Android GPS Tracker: How to Turn Your Phone Into One

An Android GPS tracker lets you see where a phone is in real time, and you don’t need to buy a separate device to get one. Do you want to track a loved one’s location? Then you can convert a smart device into a GPS tracking device.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a fabulous technology that locates a device on the map. In fact, GPS receivers work even without an internet connection. You can track vehicles and people with it. However, if you don’t want to buy a dedicated GPS tracking device, you can turn your smartphone into one.

Yes, Android phones work as great GPS devices. Still, you need phone tracking software to turn your Android phone into a GPS tracker. In this article, you’ll learn practical ways to do exactly that. Please use these methods only on your own device or with the knowledge and consent of the person you track.

Android GPS Tracker: 3 Ways to Turn Your Phone Into One

Have you ever forgotten the way back home? Or have you ever been stuck in the middle of nowhere? People who often struggle to remember routes know how important a GPS tracker is.

We take our cell phones everywhere. So, why not turn yours into a GPS tracker? Several top hidden spy apps for Android can work as a GPS location tracker. Below, however, we explain three effective methods.

1. Use the Built-In Android GPS Tracker: Find My Device

Android devices have become advanced. Phones and tablets now include a built-in feature called Find My Device, and it is very easy to use. It locates your phone and sends the location to Google’s servers. Moreover, you can log in to your Google account from any device and check the phone’s location. You can read Google’s own instructions on the Find My Device help page.

Enable Find My Device on Your Phone

You can reach Find My Device through the phone’s settings. However, the menu path differs between devices. Here are the usual steps:

• First, open your Android phone or tablet’s Settings.
• Next, tap “Security” (on some phones, look under “Google” instead).
• Then tap “Find My Device”.
• Finally, turn the feature on.

Track an Android Phone with Find My Device

Find My Device is a free tool for tracing a phone’s location. Follow these steps to see the real-time location remotely:

1. Launch your web browser.
2. Search for Find My Device and open the official page.
3. Log in to your Google account.

From the dashboard, you can see the latest location of your device. In addition, you can ring the phone, lock it, or erase its data remotely.

2. Track Location with Social Media

Social media is part of everyone’s life, from kids to adults. These platforms make communication easy beyond local boundaries. Furthermore, many young people constantly share their whereabouts and activities online. Such apps let users pinpoint their live location and share check-ins on their profiles.

But can a social media app work as a GPS location tracker? Let’s find out.

Why Social Media Apps Know Where You Are

Have you noticed how Facebook and Instagram instantly find your location when you check in somewhere? If you suspect these apps track your location, you are right. Like a phone tracker, they use location data to serve targeted ads. For example, the “People You May Know” list often includes people you met in real life.

Smartphones combine GPS, WiFi, and Bluetooth, and social apps use all of them to estimate where users are. As a result, these platforms can run location-based ad campaigns.

Privacy Concerns with Location Tracking

This type of marketing is legal. However, many experts consider it a privacy risk, because it can expose users to identity-related and social threats. Tracking a person’s location without their knowledge is also ethically wrong.

Location data is not the only thing people check. According to a CareerBuilder survey, 70% of employers screen candidates through their social profiles, and about half also check current employees. Nevertheless, users can protect themselves by disabling location services whenever they want privacy.

Facebook and Location Tracking

Facebook lets users share their location whenever they choose. With check-ins, we can post our current location or share our travels on our timelines. However, if a user turns off “Location Services” in their phone settings, no social app can track them.

How to Check Location History Using Facebook

For parents, Facebook location data can be useful. But first, you need your child’s account credentials, and your child should know you are checking. If you have them, follow these steps (menu names may differ in your app version):

• Launch the Facebook app.
• Tap “More”, the three parallel lines at the bottom right.
• Scroll down and open “Settings & Privacy”, then tap “Settings”.
• Next, scroll to the “Privacy” section and tap “Location”.
• Enable “Location History” if it is turned off, then tap “Location History”.
• Enter the account password when Facebook asks.
• Finally, review the location history for the past few days.

