Tracking someone is not something that we usually do. But sometimes it might become necessary to track the phone and know the current location of someone. Especially in the case of the kids. While the kids are out for school or playing somewhere, it becomes necessary to keep an eye on them. Just to be on the safe side. Not only for the sake of kids but there can be many other reasons for that. What if you’re going to someone’s house for the first time? Don’t you need their location at that time? Of course, you do. Just like that, there can be many other reasons to track someone’s location on Google Maps.
Now, while we are talking about location tracking, what do you think is the better way to do that, instead of using Google Maps? Absolutely nothing. Without the help of Google Maps, tracking can never become so much easier. So let’s learn how it is possible to locate someone using Google Maps along with the help of WhatsApp and Messages app. Not only this, but we also share a trick using which you can easily track someone on Google Maps without them knowing.
Table Of Contents
- Quick Summary
- How To Track Someone’s Location On Google Maps
- How To Do It Anonymously?
- With Phone Number
- With WhatsApp
- Use A Spy App
- Final Verdict
Quick Summary
Tracking someone on Google Maps without them knowing is possible. You can use Google Maps built-in settings to track cell phone location for free on Google Maps. You can also make use of third-party apps like WhatsApp or spyware to find someone’s location on Google Maps without them knowing.
How To Track Someone’s Location On Google Maps
Google Maps is pre-installed on all Android phones by default. However, only a few know how to track cell phone location on Google Maps. Here’s how you can do that.
1. Open Google Maps on the target device i.e. cell phone of the person whose location you wish to track. Then, tap on the profile icon at the top right of the screen. Next, from the various options available, select Location sharing.
2. Now, tap on the Share Location button to proceed with locating a person on Google Maps.
3. On the next screen, you can select the time for which you want to track the location of that person. You can tap on the plus icon to increase the time and tap on the minus icon to decrease it. To track the location without any barrier of time, simply tap on Until you turn this off option. But after selecting it, other sharing options like WhatsApp, Telegram, email, BlueTooth, etc. will disappear and you will only be able to track someone’s location by sending a link as a text message. In my case, I am making use of the Until you turn this off option.
Note: If the target person has shared their location with you anytime in the past then the location will be sent automatically without any message.
4. After selecting your contact from the target device, you might see a pop-up saying that the contact is not connected to the Google account. Simply tap on OK.
5. Now tap on Send and then finally send the prepared link from the messaging app to yourself.
6. Now use the link to see the current location of that person anytime you want from your phone.
Sending the location is also possible from inside the Maps app. In this case, you will get a notification on your phone from the target device.
After tapping on that notification, the Maps app will open with the location of that person. You can easily get the direction to their location as well with a simple tap on the Directions option.
The steps to track someone on Google Maps on iPhone are similar to those on Android.
1. Go to Google Maps > Location sharing > Choose the contacts you want to share location with (in this case yourself). However, for this to work you need to add your Gmail Account to the Google Contacts of the target iPhone if not already.
2. The location is shared via Gmail with the selected person. You can go to your Gmail account and from there tap on View on Google Maps to check someone’s location on Google Maps through their iPhone.
If you are not on the target person’s Google Contacts on their iPhone, no need to worry. You can also choose to share the location via iMessage or other chat apps if you want.
How To Do It Anonymously?
This is something that needs to be done when your kids thumb down to share their location with you. But being a parent, it’s quite hard to let go and not trace their phone. So giving your concern the first preference, let me tell you a way using which the kids won’t be able to know that they are being traced.
For that, you just have to delete the link message from the kid’s phone that you sent to yourself to track the device. Luckily, deleting the message will not distort the link and it will work as usual.
In the case of WhatsApp, long-press the message, Tap on the delete icon, and select the Delete For Me option. Make sure you don’t click on Delete For Everyone instead.
You cannot share your location with someone on Google Maps from the computer for the obvious reason that it does not have a dedicated GPS like a smartphone. However, you can very well use your PC to track other’s locations on Google Maps.
You just need the location-sharing link from the person you want to track. With the help of the link, you can see their locations on Google Maps on your computer.
