To effectively hide your phone from GPS and other location tracking methods, you need to combine several strategies, as GPS is only one of many ways a device's location can be determined.
Turn off location services and update your permissions to prevent apps from sharing your whereabouts. And use a VPN for an extra layer of protection. Combined, these measures make it much harder for anyone to monitor your phone without your knowledge.
Whether you have an iOS or Android phone, there are ways it can be tracked even if the location services are turned off. You may have used some of these yourself to find a lost or stolen phone. For example, the Find My iPhone app uses Bluetooth to help you find a smartphone even if it's offline.
Turn off location services on Android
GPS jammers block satellite signals, preventing accurate location tracking.
Use a GPS Bug Detector or RF Scanner
These tools can detect radio frequencies emitted by active tracking devices and spy devices. Detecting gps trackers often involves scanning for radio frequencies and signals from other electronic devices. These detectors scan for: RF (radio frequency) signals.
Some phones scan for Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth devices even when these features are turned off. Check your settings and disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning to avoid location tracking through these methods. By implementing these strategies, you can protect your location data and reduce the risk of unwanted tracking.
10 Ways To Make Your Phone Number Unsearchable
This Vertical Service Code, *82, enables calling line identification regardless of subscriber preference, dialed to unblock withheld numbers (private callers) in the U.S. on a per-call basis.
Google Maps or Apple Find My
Your spouse gets hold of your device and turns on the location sharing option within either of these apps. Once activated, they can then track your location remotely, using their own device. To check if you're affected, simply open the app and check if location sharing is turned on.
5 signs your phone is possibly being tracked
keeping your location in one spot can be easily achieved using various methods, such as location spoofing apps, device settings, and VPNs. Among these, iToolab AnyGo stands out as a highly effective location spoofer, offering a seamless and user-friendly experience for both Android and iOS users.
Good anti-tracking software, like Avast AntiTrack, helps to disguise your online identity. It stops advertisers and data collectors from tracking you. And it gives you essential privacy protection when you're browsing or working online.
Dial *#21# to check if your phone is tapped.
Dial *#21# on your iPhone to check if a third party is intercepting your calls, messages, or data. This is another useful code to know if someone is monitoring your calls. This code reveals if voice, data, SMS, and other services are forwarded to another number.
What Does ##002# Really Do? 🔐📞 ##002# instantly cancels all call forwarding on your phone — busy, unreachable, or no-answer. It's a simple way to reset settings and protect your privacy.
GPS Signal: GPS devices rely on signals from satellites to determine location. Aluminum Foil: Acts as a shield, disrupting the signal.
Dialing *77 activates Anonymous Call Rejection, blocking incoming calls from private or blocked numbers on landlines and some mobile services, making anonymous callers hear a message that you don't accept their calls. To turn it off, dial *87, and remember that this feature only blocks intentionally hidden numbers, not calls marked as "Unavailable" or "Out of Area," and can sometimes route to emergency services in certain areas or for specific carriers, so check with your provider.
*74 | All Other Callers: Allow
All other calls (not otherwise specified in Call Handling settings) will be allowed.
Call forwarding is disabled by dialing *73. This feature requires a subscription from the telephone company. Also available in some areas is Remote Access to call forwarding, which permit the control over call forwarding from telephones other than the subscriber's telephone.
This is when certain elements can cause phones to act erratically. Dust or water under the screen's protective layer can cause random Ghost Touching. Small electromagnetic signals can also simulate swiping and tapping motions on your smart phone. The phone will open and close different apps, browsers, etc.
Use airplane mode: If you suspect tracking, enabling airplane mode will instantly cut off all wireless connections, including cellular data, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, making it much harder for your phone to be tracked. Manage app permissions: Many apps request unnecessary access to your location, microphone, and camera.
Dialing *#21# on your phone uses a USSD code to check the status of your unconditional call forwarding, revealing if all your calls, data, or texts are being redirected to another number without your knowledge, which can happen if someone accesses your settings. It's not a definitive hack detector, but it quickly shows if a carrier-level setting is diverting your communications, potentially to intercept sensitive information like 2FA codes, and can be disabled with ##21#.
A GPS jammer is a small, high-power radio frequency (RF) transmitter that blocks or interferes with lawful communication signals. These devices can disrupt GPS satellite signals, cellular networks, Wi-Fi and even toll readers. GPS receivers rely on low-power microwave signals broadcast from GPS satellites.
Key signs that your phone is under tracking or monitoring
Use an anti-tracking extension in your preferred browser
An anti-tracking browser extension like the Ghostery Tracker & Ad Blocker can be installed on your preferred browser to block ads and trackers. Our browser extension is free to use and is rated as one of the best anti-tracking extensions on the market today.