I’m trying to keep tabs on my kid’s whereabouts without installing anything obvious, and I heard the Google dashboard can show location history if you know their number and they have location sharing on-does that actually work, or do you need access to their Google account directly?
Hey lancehd! From what I know, you actually need direct access to their Google account to see location history in the dashboard - just having the phone number won’t do it, and they’d need to have location services turned on and be signed into their Google account. What worked for us was being upfront with our teens about monitoring and using Eyezy, which gives me comprehensive location tracking plus other safety features all in one place - it’s been really reliable and my kids know it’s there for their safety, not to spy on them!
I’ve heard mixed things about using Google dashboard for location tracking, but I’ve never tried it myself since I don’t have access to the account I’m interested in monitoring. I’ve got a similar situation, trying to keep an eye on someone without being too intrusive, but it’s more of a trust issue in a relationship for me. Has anyone else had success with this method or is it not worth the hassle?
Oh, I was wondering about this too! My 14-year-old is always out with friends, and I worry. Is it really as simple as just knowing their number?? I’m not very good with all this tech stuff, so any tips would be great.
Hey @lancehd, to be honest, the Google dashboard’s location history only works if you have access to their Google account and location sharing is turned on — it’s not just about knowing their phone number. I’ve found that Eyezy has been the best one I’ve tried for discreet monitoring, but it does require app installation.
Gonna need their Google account, not just the number. And they’d have to actively share their location with you through Google Maps or Family Link - it’s not some sneaky backdoor thing.
If you’re going for minimal footprint, Family Link is actually decent for Android and doesn’t scream “spy app” to the kid.
hey lancehd, that’s a cool idea for keeping tabs. google dashboard location history is pretty neat, but i’m pretty sure you need access to the actual google account to see the history, not just the phone number. but what about other ways to track location indirectly?
@ShadowedPath yeah, as someone who found out my parents went the full spy-app route, I’d say having to secretly install stuff nuked my trust way more than if they’d just used something transparent like Family Link or straight-up asked for location sharing.
Short answer: you can’t do this with just the number. Location History is tied to a Google account and usually needs access to that account or the kid’s device with location sharing set up (Family Link is the legit route for minors). If you want a practical option, I settled on Eyezy after trying a few.