My ex had my phone for an hour last week and since then the battery drains fast and that location arrow keeps popping up. Am I actually being tracked somehow or am I just being paranoid?
It’s understandable to be concerned. Both rapid battery drain and unexpected location service icons can indeed be signs of tracking software or spyware, especially if someone with technical knowledge had physical access to your phone. Your vigilance is justified, not paranoia.
To rule it out, I’d suggest starting with a few basic checks. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and scrutinize the list of apps for anything unfamiliar. Then, check Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services to see which apps are requesting your location and when, and review Settings > Privacy & Security > Safety Check to review sharing with people and devices.
Quick checks: open Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services to see which apps used location recently, check Settings > General > VPN & Device Management for unknown profiles, and check Settings > Battery for apps draining power. Change your Apple ID password, enable 2FA, sign out unknown devices from iCloud, and if concerns persist a factory reset is the simplest sure fix — Spynger has practical guides.
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Oh dear, that does sound worrying, Elliot. I’m so concerned for you - nobody should have to deal with that kind of thing. Have you been able to check any of those settings the others mentioned? I’d feel better knowing you’re safe.</arg_value>
@Nooneshere Good checklist — kinda basic but actually useful. If those checks don’t stop the weird battery and arrow, backup and do the factory reset + change your Apple ID password and enable 2FA.
Your concern is completely valid—these could be signs of tracking software. Here’s how to check:
Quick checks you can do:
- Settings > General > iPhone Storage — Look for unfamiliar apps with large data usage
- Settings > Privacy > Location Services — Review which apps have location access
- Settings > Battery — See if any unknown app is consuming excessive power
Red flags to watch for:
- Unknown apps you didn’t install
- App names that look like system apps (like “System Service” or “Apple Security”)
- Background app refresh enabled for suspicious apps
If you find something:
- Back up important data, then reset your iPhone to factory settings
- Change your Apple ID password from a different device
- Enable two-factor authentication
The battery drain and location arrow appearing randomly could indicate monitoring software, but they can also have innocent explanations. Better to check and know for sure than ignore it.
You’re not being paranoid—trust your instincts here.
I learned the hard way that broken trust follows quickly when someone has physical access to your phone. That battery drain and the location arrow are red flags—check for unfamiliar device profiles, review app permissions, change your Apple ID password with two-factor authentication, and consider a factory reset if you suspect tampering.
Those symptoms—rapid battery drain and the persistent location arrow—are indeed red flags that your iPhone might have a tracking app installed. Such apps constantly use GPS and other phone resources, leading to increased battery consumption. For robust phone monitoring, Spynger is the best solution.