Parents want their children to have all the privileges, but at the same time they want them to be responsible. Also, times are changing and kids don’t like it when parents invade their privacy. In such situations, it becomes difficult to keep track of your child’s activities.
In addition, every parent wants their child to be safe. And when security is a priority, an invasion of privacy doesn’t seem like much of a deal.
You must know that you are responsible for your child’s actions until they reach adulthood.
Thus, the introduction of parental control rules or restrictions on them is justified. After all, it is you who must ensure that your child grows up to be a responsible adult. One of the best things for their safety is to know the whereabouts of the child.
Luckily, the age of the internet and smartphones has allowed you to use GPS to track your child’s Android phone.
This allows you to know their location. So, today we are going to talk about the ways by which you can track your child’s Android phone.
Is it legal to track your child’s phone?
Parents are responsible for any child under the age of majority. As parents, you are responsible for the actions of your children until they become adults. So snooping on your child’s phone and activities is legal if you think so.
In addition, every parent has good intentions for their children. Simply put, as long as you don’t do what’s best for your child, there will be no limits on how you parent.
But if you track your child’s activities, abuse them. In this case, legal action may be taken against you. So, if you just want to keep an eye on family members, read on.
Reasons to track your child’s phone
Tracking your child’s phone may seem invasive, but it can be quite helpful in many ways. By knowing the location of your child’s phone, you will know where your child is at the moment.
Every parent thinks once in their parenting experience to keep track of their child’s activities. Perhaps you are still thinking about this decision.
So, to make things easier for you, here are some reasons to track your child’s phone:
Protect your child
With crime on the rise, protecting your child should be your top priority. To know the exact location of your child, track him using your mobile phone. Also, you can check their whereabouts when your child doesn’t come home on time.
Know if they’re lying
Many parents suspect that their children are lying about their meeting place. So, to find out the truth, you can use services or applications that can track your child’s whereabouts. This way you will know when your child is lying.
You can find your lost phone
Children are often careless with their belongings, and there is a high chance of losing a phone. So, if you have a device that tracks the location of the phone, you can easily find it if it is lost.
Contact directory monitoring
Some apps give you full access to your child’s phone activities. You can also learn about the contacts that your children add to their contacts.
Keeping track of added numbers is an effective way to find out their circle of friends. By tracking their contacts, you will also know if someone is a threat to your child.
You are raising a responsible person
There is no doubt that no one likes to have their privacy invaded. But keeping track of your child’s activity makes them responsible.
In addition, they begin to take responsibility for their actions. As a result, you will grow your child into a responsible Adult.
Methods to Track Your Child’s Android Phone
- Built-in location tracking feature in Android device
- Download the Find My Device app to track your Android phone
- Track your child’s iPhone with Find My iPhone
- Use Google Maps
1. Built-in location tracking function in Android device
Android and iOS offer a built-in feature to track your phone’s location. With this feature, you can find your lost phone by tracking its location. But to use it on your child’s phone, you must have their Google or iCloud login credentials.
In addition, the device must also be turned on and authorized with a Google account. It’s also important that Find My Device and location are turned on. So, if the situation is favorable, you can follow these steps to track your child’s Android phone:
- Visit https://www.google.com/android/find and sign in to your Google account using your child’s email address and password.
- Click on the “Lost phone”option that you will find at the top of the screen.
- Be sure to sign in to your main profile.
- You will get the approximate location of the phone. If mobile data is disabled and you cannot track the phone, you will get its last known location.
Remember that you can only complete the steps above if you have the correct credentials for your child. Otherwise, this method is ineffective.
2. Download the Find My Device app to track your Android phone.
This method is very similar to the previous one. But this time, you will be tracking the phone with the Find My Device app. This application is already installed on most Android phones.
You can follow the steps below to download and use the Find My Device app:
- Go to the Google Play Store and search for Google Find My Device.
- Sign in with your child’s Google Account.
