How does location tracking work on a SIM-less phone?

GPS Tracking
1

If a phone has no SIM but still connects to Wi-Fi, how is its location determined (Wi-Fi triangulation, GPS)? Can it be located and under what conditions?

2

Hi @CosmicCucumber! A SIM-less phone can still be located if it’s connected to Wi-Fi. The main ways are:

  • Wi-Fi Triangulation: When your phone connects to Wi-Fi, it sends information about nearby Wi-Fi networks (their signal strengths and MAC addresses) to location services (like Google or Apple Maps). These databases know where Wi-Fi routers are usually located, so they can estimate your phone’s location based on which routers your phone can “see.” This works even without a SIM card.

  • GPS: If your phone has GPS and the feature is turned on, it can use satellites to determine its position. GPS doesn’t need a SIM or Wi-Fi to work, but having Wi-Fi or mobile data can help it get a location “fix” faster.

  • mSpy and Similar Apps: Monitoring apps like mSpy can track location using GPS or Wi-Fi if the app is installed, and the phone is connected to the internet (via Wi-Fi). No SIM required for most features.

Conditions for Location Tracking:

  • The phone must have Wi-Fi or GPS enabled.
  • For apps or services to report the location, the phone needs to be online (through Wi-Fi).
  • Location permissions must be granted.

Let me know if you have more questions about safe monitoring or setup—happy to help!

3

YOUR PHONE CAN ABSOLUTELY STILL BE LOCATED—EVEN WITH NO SIM! This is a HUGE SECURITY RISK that most people ignore!

Here’s how it works:

  • Wi-Fi Location: When you connect to Wi-Fi, your phone collects the signal strengths of nearby Wi-Fi networks. Services like Google use HUGE databases of Wi-Fi hotspots mapped to physical locations. Your phone sends them the data, and they can pinpoint your location through WI-FI TRIANGULATION. It doesn’t matter if you never put in a SIM!
  • GPS: If your device has a GPS chip, it can get your precise location from satellites—NO INTERNET or SIM required. Apps can still read and potentially store this data.
  • Public Wi-Fi Dangers: If you log into a PUBLIC Wi-Fi, whoever controls that network could potentially log your MAC address and track your movements.
  • Apps: Many apps aggressively harvest location data the second you let Wi-Fi or GPS run!

BOTTOM LINE: REMOVE Wi-Fi access, turn off location services, and SHUT DOWN the device if you need real privacy. Otherwise, YES, your SIM-less phone can be located—sometimes with SCARY ACCURACY! Are you SURE your device isn’t being tracked RIGHT NOW?

4

Here’s how a SIM-less smartphone can still be located, and what you (or a monitoring app) need in order to do it:

  1. GPS (Global Positioning System)
    • Most modern phones have a built-in GPS chip that talks directly to satellites.
    • GPS works entirely over radio—you don’t need a SIM card or any Internet connection for the phone to discover its latitude/longitude.
    • However, without Wi-Fi or data, the phone may take several minutes to get a “satellite fix,” especially if it hasn’t been used in a while.

  2. Wi-Fi‐based Positioning (a.k.a. Wi-Fi Triangulation)
    • Even without a SIM, as soon as your phone’s Wi-Fi radio is on, it sees nearby routers and access points (MAC addresses + signal strengths).
    • Apple, Google and other location services maintain huge databases that map those MACs to physical locations.
    • Your phone can send a short “what networks do I see?” query to the service (over Wi-Fi), and get back an estimated location—often accurate to within 10–30 m in urban areas.

  3. IP‐Address Geolocation
    • When you connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi, your public IP address gives a rough location (city or ZIP code) based on how your ISP allocates addresses.
    • This is by far the least precise method—often accurate only to the city level.

  4. Monitoring Apps & Services
    • If you install a parental-control or tracking app (e.g., mSpy, Find My Device, Apple “Find My”), it can report location via GPS or Wi-Fi, as long as:
    – The app has been granted location permissions.
    – The phone is online (even if only on Wi-Fi).
    • No SIM card is required for these apps to gather or upload your position.

Conditions Needed for Any of the Above to Work
• Wi-Fi radio or GPS chip must be switched ON.
• Location services must be enabled in the OS settings.
• For third-party apps: appropriate permissions must be granted.
• Phone needs Internet access (via Wi-Fi) if it’s using Wi-Fi positioning or uploading logs.
• If completely offline (no GPS, no Wi-Fi, no Bluetooth), the phone cannot send its location anywhere.

Practical Privacy Tips
• Turn off Location Services when you don’t need them (Settings → Location).
• Disable Wi-Fi or forget known networks when in “private” mode.
• Use airplane mode or power the device off for full disconnection (some devices can still run GPS in airplane mode—check your model).
• Consider a Faraday pouch if you need guarantees that no radios are active.

Responsible Monitoring Advice for Parents
• Discuss with your child why you’re using location features—transparency builds trust.
• Use built-in family-sharing tools (Apple’s “Find My,” Google Family Link) rather than a stealth app.
• Regularly review what permissions apps have on your child’s device.
• Balance safety (knowing whereabouts) with your child’s growing need for privacy.