Reviewed and updated for 2026. Settings paths verified on iOS 27 and Android 17 on September 18, 2026.
Here’s the problem. Phones get tracked in several different ways. GPS is only one of them.
Cell towers can place your phone. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals can too. Advertising IDs follow you from app to app. Your accounts keep a record of where you sign in. Hidden monitoring apps report everything.
So learning how to block my phone from being tracked means taking several steps, not one. Each method needs its own fix. This guide walks through all of them.
Every step below is written in plain language. You get the exact settings for iPhone and Android. You also get a straight answer on what each setting does not block.
If you think a partner, ex-partner, or anyone else is monitoring your phone, changing settings or removing apps could alert them. Before you act, consider contacting the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (or text START to 88788), ideally from a device the other person has never accessed. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Most tracking is routine and invisible. Your weather app and ad networks aren’t going to announce themselves. Unauthorized tracking, such as stalkerware installed by another person,sometimes leaves clues. None of the signs below prove your phone is compromised on their own. Several of them together are worth investigating.
Unexplained Battery Drain, Overheating, and High Data Usage
Monitoring apps run constantly in the background, capturing location, messages, or screenshots and uploading them to a remote server. That work consumes power and data.
Watch for:
- A battery that drains much faster than it used to, with no change in how you use the phone
- A phone that feels warm while sitting idle
- A spike in mobile data usage you can’t explain
To check battery use on iPhone, open Settings and tap Battery. On Android, open Settings, tap Battery, then Battery usage. Look for apps you don’t recognize or apps using far more power than their purpose suggests. For data use, check Settings > Cellular on iPhone, or Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > App data usage on Android.
Aging batteries, recent software updates, and poor cell signal also cause these symptoms. Rule those out first.
Unexpected Pop-Ups, Strange System Behavior, and Unrecognized Apps
Other warning signs are more direct:
- Apps, icons, or device management profiles you didn’t install
- Settings that change on their own, such as location sharing turning back on
- Frequent pop-ups or redirects in your browser
- A phone that takes unusually long to shut down or restart
- Someone who knows where you’ve been or what you said in private messages
That last sign matters most. If another person repeatedly knows things they shouldn’t, take it seriously even when your phone seems to be working normally.
How to Stop Someone From Tracking Your Phone (Step-by-Step)
These three methods cover the most common forms of tracking on any phone. Start here before moving to the device-specific and advanced sections.
Method 1: Turn Off Location Services on iPhone & Android
Turning location off stops apps from reading your phone’s GPS position. It is the fastest single step you can take.
How to turn location off on iPhone and iPad:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap Privacy & Security.
- Select Location Services.
- Toggle the Location Services switch at the top to Off.
How to turn location off on Android:
- Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
- Tap Location.
- Toggle the Use location switch at the top to Off.
On Samsung Galaxy phones, the switch at the top of the Location screen is labeled On or Off. On most Android phones, you can also swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the Location tile in Quick Settings.
What this does not block: Turning location off disables Maps, Find My, and other location-based features. It does not stop your carrier from seeing which cell towers your phone uses, and it does not hide your IP address. Many people get better results by leaving location on and controlling it app by app with Method 2.
Method 2: Audit and Revoke App Permissions
Apps often request more access than they need. A flashlight app has no reason to know your location. A shopping app rarely needs your microphone.
Audit app permissions on iPhone:
- Open Settings and tap Privacy & Security.
- Tap Location Services.
- Tap each app and choose Never, Ask Next Time Or When I Share, While Using the App, or Always.
- Turn off Precise Location for apps that only need your general area.
- Go back to Privacy & Security and repeat the review for Microphone, Camera, Bluetooth, Contacts, and Local Network.
Audit app permissions on Android:
- Open Settings and tap Security & privacy.
- Tap Privacy, then Permission manager.
- Tap Location and review which apps are allowed all the time, only while in use, or not allowed.
- Change any app that doesn’t need your location to Don’t allow.
- Turn off Use precise location for apps that only need a rough area.
- Repeat for Camera, Microphone, and Nearby devices.
On Samsung phones, Permission manager is under Settings > Security and privacy > Privacy. Android also offers a Privacy dashboard in the same menu, which shows which apps used location, camera, or microphone in the last 24 hours.
A good rule: grant “Always” location access only to apps you’d trust to know where you sleep.
