Samsung's built-in tracking features work without extra apps or subscriptions

Samsung phones come with Find My Mobile, a free service that lets you locate, lock, or wipe a device remotely using a web browser or another Samsung phone. You can also turn on Location Sharing in the phone's settings to let your child's device broadcast its location to your phone in real time. Both features require a Samsung account and must be set up on the child's phone before you need them.

The fastest way to start is through Find My Mobile on Samsung's website. Sign in with the Samsung account linked to your child's phone, and you'll see the device's last known location on a map. If the phone is on and connected to the internet, the location updates continuously. You can also use the Find My Mobile app on your own Samsung phone to check location without opening a browser.

Location Sharing is separate from Find My Mobile and works differently. It sends real-time location data to contacts you choose, similar to Google Maps location sharing. Your child's phone must have the feature turned on in Settings, and they must add you as a trusted contact. This method works even if Find My Mobile is not set up.

Key Takeaways

  • Find My Mobile is free with a Samsung account and shows your child's phone location through a web browser or the Find My Mobile app on your phone.
  • Location Sharing sends real-time location updates to contacts you choose and must be enabled on your child's phone in Settings.
  • Both features require internet or mobile data on your child's phone to work; they do not function if the phone is off or in airplane mode.
  • Google Family Link is a separate option that works on any Android phone and includes screen time controls and app management alongside location tracking.

How to set up Find My Mobile on your child's Samsung phone

Open Settings on your child's phone and go to Accounts and Backup, then Accounts. Tap Add Account and select Samsung Account. Sign in with an existing Samsung account or create a new one. Once the account is added, go back to Settings and search for "Find My Mobile" in the search bar. Tap Find My Mobile and turn on the toggle. You may be asked to verify the Samsung account again.

After Find My Mobile is on, go to samsung.com/us/find-my-mobile (or your country's Samsung site) and sign in with the same Samsung account. You should see your child's phone listed. Click on it to view its location on a map. If the phone is connected to the internet, you can also lock the screen, unlock it with your PIN, or erase the device remotely from this page.

The location updates every time the phone connects to the internet, but the accuracy depends on whether GPS is on. If GPS is off, the location is based on cell towers and Wi-Fi networks, which is less precise. For real-time tracking, make sure GPS is enabled on your child's phone.

How to turn on Location Sharing in Samsung settings

Open Settings on your child's phone and tap Accounts and Backup. Select Accounts, then Samsung Account. Tap the account name and go to Privacy. Look for Location Sharing and turn on the toggle. You'll see an option to add trusted contacts — tap Add and enter your phone number or Samsung account email.

Once you're added as a trusted contact, your child's phone will send location data to you continuously. You can see the location in the Samsung Find My Mobile app on your phone or through the web portal. Location Sharing works independently of Find My Mobile, so you can use one, both, or neither depending on your needs.

Location Sharing stops working if your child turns off location services on their phone or removes you from the trusted contacts list. If your child is old enough to understand privacy, explain that you can see their location and why. This approach is more transparent than tracking without their knowledge.

Google Family Link as an alternative for Samsung phones

If you want location tracking plus controls over screen time and app use, Google Family Link works on any Android phone, including Samsung. Set it up by downloading the Family Link app on your phone and the Family Link for supervised devices app on your child's phone. Sign in with your Google account on your phone and create or sign in with your child's Google account on their phone.

Family Link shows your child's location on a map, lets you set daily screen time limits, and blocks or allows specific apps. You can also see which apps are installed and how much time your child spends in each one. Unlike Find My Mobile, Family Link requires the supervised device app to stay installed and running on your child's phone.

Family Link works on Samsung phones running Android 7.0 and newer. If your child's phone is older, check Settings > About Phone > Android Version to confirm compatibility. Family Link is free and does not require a Samsung account.

What to do if your child's phone is off or out of range

Find My Mobile shows the last known location if the phone is off or not connected to the internet. The timestamp tells you when the location was last updated. If the phone has been off for hours, the location may be outdated and not useful for finding your child in real time.

Some Samsung phones have a feature called Offline Finding that broadcasts the phone's location even when it's not connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data. This feature uses Bluetooth to send location signals to nearby Samsung devices, which relay the location back to you. Offline Finding is available on newer Samsung Galaxy phones and must be turned on in Find My Mobile settings before the phone goes offline.

If your child's phone is lost or stolen, use Find My Mobile to lock the screen when ready. This prevents someone else from using the phone or accessing your child's accounts. You can also erase the phone remotely if you believe it will not be recovered.

Privacy and safety considerations when tracking your child

Tracking your child's phone is a tool for safety, but it works best alongside open conversation. Explain why you want to know their location — whether it's for emergencies, pickup times, or peace of mind. Children who understand the reason are less likely to feel spied on and more likely to keep their phone charged and with them.

Be aware that your child can turn off location services, remove you from trusted contacts, or disable Find My Mobile if they know how. Younger children may not think to do this, but older teens might. If your child disables tracking, that's a sign to have a conversation about trust and boundaries rather than to find a way around their choice.

Samsung's tracking features do not record what your child is doing on their phone — they only show where the phone is. If you want to see app use, screen time, or browsing history, use Google Family Link or a third-party parental control app. Those tools have their own privacy trade-offs, so research them before installing.

Troubleshooting: Why location is not showing up

If Find My Mobile is not showing your child's phone location, check that the Samsung account is signed in on the phone. Go to Settings > Accounts and Backup > Accounts and look for the Samsung Account. If it's not there, add it again. Also confirm that Find My Mobile is turned on in Settings.

Next, check that the phone has internet access. If it's on Wi-Fi, make sure it's connected to a network. If it's using mobile data, confirm that the data plan is active. Find My Mobile cannot show location if the phone is offline. You can also restart the phone and try again — sometimes the connection needs to refresh.

If the phone is on but the location is not updating, GPS may be off. Open Settings > Location and turn on the toggle. You can also go to Location Services and make sure Find My Mobile has permission to use location. After making these changes, wait a few minutes and refresh the Find My Mobile website to see if the location updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my child see that I'm tracking their location?

With Find My Mobile, your child cannot see that you're checking their location unless they log into their own Samsung account and check the Find My Mobile settings. With Location Sharing, your child knows you're a trusted contact and can see that location sharing is on in their settings. Google Family Link shows a notification on your child's phone that it's being supervised.

Does tracking work if my child's phone is in airplane mode?

No. Airplane mode turns off all wireless connections, including GPS, Wi-Fi, and mobile data. Find My Mobile will show the last known location before airplane mode was turned on, but it will not update. If your child turns off airplane mode, the location will update again the next time the phone connects to the internet.

What's the difference between Find My Mobile and Location Sharing?

Find My Mobile is a full device management tool that shows location, locks the phone, and erases it remotely. Location Sharing only sends location data to trusted contacts. Find My Mobile works through a website or app; Location Sharing works through the Samsung account settings. Both are free and built into Samsung phones.

Can I track my child's Samsung phone without them knowing?

You can set up Find My Mobile without your child's knowledge if you have access to their phone and the Samsung account password. However, this approach can damage trust if discovered. Location Sharing requires your child to add you as a trusted contact, so they will know. Google Family Link shows a notification on the supervised phone.

Will tracking drain my child's phone battery?

Location tracking uses some battery, especially if GPS is on all the time. Find My Mobile uses less battery than continuous GPS tracking because it only updates when the phone connects to the internet. Location Sharing uses more battery if GPS is on. To reduce battery drain, turn off GPS when it's not needed and use Wi-Fi location instead, which is less power-hungry.