Your smartphone holds your private messages, passwords, photos, banking apps, location, and almost everything about your daily life. That’s exactly why spying apps and tracking tools have become more common in 2025. They run silently, hide behind system processes, and send your data to someone without you knowing.

If you’re wondering how to check if someone is spying on your phone, this guide will walk you through all the signs, tools, checks, and methods to confirm whether your device is being monitored and how to stop it instantly.

What Does It Actually Mean When Someone Is Spying on Your Phone?

When someone is spying on your phone, it means they have installed something (or enabled something) that lets them:

• Read your messages
• Check your call logs
• Track your live location
• Access your camera or microphone
• See your photos
• Record your screen
• Monitor your social apps
• Read your WhatsApp, Instagram, or Messenger chats

This spying can happen through:

• Spy apps
• Hidden malware
• Tracking profiles
• Linked devices
• iCloud/Google account access
• Backup syncing
• Keyloggers
• Screen-sharing tools

This is why learning how to check if someone is spying on your phone is more important in 2025 than ever before.

Common Signs Someone Is Spying on Your Phone

Below are the strongest signs that indicate your phone might be compromised.

1. Battery Drains Faster Than Usual

Spy apps constantly run in the background, using CPU, network, and sensors. If your phone suddenly loses battery quickly, it’s not normal.

Look for signs like:

• Battery drops while phone is idle
• Phone warms up during standby
• Battery usage graph shows unusual apps

This is often the first clue you need when checking how to check if someone is spying on your phone.

2. Phone Overheating (Even When You’re Not Using It)

Overheating without gaming or video calls is a major red flag.

Spyware constantly uses:

• GPS
• Internet
• Storage
• System resources

This causes your phone to become unusually warm.

3. Data Usage Suddenly Spikes

Spy apps send collected information to someone else which requires data.

Check if your mobile data or Wi-Fi usage increased without explanation.

If you see apps using data you never opened, that’s a strong sign.

4. Random Shutdowns & Restarts

Most spyware affects system stability.

Unexpected restarts happen when:

• Spy apps crash
• Malware modifies system files
• Someone tries to access your device remotely

This is one of the clearest indicators when learning how to check if someone is spying on your phone.

5. Strange Pop-Ups, Glitches, or Screen Behavior

If you notice:

• Apps opening on their own
• Screen waking up randomly
• Settings changing automatically
• Phone lags during simple tasks

…it could be caused by hidden spyware.

How to Check If Someone Is Spying on Your Phone (Android & iPhone)

This section gives you real, practical methods to detect spying apps not generic advice.

1. Check Installed Apps (Spy Apps Hide in Disguise)

Most spy apps hide under names like:

• System Update Service
• Device Service
• Settings Helper
• SIM Toolkit Pro
• com.android.system

How to check (Android):

Go to:
Settings → Apps → See All Apps
Sort by:
Recently Installed

Look for apps you don’t remember installing.

How to check (iPhone):

Go to:
Settings → General → iPhone Storage

Look for apps with:

• Blank icons
• No app size
• Generic names

If you see something suspicious, it’s worth investigating further.

2. Check Running Services & Background Processes

Spy apps don’t just install they run silently.

Android:

Enable developer mode:
Settings → About Phone → Tap Build Number 7 times

Then:
Developer Options → Running Services

Look for apps running for hours without reason.

iPhone:

iPhones don’t show background processes, but you can see background refresh apps.

Go to:
Settings → General → Background App Refresh

Disable apps that shouldn’t be running.

3. Check Data Usage History

Spy apps need internet. They must send out data.

Android:

Settings → Network → Data Usage → App Data Usage

Look for:

• System apps consuming data
• Recently used apps that shouldn’t use any data

iPhone:

Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data Usage

Scroll down to check per-app usage.

4. Check Camera & Microphone Access Logs

If someone is spying, they might be:

• Recording audio
• Taking background photos
• Activating your camera

More: How to Check Which Apps Are Secretly Using Your Camera and Microphone in 2025

Android (Permission Manager):

Settings → Privacy → Permission Manager →
Camera / Microphone

Check which apps accessed these recently.

iPhone:

You will see orange (mic) or green (camera) dots whenever apps access them.

Go to:
Settings → Privacy → App Privacy Report

5. Check Battery Usage Report

Battery stats show which apps are draining the most power.

Android:

Settings → Battery → Battery Usage

iPhone:

Settings → Battery → Last 24 Hours

Look for apps using battery in the background nonstop.

6. Check App Permissions Manually

Spy apps need permissions like:

• Location
• Camera
• Microphone
• Contacts
• SMS
• Storage
• Accessibility

Remove permissions from apps that don’t need them.