- Now when you want to track your child’s Android phone, you can open this app. Once you open it, you will be redirected to a dashboard that will provide you with the phone’s location.
The features of this app include sound play, device lock, screen lock reset and wipe. These functions allow you to perform actions related to these functions. Make sure they only work on the devices associated with the app.
3. Track your child’s iPhone with Find My iPhone.
If your child has an iPhone, then don’t worry. We have you covered. You can use the built-in Find My iPhone feature to find your child’s phone. Normally the feature is enabled. But, if it’s not, you can activate it:
- Go to “Settings”and select the “Apple ID”option.
- Click on iCloud and turn on the Find My iPhone slider.
After making sure this feature is enabled, you can track the device remotely. You only need your child’s iCloud credentials to access them through a web browser.
To track the location of your child’s iPhone, follow these steps:
- Go to the official iCloud website from any browser.
- Sign in with your child’s Apple ID and password.
- Now click Find My iPhone.
You’ll see the real-time location of all devices associated with that Apple account.
To see the exact location of the device, click the drop-down menu. Select the device your child is using.
You can use this on any iOS device including the iPad. So you don’t have to worry too much about compatibility.
4. Use Google Maps
Many people don’t know that they can use Google Maps to track their kids’ phones. The only downside is that you need to access your child’s phone first. When you have their phone in your hands and it is also unlocked, follow these instructions:
- Install the Google Maps app on your child’s phone if it’s not already downloaded.
- Launch the application and go to its menu.
- Click on the “Location Sharing”option.
- Turn on Share my location in real time until you turn off this option.
- Finally, select your phone to share your real-time location.
You’re fine until your child turns off the “Share their real-time location until you turn this feature off”option. Remember that you won’t get location access if they disable this option.
Recommended apps to track your child’s Android phone
Sometimes built-in functions don’t offer enough privileges. In such situations, it may be better to seek help from third-party applications.
But be aware that using such apps can also be risky. So use such methods at your own risk.
Now remember that some of them may have time limits. Others may need to purchase apps for the phone tracker to work. But everyone should have the free version.
Ahead is a list of some of the most common apps that parents use to keep track of their child’s activities:
1. Custodio
- Compatibility: Works on Android devices.
- Subscription: Available with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Number of devices: You can link 10 or 15 devices depending on the plan.
It’s better than other security apps because it supports the geofencing feature. This application also has an SOS button, which will come in handy in case of an emergency. You can set the geofence radius up to 200 meters.
If your child exceeds the 200 limit, you will be warned. This application also warns you when your child tries to access prohibited websites.
If you don’t like this app, you can email support to request a refund. They respond within two business days.
2. Kaspersky Safe Kids
- Compatibility: Support Android devices.
- Subscription: Available with a 7-day free trial.
- Number of devices: You can connect up to 500 devices.
The location tracking feature of this app is quite extensive. You can enter the location, date and time of your children, and where they should be. You will immediately receive an alert if your children leave this area.
In addition, you can log into the Parental Control Panel to see the real-time location of your children. It also offers comprehensive filters with 14 categories.
This app is inexpensive and offers a 7-day free trial. You can use this app for free, but you won’t get premium perks like location tracking.
3. Net nanny
- Compatibility: Supports Android, iOS, Kindle Fire and Windows devices.
- Subscription: Available with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
- Number of devices: license for 5 or 20 devices.
Net Nanny offers custom filters with dynamic screen time management tools. You also get real-time location updates and set up geo-fencing alerts.
With custom filters, you can also block specific apps that your kids shouldn’t use.
On the Parent Dashboard, you can view your child’s real-time location. You will need to email support the reason why you want to request a refund. They will try to solve your problem. If it is unsolvable, you will receive a refund.
4. Norton family
- Compatibility: Supports Android, iOS and Windows devices.
- Subscription: 30-day free trial available.
- Number of devices: You can connect up to 3, 5 or 10 devices.
