A smartphone’s GPS (Ground Positioning System) is commonly used by many to navigate while driving using Google Maps.
But it can be used for tracking lost or stolen devices as well. With this feature, you can also use a phone as a GPS tracker to monitor the location of an object like a car or of a person. (Once you have figured out how to attach the phone to the car or on the person you intend to track).
Most phones have an inbuilt feature that allows you to track your device location quite easily. Alternatively, you can also download & use 3rd-party apps.
Here’s how to use your phone as a GPS tracker:
Tracking your Android device with the inbuilt feature:
Android devices released from 2014 have a feature called “Find My Device.” Once enabled, this service will send the location of your device to Google’s server automatically & you can access this data using Google’s Web interface at any given time.
To enable this service, navigate to your phone’s settings page.
Tap on Lock screen & security. In some devices, you will find the “Find my Device” option on this page. In other devices, you will have to go further to “Other security settings” then tap on “Device admin apps” to find it.
Either way, once you have located the “Find My Device” feature, click and activate it. Note that you will have to allow some permissions for this service to work.
Find my device not only acts as a tracker but it can also be used to control your device remotely. Once you have activated this service, you will be able to find the location of your device from anywhere you are, by using the Find My Device Web dashboard & logging in using the Google account associated with the device you intend to track. You will be able to find your phone’s location & how long it has remained at that spot to a very high degree of accuracy.
Alternatively, you can also download & use 3rd-party apps such as ‘Lookout’ or ‘Prey’ for the same. These apps are traditionally anti-theft security apps, but can also be used to convert your phone to a tracking device if you intend to use it for that purpose.
As mentioned earlier, once you have made your phone ‘trackable’, all you have to do is figure out how to attach it on the object or person you intend to track. For example, you can use a magnetic car mount or suction cup if you intend to use your phone as a tracking device for your car.
Bear in mind that using a dedicated GPS tracker is still the most effective way to track anything, but if you are in a desperate situation, you can follow the steps above to re-purpose & use your phone as a GPS tracker.
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