# Tracking app for android **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 2, 2017, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634 "2017-08-02T16:02:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634/1 "2017-08-02T16:02:20Z")
My wife and I have android phones and I’m looking for an app that will allow her to see where I am, or at least where my phone is. Doesn’t have to be free, but I’d like one that works. I know that it needs to be installed on both phones. What works for you? ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634/2 "2017-08-02T16:23:06Z")
Maps is a native feature of Android and shows your location. You can use the “Share Location” feature in the settings to connect with your missus. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634/3 "2017-08-02T16:25:23Z")
I’ll check that out, thanks. Sent from my LG-V495 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![icantdraw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3ec8ea/32.png) [@icantdraw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icantdraw)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634/4 "2017-08-02T19:19:28Z")
Where’s My Droid works for me. It is free and if you text a keyword to your phone it will text back with a link to Maps that puts a pin at the phone’s location. Works good when I misplace my phone. “Hey Honey, can you GPS my phone?” \*waits a minute “You left it in the car” ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634/5 "2017-08-02T19:24:04Z")
When I had an android phone I used Glympse which worked well. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634/6 "2017-08-02T19:29:24Z")
Who is your service provider? Sprint has their Sprint Family Locator service. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634/7 "2017-08-02T19:42:52Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > When I had an android phone I used Glympse which worked well. Another vote for Glympse, we use it for chasing; it shows speed & gives you a tail of the other person, so you can see direction & track for the past couple of minutes, which is especially useful if you’re following someone **not** on a road, like in a park, trail, or stadium. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634/8 "2017-08-02T21:45:22Z")
Another vote for Glympse, I like that it only reports its location for like 5 minutes, so you are not constantly tracked by the other person. The downside would be that I don’t think you can trigger it away from your phone (i.e. locating a lost phone) ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634/9 "2017-08-02T22:12:40Z")
I tried the Share Location feature on Google maps this afternoon. Seems to work OK, but my wife reports that my location jumps around. Don’t know if that’s normal or not, either way it’s not a big issue to me. My provider is ATT. I’ll check out Glympse. ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634/10 "2017-08-02T23:13:14Z")
We used Glympse a lot when our son was in college. Worked well, very useful. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634/11 "2017-08-02T23:36:48Z")
You have to turn on location history in Google maps. > **[How to Disable Google Maps Location Tracking on Android](https://forums.tomsguide.com/faq/how-to-disable-google-maps-location-tracking-on-android.21641/)** > > Google tracks your location through the Google Maps location tracking service. It is very useful if you lost your phone or if you want to know your location history, but it's also a little creepy to that someone is tracking your every move. > > But the... Then you can open maps and select a date. You’ll see a line on the map showing where you went that day. It’s usually a circle or oval. For example, I drive to work, stop at the store, and drive home. There will be a zig zag on the map if I drive across the city to run an errand. I know it freaks out some people. It can easily be turned off any time you want. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634/12 "2017-08-03T00:02:17Z")
I didn’t know that was there. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634/13 "2017-08-03T00:16:59Z")
It’s a cool feature. I happened to run across an article on location tracking a few months ago. I just set it up on my mom’s new tablet. It was off by default. It’s called “your timeline” on the newer version of Google map. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634/14 "2017-08-04T02:10:21Z")
I use an app called SeekDroid, and I know there are others out there (haven’t heard of Glympse but I haven’t looked, either). Basically any of these apps would function somewhat like “Find my IPhone”,to track the phone’s current (or last known) location. Mine will also let you force it to sound an alarm so you can find a misplaced phone. I believe I could also enable remote wiping, though I haven’t done so. A useful feature is the ability to “hide” the app, so a thief can’t remote / disable it easily. ---
**Author:** ![Weisshund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba8739/32.png) [@Weisshund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weisshund)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634/15 "2017-08-04T02:17:30Z")
android device manager, part of every android phone? find phone track phone lock phone wipe phone make phone play noise ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634/16 "2017-08-04T02:21:48Z")
I use life 360 for continuous family location, also does not drain the battery like glympse (which I use for hiking groups). ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634/17 "2017-08-04T04:47:11Z")
> [@xizor](#): > > Another vote for Glympse, I like that it only reports its location for like 5 minutes, so you are not constantly tracked by the other person. Not true. You can select tracking length when you send a Glympse. We typically do two hours. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634/18 "2017-08-04T09:58:17Z")
Kaspersky has anti-theft features. Lock, locate, alarm, even a mugshot of the person holding it. Last resort, you can wipe the phone remotely. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Crap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.crap/32/3131_2.png) [@Dr.Crap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Crap)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634/19 "2017-08-04T11:44:52Z")
Google recently released the [Trusted Contacts](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.emergencyassist&hl=en) app for location tracking and sharing. I prefer it over Life360 for tracking and sharing with my family because of the improved battery usage and superior development team. For friends and coworkers I prefer using [Glympse Express](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.glympse.android.glympseexpress&hl=en). The important distinction here is that apps like Trusted Contacts and Life360 enable certain people to see your GPS location without any further input while Glympse always requires your consent and is timer-based. So, do you trust your wife? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2017, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634/20 "2017-08-04T14:05:42Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Who is your service provider? Sprint has their Sprint Family Locator service. AT&T has the same service. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tracking-app-for-android/792634.md?page=2)