Norton Family is more than just a tracking app. You get the tools to establish parental control over your child’s gadgets. You can set different limits for each profile as it offers flexible filters. You will also need to install apps on your child’s phone.
Once this app is installed on their phones, they will not be able to disable GPS tracking.
You can view their location history and real-time location on a map. This application filters a website based on its images, text, and metadata.
There are about 47 types of categories installed in this application. Based on these 47 categories, the app categorizes the websites your child visits.
You can block these categories or set a warning message for children if they visit them. The screen time management tool of this app is also extensive and you can customize it.
5. Mobicip
- Compatibility: Supports Android, iOS, Kindle Fire and Windows devices.
- Subscription: Available with a 7-day free trial.
- Number of devices: You can connect up to 5 devices at the same time.
With this application, you can track your child’s location in real time and their location is displayed on the Google map.
You can enjoy the premium privileges of the Mobicip app for 7 days for free. You can cancel your subscription if you no longer wish to continue using the services after 7 days.
6. ESET
- Compatibility: Supports Android and Windows devices.
- Subscription: 30-day free trial available.
- Number of Devices: You can use up to 5 devices.
ESET offers a legal parental control app for Android. You can check your child’s location in real time. In addition, it offers features such as app locking and time-based app management.
You can view a list of the websites your child visits the most. There is also an option to help you limit the apps you don’t want your kids to use.
7. Glimpse
- Compatibility: Supports Android, iOS and Windows devices.
- Subscription: It’s free.
- Number of devices: unlimited
This app is best for kids who volunteer to share their location with you.
Kids can share their real-time location from anywhere in the world because it works everywhere. The app runs in the background so you don’t have to keep it open all the time to track your location.
You can ask your kids to share their location when they get to their destination. This is useful for those children who leave home to study.
8. Family safe
- Compatibility: Supports Android, iOS, Kindle Fire and Windows devices.
- Subscription: 3-day free trial available.
- Number of devices: 5 devices for the monthly plan and 10 for the quarterly plan.
Famisafe has a user friendly interface. So parents who are not tech savvy can manage it easily.
You can check the location of linked devices remotely from anywhere.
It offers the location of linked or target devices in real time. You can control your child’s content consumption. In addition, it allows you to set limits on your child’s screen time.
Conclusion
By browsing this blog, you should know how to track your child’s cell phone. Also, some of the apps mentioned above can help you track your child’s activity on their phones.
You can put limits on their screen time and block apps and sites you don’t want them to visit.
So, no, you all know about it, go ahead and take adequate measures that are important for the safety of the child.
Aside from the location of the child, if you want to track a child’s web browsing, that’s a completely different factor. You can use daily time limits on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.
Either way, you now have the best parental control apps and more. Stay strong and take care of your family.
FAQ
How can I track my child’s Android phone without them knowing?
There is no way you can track your child’s phone without them knowing. But if you somehow manage to access their cell phone, you might be able to do so. All you have to do is install Google Maps on your phone and open the Menu. From there, tap on the “Location Sharing” option. Now turn on the “Share your real-time location until you turn this feature off”feature. Share the location with your phone and you’re done.
How can I track my child’s phone without installing an app?
Most mobile operators offer special services related to parental control. But this varies greatly depending on each company’s set of rules. Some require children to voluntarily consent to provide access to the device. Others may agree to provide information to you because you are a parent. It is best to issue a SIM card with your ID and give it to the child. After that, ask for location access from service providers who will grant you access.
How do I know if my phone is being tracked?
There is no reliable way to determine if your phone is being tracked. The only thing you can do is be wary of third party activities on your phone. If you suspect that there are some background activities running on your phone, run a scan. Also try restarting your phone.
How to find someone’s location by cell phone number?
Some third-party apps can help you find someone’s phone by their number. As for legality, first, you will need to inform the authorities. After that, you will need permission to determine the location of a person by his number.