Method 3: Disable Ad Identifiers and Cross-App Tracking
Advertisers track you with a unique advertising identifier that connects your activity across apps. Data brokers can combine that identifier with location data to build a detailed profile.
Stop cross-app tracking on iPhone:
Open Settings and tap Privacy & Security.
Tap Tracking.
Turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track. Apps are then automatically denied permission to track you.
Go back to Privacy & Security and tap Apple Advertising.
Turn off Personalized Ads.
Delete your advertising ID on Android:
Open Settings and tap Security & Privacy.
Tap More privacy settings, then Ads. (On some phones, this is under Settings > Google > Ads.)
Tap Delete advertising ID and confirm.
Deleting the ID replaces it with zeros, so apps can no longer use it to link your activity. This reduces ad profiling. It does not stop apps from collecting information you give them directly, such as purchases or account details.
OS-Specific Lockdown: How to Block My Phone From Being Tracked on iPhone & Android
The steps above work on almost any phone. To learn how to block my phone from being tracked at the system level, look at the privacy tools Apple and Google build into their own software.
How to Block My Phone From Being Tracked on iPhone (iOS Privacy Settings)
Run Safety Check. Safety Check shows everyone and every app with access to your location and personal data in one place.
Open Settings and tap Privacy & Security.
Scroll down and tap Safety Check.
Tap Manage Sharing & Access to review people and apps one at a time, or Emergency Reset to stop all sharing immediately.
Safety Check includes a Quick Exit button that closes the screen instantly if someone approaches.
Review Find My Sharing. Open the Find My app and tap People. Tap any person and select Stop Sharing My Location. You can also go to Settings, tap your name, tap Find My, and turn off Share My Location.
Turn off Significant Locations. iOS keeps a history of places you visit often.
Open Settings, tap Privacy & Security, then Location Services.
Tap System Services at the bottom of the list.
Tap Significant Locations (labeled Significant Locations & Routes in recent versions).
Turn it off and clear the saved history.
Leave Emergency Calls & SOS on in System Services so responders can locate you in an emergency.
Check devices on your Apple Account. Open Settings, tap your name, and scroll to the list of devices. Remove any device you don’t recognize, then change your Apple Account password. Anyone signed into your account on another device may be able to see your location, photos, and messages.
Consider Lockdown Mode. If you face targeted threats, open Settings, tap Privacy & Security, then Lockdown Mode. It sharply limits the ways attackers can reach your phone, but it also turns off some everyday features.
How to Stop Someone From Tracking Your Android Phone (Google & Samsung UI)
Stop Google Maps location sharing.
Open Google Maps.
Tap your profile picture.
Tap Location sharing.
Tap each person and select Stop.
Review Find Hub. Google’s Find Hub (formerly Find My Device) lets anyone signed into your Google Account locate your phone. Open the Find Hub app or visit your Google Account to see which devices are connected. If someone else knows your Google password, change it immediately and turn on 2-Step Verification.
Check Samsung Find. On Samsung Galaxy phones, open Settings, tap Security and privacy, then Lost device protection. Review whether Find My Mobile is on and which Samsung account it uses. If the account isn’t yours, sign out and change the password.
Check family and carrier services. Google Family Link, Life360, Snapchat’s Snap Map, and carrier services such as Verizon Smart Family, T-Mobile FamilyMode, and AT&T Secure Familycan all share your location. Open each app you use and review its settings. On Snap Map, tap the settings gear and turn on Ghost Mode. If someone else holds your carrier account, contact the carrier about your options.
Will the other person be notified? Apple and Google generally don’t send an alert when you stop sharing your location. The other person may still notice that your location no longer appears. If your safety could be at risk, talk with an advocate before making changes.
Beyond GPS: Blocking Advanced and Network-Level Tracking
Turning off location feels like the answer to how to stop my phone from being tracked, but it’s only part of it. The tracking methods in this section keep working either way.
Pausing Google Account Web & App Activity and Location History
Your Google Account can record searches, app use, and places you’ve been, and that data is tied to your account instead of any single phone.
Go to myaccount.google.com and sign in.
Tap Data & privacy.
Under History settings, tap Web & App Activity.
Turn it off, or set auto-delete to three months.
Go back and review Timeline (formerly Location History). Turn it off and delete stored history if you don’t need it.
