To find out whether your phone is being tracked, you need to check three different things: whether a physical tracker (like an AirTag) is hidden in your belongings, whether a spyware app is installed on the phone, and whether someone still has access to your accounts or your location sharing. Both Android and iPhone have built-in tools for each check, and this guide walks through them in the order that makes sense.
One note up front: this guide is for checking your own device. If you suspect the person who installed something is someone close to you, read the safety section below before you change anything.
Could a tracker be with you instead of on your phone?
Yes. Bluetooth trackers like AirTags are made to find keys and backpacks, but they can also be slipped into a bag or a car. Both phone systems warn you when a tracker that belongs to someone else keeps moving with you.
On Android (version 6 or later), Google’s help page says your phone alerts you when a tracker that isn’t yours stays away from its owner and moves with you. That covers Find Hub network tags, some headphones and Apple AirTags. To run a manual check:
- Open Settings.
- Go to Safety & emergency and tap Unknown tracker alerts.
- Tap Scan now. It takes about 10 seconds.
Menu names vary a little between phone brands. If you get an alert, tap it to see a map of where the tracker was detected with you, then use Play sound to make it chime. Playing the sound doesn’t notify the owner. Google also says you get at most one alert per tracker per day, and Location needs to be on for automatic alerts.
On iPhone, Apple alerts you to unwanted trackers, and the list lives in Find My > Items > Unknown Items Detected with You. To make sure the alerts reach you, use iOS 17.5 or later and check these settings:
- In Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, turn Location Services on, then turn on Significant Locations under System Services.
- In Settings > Bluetooth, keep Bluetooth on.
- In Settings > Notifications > Tracking Notifications, allow notifications.
- Keep Airplane Mode off.
Apple also notes that on an Android phone, Google’s Tracker Detect app from Google Play can scan for nearby trackers that work with Find My. If it detects one for at least 10 minutes, you can play a sound to locate it.
How do you find and disable a tracker?
When an alert shows up, check places you don’t look often: a jacket pocket, the outer pocket of a bag, under a car seat. On iPhone, Play Sound helps, and on models with Ultra Wideband, Find shows direction and distance.
If you find an AirTag, hold the top of your iPhone (or another NFC-capable phone) near its white side. The notification shows its serial number and the last four digits of the owner’s phone number. Take a screenshot, since it may be useful later. To disable it, tap Instructions to Disable and follow the steps. One key detail: turning off Bluetooth, Location Services or Find My on your phone does not stop the owner from seeing the item. You have to disable the tracker itself.
How do you check for spyware on your phone?
Spyware apps, often called stalkerware, are usually installed without your consent and can read messages, capture your screen, track your location and reach the microphone and camera. On Android they tend to be more invasive than on iPhone, according to Trustd.
On Android:
- Open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon in the top-right corner, go to Play Protect, then Settings. Keep Scan apps with Play Protect turned on and run a scan.
- Go to Settings > Accessibility and look for a service you don’t recognize. This feature is one of the most abused by spyware.
- Review your app list and remove anything you didn’t install.
On iPhone:
- Go to Settings > General and look for the profiles or device management section, whose name changes with the iOS version. A profile you don’t recognize deserves suspicion. On a work phone it may be normal, so confirm with your IT team.
- Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check (iOS 16 or later, with an Apple Account that uses two-factor authentication). Emergency Reset stops sharing with all people and apps at once, and Manage Sharing & Access lets you review them one by one.
How do you check your accounts?
Even without a spyware app, someone who knows your password can see your location. In your Google Account, open Your devices > Manage devices and look for devices you don’t recognize. Under Security, review recent security events, and if something wasn’t you, mark it. Change your password, turn on 2-Step Verification and check that your recovery phone number and email haven’t been changed. If your situation looks more like a hijacked line, read our guide on how to tell if your phone was cloned or SIM swapped, and for call-related annoyances see how to block spam calls.
What should you do if you find something?
Before you delete anything, think about your safety. Removing spyware can alert the person who installed it and, in some cases, make abusive behavior worse. Deleting also destroys evidence. If you might need to report it, Trustd suggests leaving the phone untouched and using a different one. For a password-protected app, it describes two ways out: a factory reset (back up what you want to keep first) or technical tools run from a computer. Don’t try to guess the app’s password.
If you feel unsafe, go to a safe public place and contact law enforcement or someone you trust. Google’s help page lists the Safety Net Project in the US among its support resources, and the Coalition Against Stalkerware (stopstalkerware.org) lists support organizations by country.
Frequently asked questions
Does turning off Bluetooth and location stop a tracker?
No. Both Google and Apple say that turning off Bluetooth, location or airplane mode doesn’t stop a physical tracker from sharing its location. You have to disable the tracker itself.
Will Android warn me about every tracker?
It warns you about compatible trackers, such as Find Hub tags, some headphones and AirTags, and only after they’ve been away from their owner and moving with you.
Does a factory reset remove stalkerware?
Usually, yes, but it wipes all your data and any evidence. Back up what you need and decide first whether you want to preserve proof.
Can I use this guide to spy on someone else?
No. It’s for protecting your own device and accounts.
