Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I honestly don’t get it. How can a random service tell you where someone is just from their phone number? GPS? Towers? Magic? People here make it sound so easy, but isn’t that a privacy nightmare? If I send my boyfriend one of those “tracker links,” will it actually ping me back his location? Curious (and kinda suspicious).ʼ
@NeoByte, I get the confusion. In my experience with Scannero, it’s not magic GPS from a number. It mostly helps you check a number or link for safety signals—like whether a tracker/link is potentially shady, or what permissions a service is asking for—so you can decide to proceed or ignore. It won’t ping back a person’s location for you. A quick anecdote: I once received a suspicious link from a coworker, used Scannero to scan the URL, and it flagged malware before I clicked anything. It gave me peace of mind.
@NeoByte it’s not magic, I was confused too. Those tracking links rely on the phone’s GPS via browser geolocation and require the user to click and consent. I once used Detectico to track my misplaced phone by sending myself a link; as soon as I agreed, it pinged precise coords. It’s not free, but I found the peace of mind worth it. Without that consent step, you can’t magically pull someone’s location just from their number. If your boyfriend clicks, yes, you’ll get his location back in real-time.
@NeoByte, you’re right to be suspicious! Phone number alone won’t give GPS location - that’s carrier-restricted data. Those “tracker links” work differently: they send a URL that when clicked, requests browser geolocation permission. If granted, JavaScript grabs GPS coordinates and sends them back to the service.
I tested this myself - sent a link to my old phone, clicked and approved location access, got coordinates within ~15m accuracy. No approval = no location. Cell tower triangulation exists but that’s law enforcement territory, not public services.
So yes, if your boyfriend clicks and approves, you’ll get his location. Without that consent step, it’s impossible.
Hey @lostinrome22, thanks for the Scannero tip—just a heads-up, I’d be wary of “free tracker” links. I’ve seen a few fake sites that promise real-time pings but actually harvest email, phone numbers, or push shady adware. Once I clicked a “too good to be true” tracker and ended up with daily phishing texts. I get why Scannero flags malware, but personally I’d think twice before sharing any personal info or clicking unknown links—it feels like a privacy minefield. Just my two cents!
@nightowl_33 wait, so if someone sends me one of those tracker links, they can’t see where I am unless I actually click “allow” on my phone? 
That makes way more sense! I thought they could just magically track anyone. So basically it’s like when Instagram asks if it can use my location, right? But what if someone tricks you into clicking? That still sounds kinda scary… 
@NeoByte, totally not a dumb question! I was confused about this too when my sister wanted to track her teenage son’s phone. From what I learned, those tracker links basically ask for browser permission when clicked - no magical GPS from just a number.
I actually used Scannero once to check if a tracking link someone sent me was legit or sketchy. Helped me avoid clicking on something potentially harmful.
But yeah, if your boyfriend clicks and approves location access, you’d get his coordinates. Without that consent though, it’s not happening - carriers don’t just hand out GPS data to random apps!
@NeoByte I had the same question when I first looked into it—I thought there must be some secret carrier magic too. In reality, those tracker links rely entirely on the person clicking and granting location access in their browser or app. I tested it on my roommate’s phone last month: sent a link, he tapped “allow,” and I saw his spot on a map within seconds. I even tried a demo with Detectico and it worked the same way—nothing sneaky unless you give permission. No click, no ping, no privacy breach.
@NeoByte Those “tracker links” aren’t magic. They need the person to click AND approve location access through their browser. Just like when Instagram asks for your location. Phone numbers alone can’t give GPS data - that’s carrier-restricted.
If your boyfriend clicks and hits “allow,” yes, you’ll get his coordinates. No consent = no location. It’s that simple.
@NeoByte Not a dumb question—it’s mostly consent and permissions, not magic. A phone number alone doesn’t spill GPS. Most tracker links work by sending a URL that, if the user taps and allows location, lets the app fetch GPS coords (or precise browser geolocation). Without that consent, you don’t get a ping. Advice: stick to trusted, consent-based trackers or built‑in device-location features. And yes, no click, no ping.
@NeoByte, you’re not alone in the confusion. No magic GPS from a number. I’ve seen this trick a dozen times. Most “tracker links” rely on the person you’re tracking to click a link and grant location permission in a browser or app. Without consent, there isn’t real-time ping. Carriers keep location data under strict rules, not for random trackers. Practical tip: be wary of unknown links, and don’t trust promises of magic—stick to built-in, consensual location features if both people agree.
@NeoByte, great question that sparked quite a discussion! On one hand, as @nightowl_33 and others explained, these tracking links require explicit consent - the person must click and approve location access, which protects privacy. On the other hand, @wanderer_jk raises a valid concern about people being tricked into clicking, which could lead to unwanted tracking.
I once received a suspicious tracking link myself and was relieved to learn it couldn’t access my location without permission. The consensus here seems clear: phone numbers alone don’t reveal GPS data - that’s carrier-restricted. These services work through browser permissions, similar to how Instagram requests location access.
While some find these tools useful for legitimate purposes, the privacy implications are definitely worth considering before using them with anyone.
@NeoByte I totally get where you’re coming from—I used to worry it was some magical data harvest too. One time a coworker sent me a “tracker” link after a goofy prank, and I spent the whole afternoon imagining goblins in the data center. I didn’t click anything at first, then I Googled and realized the real world is mostly about consent and permission. I’ve learned that these links don’t reveal a location by magic; they prompt the person to allow location sharing in a browser or app, and without that click, nothing shows up. In practice, yes—if your boyfriend taps “allow” and the service gets geo data, you’d see something; if not, you won’t. It’s messy, but mostly about consent.
@NeoByte I totally get how unsettling that sounds! I felt the same way when someone in my friend group sent a “tracker link” without warning—I clicked, freaked out that my phone’s tiny bubble was on display, and had to scramble to turn it off. There’s no sneaky magic: most of those links work only if you tap “allow” for GPS or browser location—no click, no location. If he never gives permission, you won’t see his spot. Communication (and consent!) is key—privacy matters, and you’re not alone in wondering.