To know if someone is tracking you, look for signs like rapid battery drain, high data usage, overheating, unfamiliar apps, strange call noises (clicks/echoes), unexpected reboots, or location services constantly active; check your phone's location sharing settings for unknown contacts and review app permissions and location history for anomalies, as these often point to hidden spyware or unauthorized access.
You can check for trackers that are separated from their owners and currently near you at any time.
Hackers (or any creep with physical access to your phone) can install spyware or tracking apps that run in the background, monitoring your calls, messages, location, and online activity. These apps are often disguised as harmless programs, making them difficult to detect.
Code to check if phone is tapped: *#21# Code to show unknown connections and tracking (for Android): *#*#4636#*#* or *#*#197328640#*#* Code to show unknown connections and if someone is tracing you (for iPhone): *3001#12345#* Code to find your phone if lost or stolen (for Android): *#*#1472365#*#*
Unusual sounds or echoes during calls
If you're noticing weird clicking sounds or high-pitched hums on multiple calls across different locations and with different people, it could be a sign that someone is eavesdropping or tracking your calls.
13 Ways to Make Make Your Smartphone Impossible to Track
Does your phone randomly reboot, freeze, or light up without reason? If so, your partner may have installed spyware that's interfering with your device. Malicious apps designed to track you can cause system instability as they attempt to record and transmit information about your calls, texts, and whereabouts.
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.
Can I run a test to see if my phone is hacked? Yes, running an antivirus scan using a mobile security app like Norton 360 Deluxe can help you identify malware infections that could be granting hackers access to your device or data.
What is the 3-digit number to see if your phone is tapped? If your phone is on a CDMA network like Verizon or US Cellular, dialing the code *72 will tell you whether any of your calls or data are being forwarded to another number. Dial *#002# to uncover this kind of phone tapping on GSM networks.
Turn "Do Not Track" on or off
3. Review connected devices in Google Account (Android)
On an iPhone, dialing *#21# is a USSD code used to check the status of your unconditional call forwarding, revealing if your calls, SMS, or data are being redirected and to which number, without actually changing settings; it's a simple privacy check to see if someone has secretly set your phone to forward everything, though it doesn't detect advanced spyware. Dialing this code brings up a message from your carrier about your call forwarding status, often showing "Disabled" or a specific number if it's active.
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.
Choose location settings (Android 9.0)
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.
*69, a code widely available in North America, allows you to redial the last incoming call that you missed. The service is provided by most telephone service providers and operates by storing the caller's phone number, allowing you to quickly connect back to them.
A device that is infected with malware or spyware can track your location even if your location settings are turned off. Malware can also record your online activities, allow cybercriminals to steal personal information, and slow down your operating system.
Modern phones keep lengthy records of our messaging history, making it easier for a prying spouse to read all your conversations once they have access to your phone data. They can obtain this using a number of methods, such as through shared cloud accounts, or by using spyware.
Boot into Safe Mode (Android)
Safe Mode disables all third-party apps, including most spyware. This gives you a clean state to inspect your phone. Then, look for unknown apps, disguised names (e.g., “System Update,” “WiFi Boost”), or anything installed from outside the Play Store.
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.
5 signs your phone is possibly being tracked
Dial codes to check if your phone is hacked