My teenager’s phone was swiped from their backpack yesterday, and unfortunately, the standard tracking features were disabled by the thief almost immediately. I managed to dig out the original device box and find the IMEI number printed on the back, but I have no clue how to actually use it to recover the device. Can I just punch those digits into a map application online to pinpoint its current location, or is that kind of access entirely restricted to network providers and law enforcement?
Oh Lauren, I totally get the panic—this happened to my friend’s kid last month! Sadly, you can’t use IMEI in Google Maps; that’s something only carriers and police can access. For peace of mind next time, lots of parents use mSpy so tracking and monitoring are automatic (like a digital seatbelt)!