How to Find Out if Your iPhone Is Being Tracked

iPhone is the best when it comes to user privacy. However, even the best technology can fall victim to privacy theft. Once someone remotely gains control of your iPhone, everything—from your location to your bank account details, personal messages, your Slotsgem login, account passwords, and other private information—could be at risk.

So, if you’re concerned about your digital privacy and security on your iPhone, you’ve come to the right place. This post details how to check if someone is tracking your iPhone.

Check for Unauthorized Camera or Microphone Use

The camera or microphone on your iPhone is the first thing spyware or a hacker will use to spy on you. They might use the camera to secretly record your surroundings or the microphone to eavesdrop on or record your private conversations.

Now, the question is: how do you know if someone is secretly using your iPhone’s camera or microphone? Well, every time an app on your iPhone accesses the camera or microphone, an orange or green dot appears at the top of the screen. If you notice these dots appearing at unusual times, it’s likely that an app or person is secretly recording you.

To fix this, enable Lockdown Mode on your iPhone. Introduced in iOS 16, Lockdown Mode is a security feature designed by Apple to protect you from the most sophisticated digital threats. It limits certain features and functionalities of your iPhone to minimize exposure to potential risks.

Check for Hidden or Unfamiliar Apps

If you don’t want to use Lockdown Mode and disable many important features of your iPhone, check for unfamiliar or suspicious apps on your device that could be used for tracking purposes.

However, if someone is using spyware or a malicious app to track your iPhone, the chances of finding it on your home screen or app library are slim.

So, you’ll need to conduct a thorough check to find unfamiliar or suspicious apps installed on your iPhone.

Open Settings → General.
Tap iPhone Storage.
Here, you can select Show All to view a complete list of all apps installed on your iPhone, even if they’re hidden on the home screen or app library.
Select an app you don’t recognize → tap Delete App twice to remove it from your iPhone.

You can also prevent apps from tracking your usage habits. For more details, check out our comprehensive guide on how to stop apps from tracking your activity on your iPhone.

Compromised Apple ID

Your Apple ID is the heart and soul of your Apple ecosystem, so acting quickly if you suspect a compromise is crucial. A compromised Apple ID can lead to issues like unauthorized login alerts, password or recovery method changes, unexpected emails or messages, unusual App Store purchases, or missing or unfamiliar added contacts.

If you’ve recently noticed such signs, urgent action is needed. Start by changing your Apple ID password and enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) for your Apple ID. If you can’t do either, contact Apple Support for further assistance.

Regularly monitoring your account activity empowers you to determine if someone is tracking your iPhone.

Check Location and Privacy Settings

Apple takes pride in its focus on user privacy. As a result, it gives iPhone users the ability to enable or disable access to specific apps and services.

So, if you suspect someone is tracking your iPhone’s location without your knowledge, you’ll need to check your privacy and security settings.

Open Settings → Privacy & Security.
Tap Location Services.
Now, check which apps have access to location services. Then, open the apps you want to restrict and select Never.

Disabling location access for suspicious apps will help enhance your privacy and save battery life.

5. Check for Tracking Notifications

The FindMy app sends tracking notifications whenever it detects an unknown tracking device, like an AirTag, moving with you.

These notifications indicate that someone is tracking your iPhone’s location by secretly placing their AirTag near you, such as inside your bag or car.

This feature is enabled by default. So, if you’ve recently received multiple tracking notifications through the FindMy app, there’s a high chance someone is tracking your iPhone’s location.

6. Monitor Battery Usage

Excessive battery drain is another potential indicator that someone is accessing your iPhone without your knowledge.

Most spyware or malicious apps typically run in the background to collect your personal information. So, if you notice irregular battery drain on your iPhone, it’s highly recommended to monitor its usage.

Go to Settings → Battery.
Here, you can check which app has been consuming an unusually high amount of battery recently.

If you notice an app draining more battery than it should, investigate and remove the app if you don’t need it. However, keep in mind that older batteries can also lead to excessive battery drain.

7. Monitor Your iPhone’s Data Usage

Like battery drain, unusual or excessive data consumption due to background activity is a potential indicator that someone is trying to track your iPhone.

So, regularly monitor your data usage to identify any discrepancies or unusual patterns that suggest tracking activity. Here’s how you can do it:

Open Settings → tap the Cellular tab.
Depending on your region, you may see “Mobile Services,” “Mobile Data,” “Cellular Data,” etc.
Scroll down to view apps using your cellular data and their corresponding data usage.
Now, identify any app consuming an unusually high amount of data, especially ones you don’t frequently use or recognize. Delete the app if necessary.

8. Unfamiliar Devices in Family Sharing and FindMy

Keep an eye on your Family Sharing and FindMy settings to spot unfamiliar devices linked to your account. If you see a device you don’t recognize, remove it to prevent unauthorized tracking.

Open Settings → tap your Apple ID (name and photo).
Here, tap Family Sharing.
Select the device you don’t recognize → tap Remove from Family.

Follow a similar process in the FindMy app:

Launch the FindMy app → go to the Devices tab.
Select the device you don’t recognize.
Tap Remove This Device and confirm your choice.

9. Unexpected Vibrations or Sounds

If your iPhone behaves strangely and produces unexpected vibrations or sounds without any apparent reason, it could potentially mean someone else is trying to remotely access your iPhone.

The presence of tracking software, spyware, or monitoring apps can cause vibrations or sounds as part of their functionality. If you notice these unexplained vibrations or sounds, we recommend resetting your iPhone to factory settings to prevent further harm.