[6 Ways] How to Track a Phone without a SIM Card

Elsa Updated on Aug 26, 2024 Filed to: Parent Control

Have you recently lost your phone and want to track it down, but it doesn't have a SIM card? Tracking them down can get more complicated if the lost phone does not have a valid SIM card. So the main question arises whether you can track an iPhone or Android phone without a SIM card.

Don't worry because we have it all figured out for you! This post will explore practical methods to track a phone without a SIM card. Let's get started.

can a phone be tracked without a SIM card

Part 1: Is It Possible to Track a Phone without a SIM Card?

The common question that arises here is, "Can a phone be tracked without a SIM card?"

The short answer is yes! All phones, whether iPhone or Android, can be tracked down without a SIM card. However, it may not be as simple as it seems, because in some cases, you have to take pre-measures, rely on your phone to be active or connected to the internet.

Want to know how to track a cell phone without a sim card? Then keep reading.

Part 2: 6 Ways to Track a Cell Phone Without a SIM Card

Below, we have explained 6 ways that are quite widely used and have proven to be good ways to find a lost phone without a SIM. 

1. Via Built-In Tracking Service

As the technology is progressing, we have seen that Android is making good use of it when it comes to security, and in each and every update, we can see and feel that the howler that was present before is either improved or removed for good. There are some built-in features for both Android and IOS, so let's discover what they are and how you can use them.

1. Using Google "Find My Device"

Access the 'Find My Phone' feature on the Android device, and you'll be able to track your other Android phone, which is lost. If Wi-Fi is working on both ends or if the device is network-enabled, you'll be able to find it on Google Maps or through GPS. But you will need to authorize the Find My Phone feature on the app beforehand.

Google Find My Device

How to Track a Phone without a SIM Card via Find My Device
  1. Step 1.From any browser, go to android.com/find and enter your login details.
  2. Step 2.Select your device (if you have multiple devices, select the one that is lost). For security purposes, you might be prompted to provide the lock pattern of the lost device (Android 9 and above) or type your Google password (Android 8 and below)
  3. Step 3.On the map, click the phone icon and you can locate the phone, but it can only be accurate to within 10-20 meters.

If the device is off, you will see its last location. But once this happens, you can:

  • Play sound for a full 5 minutes on loud volume, even if it is on silent or vibrate.
  • Lock it with a PIN code.
  • Permanently delete all data.

2. Using "Find My iPhone"

If you are an iPhone user, you must enable the "find my iPhone" and "find my Internet" features so that your phone can be tracked even if it is offline.

How to Track a Phone without a SIM Card via Find My iPhone
  1. Step 1.Open the Find My app on your iPhone or log in to this website -https://www.icloud.com/find - using another iOS device.
  2. Step 2.Click "Devices" in the bottom function bar and the select your device. Your iPhone icon will appear on the map.
  3. Step 3.Click your iPhone icon, then the location information will pop up from the bottom.

3. Using Samsung "Find My Mobile"

There is a reason Samsung is the market leader when it comes to Android phones, and one of the reasons is its secure features. Their very own Find My Phone feature is quite effective, and below is the way you can use it:

Track a Samsung Phone without a SIM Card via Find My Mobile
  1. Step 1.Open Samsung Find My Mobile.
  2. Step 2.Log into your account.
  3. Step 3.Select the phone you want to track.
  4. Step 4.You will be able to view information such as the time it was used and the city where it was last located.

how to track Samsung phone without a SIM card

2: Via Google Maps

To track a phone without a SIM card using Google Maps, you must have shared the phone's location with your Friends and Family before it went missing. You can choose who can find your location and how long to share your location with “Google Location Sharing”. People you share your location with can always see:

  • 1.Your name and photo.
  • 2.Your device’s recent location even when Google apps aren’t being used.
  • 3.Your device’s battery power and if it’s charging.
  • 4.Your arrival and departure time if they add a Location Sharing notification.

Here are the steps to share your location on Google Maps:

  • Step 1: On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app Maps and sign in.
  • Step 2: Tap your profile picture or initial > Location sharing > New share.
  • Step 3: Choose how long you want to share your location.
  • Step 4: Tap the profile of the person with whom you want to share your location. If asked about your contacts, give Google Maps access.
  • Step 5: Tap Share.

find a lost device Google map

3. Via Phone Tracking Apps

1. What Are Phone Tracking Apps?

A mobile phone tracking app is a software that can locate the location of a mobile phone. By connecting the devices together, it can help you track a mobile phone without a sim card under certain conditions, or track a child who owns the phone to keep them safe.