Google has moved Timeline data onto the device for most users. On Android, you can manage it under Settings > Location > Location services > Timeline. Anyone who signs into your Google Account on another device may still see account-level activity, so account security matters as much as device settings.
Masking Your IP Address with a Secure Mobile VPN
Your IP address reveals your approximate location and internet provider to every website and app you connect to. Incognito or private browsing does not hide it. Private mode only stops your browser from saving history on your own device.
A reputable VPN routes your traffic through an encrypted server, so websites see the VPN’s IP address instead of yours. Choose a paid provider with a published no-logs policy and independent audits. Free VPNs often make money by collecting the very data you’re trying to protect.
iPhone users with an iCloud+ subscription can also turn on iCloud Private Relay under Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Private Relay. It hides your IP address in Safari and some app traffic.
A VPN matters most on networks you don’t control. Hotel, airport, and coffee shop Wi-Fi can expose your traffic to others on the same network. Learn why you shouldn’t trust public Wi-Fi.
Disabling Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Scanning and Using Airplane Mode
Phones scan for nearby Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth devices to pinpoint location, even when you aren’t connected to anything.
On Android:
- Open Settings and tap Location.
- Tap Location services.
- Turn off Wi-Fi scanning.
- Go back and turn off Bluetooth scanning.
On iPhone: Turning Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off from Control Center only disconnects them temporarily. To turn them fully off, open Settings, tap Wi-Fi and switch it off, then do the same under Bluetooth.
Use a private Wi-Fi address. On iPhone, tap the info button next to a network in Wi-Fi settings and set Private Wi-Fi Address to Rotating or Fixed. On Android, open the network’s settings, tap Privacy, and select Use randomized MAC. This keeps networks from recognizing your phone across visits.
Use Airplane Mode when you need to go dark. Airplane Mode disconnects the phone from cell towers and, by default, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Keep in mind that the GPS receiver may still work, and apps can store location data to upload once you reconnect.
Cell Tower Triangulation: How to Prevent Network-Level Location Tracking
Your phone connects to nearby cell towers to make calls and use data. By measuring which towers see your phone and how strong the signal is, your carrier can estimate your location. No phone setting turns this off while the phone is connected to the network. Federal rules also require carriers to provide location information for 911 calls.
If you want to know how to prevent the police from tracking your phone, start with the law.
Law enforcement can request carrier location records through a legal process. In Carpenter v. United States (2018), the Supreme Court held that police generally need a warrant to obtain historical cell-site location records.
You can’t legally block lawful access to carrier records, but you can limit how much location data exists. Keep your phone off or in Airplane Mode when you don’t need a connection, and limit the location history stored in your accounts and apps.
The only ways to stop tower-based tracking are Airplane Mode, powering the phone completely off, or blocking its signal.
Hardware Controls: Faraday Bags, Signal Blocking, and Burner Phones
Faraday bags are lined pouches that block all radio signals. A phone inside can’t connect to towers, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS. They work, and they are legal. Test yours by placing your phone inside and calling it.
Signal jammers are a different story. The Federal Communications Commission prohibits consumers from using, selling, or marketing cell phone jammers. They also block emergency calls for everyone nearby. Use a Faraday bag instead.
Burner phones are prepaid phones not tied to your main accounts. They don’t make you impossible to track. A burner still connects to cell towers, and carriers identify each device by its hardware ID. A burner only helps keep your main phone’s accounts, apps, and history separate from sensitive activity.
RF detectors are sold as anti-spyware tools, but they cannot detect stalkerware. Stalkerware is software running on your own phone, and your phone already transmits constantly.
How to Detect and Remove Spyware or Stalkerware From Your Device
Stalkerware is monitoring software installed without the owner’s knowledge. It can capture location, messages, photos, and call logs. The Federal Trade Commission treats stalkerware as a serious threat, and in 2021 it barred the stalkerware company SpyFone and its CEO from selling stalking apps.
Before you remove anything: Deleting a monitoring app can alert the person who installed it, and it can destroy evidence you may need later. The FTC recommends talking with a domestic violence counselor to make a safety plan first. The Coalition Against Stalkerware also offers guidance for survivors who suspect stalkerware on their device. If you believe someone in your life installed monitoring software, reach out to an advocate before changing anything on your phone.
Hardware Controls: Faraday Bags, Signal Blocking, and Burner Phones
On Android, installed stalkerware often hides behind generic names like “System Service” or “Sync.”