7. Check for Unknown App Stores / Unknown Sources Enabled (Android)

Spy apps are often installed through unknown sources.

Go to:
Settings → Security → Install Unknown Apps

If any app has permission enabled without reason, that’s suspicious.

8. Check VPN Profiles You Didn’t Add

Hackers use VPN or device management profiles to reroute your traffic.

Android:

Settings → VPN

iPhone:

Settings → General → VPN & Device Management

If you see a configuration you didn’t install, remove it immediately.

9. Check Screen Mirroring You Didn’t Enable

Someone might be mirroring your screen remotely.

Android:

Look for:
Smart View / Cast / Nearby Share enabled

iPhone:

Open Control Center → Screen Mirroring
If it shows a connected device, it’s a huge red flag.

Advanced Ways to Detect Phone Spying

If the earlier checks didn’t confirm anything but you still feel suspicious, try these advanced methods.

1. Use Code Checks (#21#, #62#)

Dialing these codes can show if your calls/messages are being forwarded.

• *#21#: Check forwarding status
• *#62#: Check who receives your diverted data

If you see a number you don’t recognize, someone may be spying.

2. Check Unknown Devices Connected to Google / iCloud

Go to your account settings:

Google (Android):

Google Account → Security → Your Devices

iCloud (iPhone):

Settings → Apple ID → Devices

If you see a device you don’t recognize, remove it immediately.

3. Check WhatsApp, Instagram, or Telegram Linked Devices

WhatsApp:

Settings → Linked Devices

Instagram:

Settings → Login Activity

Telegram:

Devices → Active Sessions

If you see a login from another city or device someone is reading your chats.

4. Check Browser Extensions

Spy extensions on Chrome or Safari can monitor:

• Passwords
• Search history
• Logins

Remove anything you don’t trust.

How Hackers Install Spyware on Your Phone

Understanding this helps you stay protected.

Hackers may install spyware through:

• Physical access to your phone
• Fake apps
• Malicious links
• Fake WhatsApp / Instagram logins
• Public Wi-Fi attacks
• Unknown charging cables
• Third-party APK files

Sometimes even people close to you (partner, friend, sibling) install spyware when you leave your phone unlocked.

How to Remove Spy Apps and Stop Someone From Spying on You

Follow these steps immediately if you suspect anything.

1. Delete Suspicious Apps

Uninstall anything unfamiliar.

2. Remove Unknown Profiles or Certificates (iPhone)

Go to:
Settings → General → VPN & Device Management
Delete unknown certificates.

3. Change All Passwords

Start with:

• Google
• Apple ID
• WhatsApp
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Email
• Banking apps

4. Disable Unknown Backup Services

Some spyware uploads your data using secret backups.

Turn off:

• Google Drive backup (unknown apps)
• iCloud backup for apps you don’t trust

5. Secure Your Lock Screen

Use strong protection:

• 6-digit PIN
• Biometric lock
• Never use 1234, 1111, 0000, or your birthday

When You Should Factory Reset Your Phone

If you STILL feel like someone is spying on your phone after all checks, the best solution is:

Factory Reset

This removes:

• Spy apps
• Hidden profiles
• Malware
• Tracking tools

And gives you a clean start.

How to Protect Your Phone From Spying in the Future

• Never leave your phone unlocked
• Avoid installing random APK files
• Don’t root/jailbreak your device
• Don’t click unknown links
• Use a strong lock screen
• Keep your software updated
• Regularly check permissions and background activity

Practicing these steps will prevent ANYONE from gaining access.

Conclusion

Learning how to check if someone is spying on your phone is essential in 2025. Spy apps are becoming more advanced, more silent, and harder to detect but with the right steps, you can easily identify unusual behavior, find hidden apps, remove unknown profiles, and secure your device.

By checking permissions, monitoring battery usage, reviewing data logs, and verifying linked devices, you can protect your privacy and stop anyone from secretly accessing your phone.

Your phone is your private space protect it.

FAQs

1. Can someone spy on my phone without touching it?

Yes, through phishing links, fake logins, or account syncing but physical access makes it easier.

2. Is my phone hacked if it’s overheating?

Not always, but unexplained overheating is a common symptom of spyware.

3. Will a factory reset remove all spyware?

Yes. A full reset wipes all malicious apps and hidden profiles.

4. Can spyware see my WhatsApp messages?

Yes. Advanced spyware can read chats, record calls, and even track your keystrokes.

5. How do I know if someone linked their device to my WhatsApp or Instagram?

Check Linked Devices (WhatsApp) and Login Activity (Instagram). Remove unknown sessions immediately.