2. Track a Phone witout sim card with AirDroid Parental Control

AirDroid Parental Control is an app that allows you to find other devices with or without a working SIM. It is pretty straightforward to use and gives you all the features you need in one place. What you have to do is bind the phone without sim card to another phone.

Below are the Steps:

Step 1: Download and install the AirDroid Parental Control app on your device.

Step 2: You will be directed to the sign-up page. You are required to create an account before logging in.

Step 3: Download AirDroid Kids on the phone without sim card.

Step 4: Authorize your phone to use related permissions.

Step 5: Enter the pairing code to link this Android device to yours.

Step 6: After that, open AirDroid Parental Control and tap the "Location" icon.

location icon AirDroid

By doing this, you can see the location of the linked phone even without sim card. But the phone must be connected to Wi-Fi or hotspot for this to work.

Overall, it is an excellent app to locate or lock your phone in instances where you lose it. All your data and privacy are maintained.

4. Via Gmail or Google Account

If the phone without a SIM card has logged in to your Google account, Google will record your location. You can use your Google account or Gmail to find the latest location of your phone on Google Chrome. But this location method is not precise, it can only locate your province.

  1. Step 1.Open your Google Account.
  2. Step 2.Go to the Security section.
  3. Step 3.Scroll down to your device.
  4. Step 4.Click Manage all devices.

Google account find a lost device

5: Via Social Media Platform

WhatsApp and Snapchat have features that allow you to share your location, so you can track your phone even if it doesn't have a sim card.

1.WhatsApp

You can track your lost Phone with Whatsapp, but you need to share the location with your friends or family in advance and always allow location permissions and the lost device needs to be connected to Wifi or hotspot. In addition, live location sharing lasts for a maximum of 8 hours, so when your phone goes missing, you have to act quickly.

  1. Step 1.Open WhatsApp.
  2. Step 2.Open the chat that sent you the Live-location.
  3. Step 3.Click the link to view the current location of your lost Phone on WhatsApp.

see location on WhatsApp

2.Snapchat

You can track your lost Phone with Snapchat, but you need to turn off "Ghost Mode" in advance, share your location with with your friends and always allow location permissions

  1. Step 1.Use your friend's phone to open Snapchat.
  2. Step 2.Go to Snapchat Map and see the current location of the phone.

Snapchat Map

6: Via IMEI Number

If only the phone is lost, we cannot use the IMEI number to track the phone. Currently, only network carriers or authorities can track a mobile device using the IMEI number, and it requires the phone to remain powered on and the airplane mode to be turned off, but this is also not an easy task, because they only come in if it is a serious case like a missing person or murder.

So generally, we cannot track a phone through the IMEI number. There are only two situations where you can use the IMEI number to track a phone:
1. Your family is missing, and you call the police for help. The police will ask the Mobile Carrier to use the IMEI number to locate your family's mobile phone to find your missing family.
2. When a major case occurs, the police need Mobile Carrier to locate the suspect's mobile phone through the IMEI number in order to track the suspect.

Conslusion

We have introduced the most effective ways to track a phone without a sim card, but please note that all of these methods require prior preparation, and if conditions permit, it is best to connect to a wifi or hotspot.

We think the best way to track a phone without a SIM card is to use AirDroid, which not only shows the real-time location but also allows you to set up geofences so you get notifications when the phone leaves or enters the area.

FAQs about Tracking a Phone

Can You Track A Phone If It's Switched off?
Elsa
Elsa

No, you can install a few apps on your phone beforehand if you think you can lose it. Still, people are often irritated by these apps because they consume a lot of battery and power. Usually, a phone can be located if it's on, but when the phone is switched off, with no sim card inserted, there may not be a way to find your missing phone.

Even if you contact your phone carrier company, they might not be able to help you. Because, aside from generating your phone bills, they are not authorized to gather your device's location information. And if on-demand they do, they will get signals of the place where your device was last switched on.

Can You Track a Phone That Has No Service?
Elsa
Elsa
Yes, you can track the phone as long as it is connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data.
Can the Police Track Your Phone If It’s Off?
Elsa
Elsa
If a phone is off, it typically can't be tracked. But in emergencies, law enforcement might locate it based on its last known location.
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Elsa
Elsa
Elsa has worked on a number of iOS & Android solutions, she can always find her way around almost any application. She is an accomplished, skilled and versatile writer with more than 7 years of technical article writing experience.
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