she has provided additional parental guides for the family and has contributed to changing parenting methods.

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