How to track iPhone without Find My iPhone in 5 effective ways

The last thing that you want after spending over a thousand dollars on your iPhone is to lose it. Luckily, with the naive “Find My” features from Apple, you can always keep track of your iOS devices. However, things can get trickier if you’ve not set up the Find My iPhone features. The query “How to track iPhone without Find My iPhone” has become fairly common among iOS users. If you’re in a similar situation, then worry not! A few other methods can help you even if you’re not properly set up the Find My features.

Can I track an iPhone without Find My iPhone?

Yes, you can track your iPhone even without Find My iPhone features. There are several third-party apps and even the official Google Timeline features to help you out. Similarly, you’ve also got the option of using the IMEI number to track your device. It all comes down to how creative you can get when creating backups to track your iPhone. Personally, I prefer using third-party apps to track my iPhone, but you can rely on any of the options you like.

How to track iPhone without Find My iPhone

Google Timeline

Google Timeline is a feature within the Google Maps application that helps you track your location history. The Google Timeline feature will still track your device even if you’ve not turned on the Find My iPhone feature. The only prerequisite for this feature to work is that you’ve logged onto your Google account and enabled these features beforehand. Otherwise, Google Timeline won’t track your location history.

Once these features are enabled, you can follow this method to learn how to track your iPhone.

1. Open the browser on any device and go to the official Google Maps web page.
2. Login with your account credentials.
3. Select the device you want to track with Google Timeline.
4. Filter the date, and you’ll see the location history on Google Maps.

This method will help you figure out the last known location of your iPhone without the Find My iPhone features. So, if you left your phone at a friend’s house or at your office, this feature is enough for you to track everything.

Pros

• It offers free service to all users.
• The location history is extensive and spans months.

Cons

• The location accuracy is not that great, and you’ll only get a rough idea.
• The live location features don’t work.

Third-party GPS tracking apps

Third-party tracking apps like Life360 are great when you need the location of your iPhone. This app is free and offers location history, route details, and much more. So, if you’re still unsure about how to track your iPhone, just use this app. The only requirement to use Life360 is an active network connection. So, as long as you have a good data plan, you can track your iPhone without Find My iPhone features.

Here is how to track iPhone with Life360.

1. Install Life360 from the App Store and register your account.
2. Subscribe to the free plan.
3. Create a family circle and add another device to your circle.
4. Track your personal device with the backup device in your house.

If you need more details on the location history, you can always subscribe to the premium plan. Personally, I’d recommend that you involve your family members and connect their devices to the family circle. That way, they will be able to keep an eye on your location. This app is especially useful if you live in a dangerous neighborhood.

Pros

• Live location features are exceptional.
• The location accuracy is pretty great.
• It offers directions to the device’s current location.
• Your family members can check your location at any time.

Cons

• Requires a decent data plan.
  • The directions to the device can often glitch out.

Apple Watch

If you’re still on the edge about tracking your iPhone without the Find My iPhone app, then you can also use your Apple Watch. However, the only downside of this feature is that you will have to pair the device beforehand. Otherwise, you’ll be left clueless about your device’s location.

Here is how to track iPhone with Apple Watch.

1. Tap your Apple Watch and go to the “Find Devices” feature.
2. Browse through the connected devices and tap the lost device.
3. Follow its location on the maps.
4. Turn on the “Notify when found” feature if the lost device is inactive.

Pros

• Offers quick location data to the connected users.
• Works great when the target device is currently active.

Cons

• The alerts don’t work sometimes when the device is online.

IMEI Number

It is always a good idea to note down your device’s IMEI number when you purchase it. This unique number will help you track your device through the network provider. Even though the hassle of using an IMEI number for tracking is a bit much, you’ll still get an approximate location of your device.

Here is how to track iPhone with IMEI number.

1. Launch the web browser on your PC and open any IMEI tracking website.
2. Give your iPhone’s IMEI number and select the country.
3. Click search to start tracking your device.

Pros

• Works well even if you don’t have any tracking app set up.

Cons

• The location tracking accuracy is subpar.
• You’ll need to contact the official network provider helpline to track IMEI further.

Calling the lost phone

Lastly, you can just give your lost phone a call to see if anyone picks up. Assuming that your iPhone didn’t get stolen, someone will likely pick it up and tell you that they have your device. You can then coordinate a meetup with this person and get your device back. It is also a nice gesture to give this kind stranger a coffee or treat him to lunch. They likely saved you over a thousand dollars along with your personal data.

Pros

• You won’t have to spend hours trying to find the accurate location of your iPhone.

Cons

• There are slim chances that this method will work because strangers can be greedy.

What to do if you lose your iPhone

Learning how to track an iPhone with Find My iPhone features is crucial whenever you get an iOS device. This feature from Apple helps millions of users save their devices from being lost or stolen. So, if you’re still in possession of your device, turn on the Find My iPhone features right away.

That way, when you lose your iPhone, you can quickly find it with the Find My iPhone tool. Just use this tool to play a sound on your iPhone and get directions to your device. This feature even offers a lost mode, which will lock up your device until you get it back. So, don’t worry about losing any data.

On the other hand, if you lost your iPhone and don’t have the Find My iPhone app set up, then you will have to use the methods listed above. Your first move should always be to grab a few friends and go to the last location of your iPhone. From there, you and your friends can manually search for the lost device. It is also a good idea to involve the authorities if you have sensitive data on your iPhone.

Bonus tip: how to track an Android from my iPhone

Tracking an Android from an iPhone is much easier when you’re using tools like FlashGet Kids. This is a parental control app with a ton of monitoring features to protect your kids. So, if you’re looking for methods to track your kids’ devices, just install FlashGet Kids and connect your iPhone to their Android.

Here are the steps to connect your phone to your kids’ devices.

1. Download and install FlashGet Kids on your iPhone.

2. Sign up for a FlashGet Kids parent account.

3. Download the FlashGet Kids app (kids version) on the target Android.

4. Bind both devices by following the in-app instructions.

5. Open your parental control app and access the live location from the dashboard.

It is one of the best Android trackers on the market, and it even works in hidden mode. So, if you’re worried about your kids sneaking out of the house, you can use FlashGet Kids to always keep an eye on them.

The good thing about FlashGet Kids location tracker is that it isn’t limited to location tracking only! You’ll get a ton of parental control tools within this app. Here are some features that’ll sweeten up the subscription deal for you and your family.

• App tracking and daily usage reports.
• Screen mirroring and call tracking.
• Remote camera tracking.
• Notification tracking.
• Social app tracking.
• Screen time tracking and restrictions.

So, if you’re looking for a one-stop parental control package, I won’t be able to suggest a better app than FlashGet Kids. It offers exceptaionl location tracking with a ton of other features to make your life easier.

Final words

The question “How to track iPhone without Find My iPhone” app can be tricky to answer. Even though it is pretty inconvenient to track a lost device without the native Find My features, it can still be done with the methods above. Just don’t wait long when your device is lost, and use Google Timeline or any third-party tracking app that you’ve set up beforehand. These methods will help you figure out the approximate location of your device. From there, you can search for your iPhone with your friends and family at the target location.

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