Protecting your privacy is important due to the increasing number of cyber security threats and hacking incidents. This includes checking if someone checks your iPhone location and how you can limit or stop them.
So, can you see if someone checks your location on your iPhone? This article will answer this question and discuss how people can track your iPhone location. Stick around to discover you can stop anyone from accessing your live iPhone location.
Can You See if Someone Checks Your Location on Your iPhone?
No, you can’t tell when someone checks your location on an iPhone. However, people can see your location if you share it via the “Find My“ feature or when they have your Apple ID and password. You won’t get notified when someone with your ID views your location.
Changing your password is ideal if you suspect someone has checked your location. The location icon on the top left of your screen is a potential indication that someone is tracking your iPhone.
It’s worth noting that someone can track your location using your iPhone in many ways.
Ways Someone Can Track Your Location on iPhone
Here are ways someone can track your location on your iPhone:
Method 1. Find My Device Feature
iPhone’s “Find My” feature is a built-in tool that allows you to share locations with chosen contacts through the “Share My Location“. You can select different live location-sharing settings, such as “Share Once”, “Share Ongoing”, and “Share on the Way”.
Once you share your location with a contact, they can track where you are as long as your device’s Location Services is on.
“Find My” can also help locate a lost or stolen iPhone. If you’ve lost your iPhone, use a Mac or iPad or visit your iCloud account to check its approximate location. The feature also helps you lock the device, erase data, or make it ring if it’s misplaced.
Here are more details on sharing the iPhone’s location from Apple Support.
Method 2. Using Third-Party Apps
Unauthorized individuals can use third-party apps to bypass “Find My’s” location-sharing restrictions. They can install the apps and access your location data using a secondary device without your knowledge.
Also, avoid clicking on suspicious links. They can have malware that hackers can exploit to access your location data.
You can deny the apps’ location permission by going to “Settings > Privacy & Security> Tracking”. Find the suspicious app and turn off its tracking permission.
Alternatively, removing the unwanted apps is a permanent solution. To do this, access the apps from the “Home Screen”, tap and hold the app you want to remove and select “Remove App > Delete App”.
Method 3. Shared Photos With Location Data
Sharing your camera photos can unintentionally tell someone your iPhone location. After taking a photo, the iPhone camera adds the specific location data for organizational purposes. Therefore, you’ll share your location data when sharing an image via various platforms.
However, social media sites like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok erase location data for privacy reasons. Nonetheless, you can entirely disable the camera’s location permission by accessing “Settings > Privacy & Security> Location Services > Camera > Never”.
Important! Your Location Services should be on for you can see an app’s location permission.
Method 4. Via Bluetooth
Bluetooth detectors or beacons in public areas can intercept your iPhone’s location. These areas include malls or store entrances, street intersections, and public parks. The device operators can then learn your movement patterns and use the information to track you.
Also, strategically placed beacons can allow someone to see your iPhone’s location. Depending on your iPhone’s security restrictions, malicious individuals like hackers can access confidential data.
Remember to switch your iPhone’s Bluetooth off when not in use or in the mentioned public areas.
How to Stop Your iPhone from Being Tracked?
You can use several methods to prevent someone from checking your iPhone location. They include navigating your phone’s settings and using external methods. Read on to find more.
It’s worth noting that people can see if you stopped sharing your location on your iPhone.
Here are methods of stopping your iPhone from being tracked:
Solution 1. Enable Airplane Mode
Enabling Airplane Mode can prevent people from seeing your iPhone location and any potential tracking or hacking activity. However, it disables features like network connectivity and making and receiving calls.
To enable Airplane Mode, swipe down from the top of your screen to access the Control Panel. Tap on the “Plane” icon to activate Airplane mode. Repeat the process to disable it.
Solution 2. Disable The “Share My Location” Feature
When you disable
Here’s how to disable the “Share My Location” Feature:
- Step 1. Go to “Settings”.
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Step 2. Scroll to “Privacy and Security”.
- Step 3. Choose “Location Services”.
- Step 4. Tap on “Share My Location”.
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Step 5. Tap on the slider next to “Share My Location” to disable it.
Get more details on location sharing from Apple Support.
Solution 3. Turn Off Device Location
You can also entirely turn off your iPhone’s location. This will prevent any app or the “Find My” feature from accessing your location data. This is a good way to protect against third-party location-spy apps.
Here are the steps to turn off your device’s location:
- Step 1. Access “Settings > Privacy & Security”.
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Step 2. Select “Location Services”.
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Step 3. Click on the slider next to “Location Services” to disable it.
Here’s more information on turning off the iPhone’s location from the Apple Support.
Solution 4. Use Third-Party Apps
Third-party apps like Mocpogo, iMyFone, or iAnygo are a great way to tell if someone is looking at your location. These apps can also hide your location from specific contacts in the “Find My” feature without them knowing.
You can also use these apps to create fake virtual locations on your iPhone.
Here’s how to use a fake location using the iAnygo app:
- Step 1. Install & launch the app on another computer.
- Step 2. Select “Change Location”.
- Step 3. Connect your iPhone to the computer.
- Step 4. Click “Enter”.
- Step 5. Type the preferred fake address in the search box
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Step 6. Click “Start to Modify > Continue” to finish setting up the fake location.
Prevent People from Checking Your iPhone Location!
Apple has implemented features like “Find My” and “Share My Location” to protect your privacy. However, Bluetooth beacons and third-party apps can still reveal your location to others.
To prevent this, you can disable airplane mode and location sharing to keep your data private. However, disabling these features will also prevent you from using “Share My Location” with others.
Alternatively, use third-party apps like iAnygo to hide your real-time location and know if someone can see your iPhone location.
