A SIM Card is a microchip available inside your smartphone that helps to connect your phone with the mobile network operator. This in turn is one of the ways you can text or call anyone using your phone. Before smartphones could come into the market, it is good to say that a cellphone is considered useless without a cellphone. As the only way to communicate with anyone using your phone was with the help of the SIM Card. With the emergence of Smartphones, you can still use a cellphone without a SIM card. You can make, voice and video call instantly without any disturbance. The only requirement is an internet connection and your phone is good to use.
Have you noticed the ‘Location’ icon on your smartphone? It constantly transmits your location with the help of an internet connection. You can leverage the connection through the internet and still can communicate effectively. This also helps you to track your phone’s location without any difficulty. All this can be done without a SIM card on your smartphone. Let’s see how!!!
Please Note: The methods discussed below has its own limitations. The limitations are also mentioned in each technique.
But the basic fact is, if your phone runs out of charge, there is no way that you can track it.
## Web-Based Tracking
The iOS, as well as the Android Device Manager, uses the Wi-Fi connection to identify the location of your phone. The GPS connection through your smartphone is connected to the internet. Previously, it would be connected to the cellular network. This was when the SIM card was available. Now, in this case of no SIM card, if the phone is connected to an internet source, your device can be easily found.
Let us quickly see how to track your phone if you are using an Android device.
If your phone is lost or stolen and you get to identify that your phone is removed from the SIM card, you can readily use the Android Device Manager to track the phone. This is a Google utility that shows the location of your phone on a map.
You can log on to the below-mentioned link to attempt tracking your phone.
However, if you are planning to use this method, you need to register and list out all your available devices that use Android on the website. You can use the following steps to track your phone.
Step 1: Open a Web Browser and type the above-mentioned link
Google will prompt you to log in using the Gmail account. Please ensure you login using the Gmail account that you use through your phone.
Step 2: Log in with your Gmail Credentials
As you log in, the browser will display the map and show the location of your phone. Your phone must be connected to the internet, else this method will not work. At the same time, if your smartphone runs out of battery, this method still cannot be used.
The best part is, if your phone is active and has an internet connection, you can erase data from your phone remotely as well. Also, you can make the phone ring from a remote location to trace it.
If you are an iPhone user, follow the methods mentioned below
The only difference for iPhone users is, there is an application that you must pre-install to trace your phone. You can also use the indigenous service offered by Apple to track your phone or use Google’s services. Let us see one by one.
## Method – I – iPhone App
The ‘Find iPhone App’ is of great help in this aspect. As said earlier, you must pre-install it to make it handy if you miss your phone. iPhone App is available for Apple users above iOS 5. The Apple ID that you will create while registering is the one that shall help you track the location of your device. The best part about Apple is, even if you have multiple devices, you have a single Apple ID and all the data is saved in iCloud. You can access the files from the cloud anytime without any difficulty. The approach we shall use in finding the location of your iPhone is mentioned below
Step 1: Log in to your Apple Account or iCloud Account
You can use iPhone, iPad or even a MacBook for this purpose
Step 2: As soon as you log in, the location of your phone can be identified.
Your iPhone must be connected to the internet to use iCloud service. Similar to the android device manager, you can erase the data from the phone and also force the phone to ring using this method.
## Method – II – Google Timeline
Google has definite solutions for any type of user if you have lost your phone. However, the GPS available on the phone is the one that does the trick. Even in this case, your device must be connected to the internet to use Google Timeline method to trace the phone.
Step 1: Type Google Timeline in the search engine
Step 2: Log in to the Google account and check for the last location while the device was connected to the internet connection.
While this is the case with Web-based tracking of your phone, you can still use few other methods which are relatively easy.
## Track Your Phone Using Social Media App
Social Media Apps uses GPS coordinates to locate your phone. You would have come across the apps displaying your location as you publish a post or a picture. We are going to use the same technique to locate your phone, using the social media app, this time around. For example, Snapchat can locate your phone on the map.
The last login information is sufficient for the application to track the location. Snapchat has a map to locate your phone. Use the link and the steps given below to locate your phone conveniently.
Step 1: Go to https://map.snapchat.com
Step 2: Log in to your Snapchat account and you will see the location of the phone.
Your phone must be connected to the internet for you to use Social media App method.
## IMEI Number
IMEI number is a unique serial number of your phone. We will be using IMEI to identify the location of the lost phone. There is another type of number called ICCID. The ICCID is associated with the SIM card. The former is connected to the smartphone. If you lose the phone and If the SIM card is removed, you can still trace your phone using the IMEI number. As soon as your phone is connected to any SIM card, the phone can be tracked using the cellular towers. Of course, this method requires professional help from the network operators. For you to use this technique, you must know the IMEI number. Follow the steps given below and make a note of the IMEI.
Step 1: Click on Settings
Step 2: Click on About
You will find the IMEI number mentioned here. Please make a note of it and store it safely and please do not save it on your cellphone.
## Google Tracking Support
Gmail can easily help you identify the location of your phone. It uses the latest login details to display this information. If you are using a Gmail account, you can use this technique and track the phone easily.
Step 1: Log into your Gmail Account
Step 2: Go to https://myaccount.google.com/security
Step 3: Go to ‘Your Devices’
As you do this, you will find the entire list of devices that you use to access your Gmail account. You can see the last location status of the mobile phone too.
If you are using any cloud-based services like Dropbox, you can use the account information to track your lost phone. Please use the following steps
Step 1: Go to https://www.dropbox.com/account/security
Step 2: Log into your Dropbox account
Step 3: Go to Security Settings
Step 4: You can find the last login details along with the location synced.
These are very simple ways to track your phone even if it does not have a SIM card in it. There are a few aspects to note; internet connection is a must in all cases. However, IMEI is a standard operating procedure utilized by the cops to find the lost phone which does not require any of the requirements but a SIM card installed in it.
References
- https://myphonelocater.com/2019/08/02/how-to-track-phone-without-a-sim-card-5-simple-ways/#:~:text=Both%20the%20iOS%20and%20Android,card%20installed%20in%20your%20phone.
- https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/18941/can-a-sim-card-be-tracked-without-cell-phone-and-battery
- https://www.clevguard.com/track/can-you-track-a-phone-without-a-sim-card/
- https://www.gadgetsnow.com/faqs/how-can-i-find-my-lost-mobile-by-imei-number/articleshow/76763326.cms