Overall, social media apps are not very effective as GPS tracking tools. Therefore, you need the person’s account password to use them, and without it this method fails.

So, what can you do in that situation? Fortunately, another option exists: a third-party tracking app. Let’s take a look.

3. Use a Third-Party Android GPS Tracker App

Using social media accounts to find someone is tricky. In contrast, phone tracker app technology offers several ways to check on loved ones and keep them safe outside the home. One efficient method is a mobile tracking app.

Everyone owns a cell phone, and we carry it wherever we go. Hence, phones are now as important as car keys. For that reason, a mobile tracking app is one of the most practical ways to see where a family member is, and you can do it remotely.

ALSO WATCH:

How Do Android GPS Tracker Apps Work?

Tracking apps rely on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Satellites send signals that a phone’s GPS receiver uses to work out its exact position. You can learn more on the official GPS.gov overview.

The app then draws the device’s location history as a route on an electronic map. Accuracy depends on signal strength, the phone model, and whether WiFi and mobile data are available. In open areas, accuracy is typically within a few meters.

Do you want a reliable tracking tool? In that case, consider TheWiSpy, which offers advanced cell phone tracking and monitoring features.

TheWiSpy Android GPS Tracker

People track the location of loved ones for many reasons. In particular, concern about child abduction has made parents more worried about their kids’ safety. As a result, demand for GPS tracking apps has grown. Parents can use them to make sure kids, or elderly relatives, are safe outside the home.

Among many competing phone tracker brands, TheWiSpy stands out as a robust and user-friendly option. It includes features such as:

• Location Tracking
• Geo-fencing
• Call Recordings
• SMS Monitoring
• Multimedia Access
• Social Media Monitoring
• Email Tracking
• Surround Recording
• IM Tracking
• Remote Access
• Instant Alerts
• And many more

TheWiSpy supports remote tracking of Android devices, and it suits parents who want to look after their kids and employers who monitor company-owned devices. Before you install any tracking app, check your local laws and tell the person being tracked.

Buy Now >>

Final Thoughts on Using an Android GPS Tracker

Social media apps have millions of users. To power their marketing, these networks locate active users and suggest ad campaigns. Tracking someone’s real-time location through a social app is possible. Still, you need the user’s account credentials.

In contrast, a cell phone tracker app lets you keep tabs on loved ones more directly. So, are you ready to set up an Android GPS tracker and check on your kid’s location?

Buy Now >>

Frequently Asked Questions

How can you install a GPS tracker on a cell phone?

To turn a smartphone into a GPS tracker, follow these steps on a device you own or with the owner’s consent:

• Get a subscription to a trusted GPS tracker app, such as TheWiSpy.
• Get access to the target smartphone.
• Install the tracker app on it.
• Open the app’s dashboard and start tracking the location remotely.

You can also use Google Find My Device. However, it doesn’t give as much route history as a dedicated tracking app.

How does a GPS tracker work?

GNSS, the global navigation satellite system, is the technology behind GPS trackers. Trackers use satellites to pinpoint the location of a person, object, or vehicle. In addition, the satellite system determines longitude, latitude, and time.

Are GPS trackers effective?

Yes, GPS trackers generally give accurate location information. Most deliver results within a few meters in open areas. Apps that combine satellite data with WiFi and mobile networks, such as TheWiSpy, can improve accuracy indoors. However, no tracker is perfect, because buildings and weak signals can reduce accuracy.

What are the advantages of a GPS tracker?

A tracking app like TheWiSpy offers several advantages:

• Kids tracking
• Family protection
• Lost phone tracking
• Employee device monitoring

A GPS tracker lets you see the real-time location of loved ones, which helps you protect your family. Employers can also check company-owned devices during work hours, provided employees are informed.

What is the best Android phone tracker app?

TheWiSpy is a popular Android phone tracker app with many tracking features. With it, you can check a device’s location, mobile activity, and social media messages. Compare pricing and features before you choose.

Buy Now >>