- Open Settings, tap Apps, and tap See all apps. Look for apps you don’t recognize, including ones with system-sounding names.
- Open Settings, tap Security & privacy, then More security settings, then Device admin apps. Stalkerware often grants itself admin rights so it can’t be uninstalled easily.
- Open Settings and tap Accessibility. Check which apps can use accessibility services. Stalkerware abuses this permission to read the screen.
- Open Settings, tap Apps, then Special app access. Review apps with notification access, usage access, or permission to install unknown apps.
- For advanced users, turn on Developer options and open Running services to see what’s active in the background.
On iPhone, stalkerware usually works through a compromised Apple Account instead of an installed app, because iOS restricts what apps can access.
- Open Settings, tap General, then VPN & Device Management. Remove any profile you didn’t install, unless it belongs to your employer or school.
- Open Settings, tap General, then iPhone Storage to review every installed app.
- Look for apps named Cydia or Sileo. They can indicate the phone was jailbroken, which makes deeper spyware possible.
- Check the device list under your Apple Account, change your password, and confirm two-factor authentication is on.
Running a Mobile Antivirus Scan & Performing Emergency System Updates
Scan your phone. On Android, open the Play Store, tap your profile picture, tap Play Protect, and tap Scan. A reputable mobile security app from an established vendor can add another layer of detection. On iPhone, traditional antivirus apps have limited reach, so account security and software updates matter more.
Update immediately. Software updates close the security holes that spyware exploits.
- iPhone: Settings > General > Software Update
- Android (Pixel): Settings > System > Software updates
- Samsung: Settings > Software update > Download and install
Consider a factory reset as a last resort. A reset removes most stalkerware. Set up the phone as new instead of restoring an old backup, since a backup can reinstall the software. Change your account passwords from a clean device first, or someone with your credentials can simply regain access.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stop someone from tracking my phone without them knowing?
You can stop someone from tracking your phone quietly by changing passwords, removing unknown devices from your accounts, and stopping location sharing. Apple and Google generally don’t send alerts when sharing stops, but the other person may notice. If safety is a concern, plan with a domestic violence advocate first.
Can my phone be tracked if location services are turned off?
Your phone can still be tracked with location services turned off. Carriers estimate location from cell towers, websites see your IP address, signed-in accounts record activity, and stalkerware can collect data independently. Turning location off blocks app access to GPS, so combine it with a VPN, account security, and spyware checks.
Can taking out my SIM card stop my phone from being tracked?
Taking out your SIM card stops your carrier from connecting your phone to its network, but it doesn’t fully stop tracking. The phone can still connect to Wi-Fi, use GPS, and upload data through installed apps or spyware. Many newer phones use an eSIM, which you can’t physically remove.
Does Airplane Mode completely block location tracking?
Airplane Mode does not completely block location tracking. It disconnects the phone from cell towers and, by default, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but the GPS receiver may keep working. Apps can store location data and upload it once you reconnect. Only powering off or using a Faraday bag blocks all signals.
When Should You Get Professional Cybersecurity Help?
Knowing how to stop phone tracking on your own covers most everyday situations.
You suspect spyware and the steps above didn’t resolve it. Stalkerware and commercial spyware are designed to hide. If warning signs continue after a scan, an update, and a permissions audit, get an expert review. If a person in your life may be monitoring you, contact an advocate or law enforcement alongside any technical help.
Your accounts have been compromised. Password reset emails you didn’t request, unfamiliar sign-in alerts, or messages sent from your accounts all suggest someone has access. Account compromise can expose your location, email, and files even when your phone itself is clean.
Unknown devices keep appearing on your accounts. If you remove a device and it returns, someone likely still has your credentials or access to a linked recovery email or phone number.
Suspicious activity persists. Recurring pop-ups, settings that keep changing, or data usage that stays high after cleanup point to a problem that needs deeper investigation.
Business devices are involved. A compromised phone with access to company email, client files, or financial systems puts the whole organization at risk. Businesses should manage every device that touches company data, with consistent security policies and monitoring. Start with cybersecurity for small businesses: what you actually need, then explore BSGtech’s cybersecurity services and unified protection for devices, networks, and accounts. Companies that want ongoing oversight can use managed IT services, including local support through our IT services in Chicago.
Suspect your phone is being monitored by unauthorized apps or spyware? Contact BSGtech today for a free consultation and secure your devices today.