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Just like the phone, you can also get directions to the person’s live location using your PC by clicking on the Directions option on the left side panel.
The job is done and now you don’t need to track the target cellphone. Well, now it becomes your duty to turn off the tracking function. For that, go to Google Maps on the target device. Then tap on the profile icon and select Location sharing.
Now you will be able to see your name (or the name of the person with whom the target cellphone was sharing the location). Simply tap on the cross icon at the bottom right side and the location sharing will be disabled or the link will stop working.
If the tracking was done using WhatsApp then location sharing can be disabled from WhatsApp itself by tapping on Stop Sharing.
With Phone Number
If you are wondering how to track a cell phone number on Google Maps and if it is even possible to do that? Then let me tell you that, yes it is possible to track someone’s location with the phone number on Google Maps.
All you have to do is make use of a special tool known as GEOfinder. This tool helps you track anyone’s exact location with just a phone number. All you have to do is enter their phone number and select a prewritten message that has a tracking link embedded into it. You can also write a message yourself but make sure it’s written in a manner that makes them tap on the link.
Once they click on the link, their current location will be remotely updated on your dashboard. Now you can see their location on the map and their longitude and latitude will also be shared on the screen. If you wish to track them on Google Maps then that’s also possible with this tool. All you have to do is click on View under the Google Map View option.
And that is how you can track someone’s location with phone number on Google Maps.
You can also send a picture with a tracking code embedded into it to the phone number using this tool. Once they click on the photo received on their phone number their location will be tracked and shown to you on your GEOfinder dashboard in a similar fashion as above.
With WhatsApp
The above methods for tracking someone’s location on Google Maps on Android & iPhone work perfectly and it’s quite easy. But even then I am going to mention a substitute method to find someone on Google Maps using their cell phone. Because most people want to know how to track a cell phone location for free.
1. Open the WhatsApp account of the target person on their device and then open your chat with that person.
2. Now tap on the attach icon at the bottom and select the Location option.
3. Next, tap on the Share live location option. Be sure that you don’t tap on Send your current location instead of Share Live location. If you share the current location by mistake then you will only be able to see that particular location from where the location is being sent and not their live location.
4. Now select the time for which you want to trace the location and tap on the send icon.
5. What you need to do next is, open the WhatsApp chat of the target person on your cell phone. Tap on View live location in the location message which you just sent from their phone to yourself.
6. In the next step, tap on their profile icon that you see on the map.
7. After that, tap on the GET DIRECTIONS option.
8. Select the Maps app to see the location of the target device on Google Maps.
9. Finally, you will be able to see the current location of the target device. Similar to the first method, you can also get directions to their place.
The job is done. With this, you will be able to use your WhatsApp account as a Google Maps phone tracker.
Use A Spy App
All the methods that I have shared above are feasible and allow you to track cell phone location on Google Maps for free. However, all those methods require you to have physical access to the target device each time you wish to locate someone on Google Maps. Moreover, the above-mentioned methods have a risk of the target person knowing that you are tracking them.
But don’t worry there’s a solution for it as well, and the name of the solution is spyware. A small investment from your side will guarantee complete tracking of your loved ones with access to the current location 24/7.
In the future, if you think to opt for a spying app just go for a monitoring service like iKeyMonitor. It’s an app that gives access to the current location while having full access to the location history. You can even find someone’s location through their phone number for free with a spy app.
Not only location tracking but most monitoring apps also offer Geofencing. Geofencing further boosts your location monitoring by setting an artificial fence around the set area. Crossing the area will result in immediate notification. All these features are unavailable while tracking someone with Google Maps. Watch our video on how to track someone’s location on Google Maps in 3 easy ways
Recommended Location Tracking Tutorials for You:
- How To Track Someone’s Location Through Facebook Messenger
- Track A Phone Without A SIM Card
- How To Track A Lost Phone With Gmail Account
Final Verdict
If your kid (less than 18 years old) is the one whom you want to track without letting them know, then it’s ok. But you need to keep in mind that normally if you’re tracking someone and they are not aware of that then it’s considered a punishable offense. So it’s requested that you don’t use these methods for something that can cause you personal harm in any way.
