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Can You Track a Smartwatch?

These days, there’s nothing in the world that’s completely impossible to accomplish, especially when we’re talking about technology. Regardless of how clever your smartwatch may be, that there’s always something smarter on the horizon! And, like with anything else, no technological device is perfect–but smartwatches offer some incredible features, like tracking.

You can track a smartwatch if it has built-in GPS, is connected via Bluetooth to a smartphone, and sometimes if it is connected to a WiFi network. You can use the FindMy app on iOS, or Find My Device on Android. Modify location permissions on your watch or watch app to prevent tracking.

A smartwatch’s ability to be tracked is a feature that appeals to most people. It enables you to always find your watch, whether it’s been misplaced or stolen. If your smartwatch has a built-in GPS (Global Positioning System), you can also use it to track your child’s location. The disadvantage of tracking functionality is that it can also be utilized by criminals to monitor you.

How To Track a Lost Smartwatch (iOS or Android) 

Apple Watch Ultra General Picture

You can imagine the horror of losing your smartwatch and not knowing where to look for it. Fortunately, you can always find it if you use the Galaxy wearable app. The app that you use will always differ depending on the brand of a smartwatch.

Install the Galaxy Wearable app on your smartphone, and then, using Bluetooth, link it to your smartwatch. There are two things to note about the app:

  • The settings and features of the app are only available to you when your smartwatch is connected to your mobile phone.

Another app option is the Find My app, which is an Apple product. Your phone will automatically enable the app when you link your phone to your Apple smartwatch. There are two ways you can go about this:

  • Go to the Find My app, and on the devices list, choose your smartwatch. Tap on sound, and you should be able to hear your watchmaking noise from wherever it was misplaced. The good thing about the Find My app is that it has a lost mode where you can track, lock, or erase all your personal information from wherever you are.
  • The newest feature of the Find My app is that you can now find a lost device even when not connected to Wi-Fi or LTE. You can do this by using Bluetooth to locate any other devices that are nearby.

Can You Track a Stolen Smartwatch?

If you ever experience the misfortune of having your smartwatch stolen, there are a few things you can do to trace it. You must note that if your smartwatch battery has died, then it might be hard to trace.

One way of finding your stolen smartwatch is by using Google’s Find My Device app. This can be done by using the GPS tracker. Go to settings, Google, security, and then find my device. It will then be possible for you to locate your smartwatch.

Playing a sound, locking your device, or remotely wiping all personal information are other fascinating features of this app.

Apple and Samsung have similar functions inside of their apps.

Can Someone Else Track Your Smartwatch? 

Precise Location On Apple Watch Ultra

Unfortunately, the same device that you love so much can be used against you. Your smartwatch can be used by someone malicious to track your movements and even know your location. It should be noted that only someone who has a great interest in knowing where you are would use this method. A common thief would not go to that extent.

Most smartwatches have built-in GPS. This GPS, using its satellite signals, is what makes it possible for someone to track the smartwatch. Other smartwatches may not have a built-in GPS but can use nearby mobile phone towers or known Wi-Fi base stations.

Others can also use Bluetooth to enable you to know the location of your smartwatch by using the devices around it. However, your smartwatch and their phone would have to be within the same range. The smartwatch would also need to be connected to WiFi or a cellular network and be able to communicate over the internet.

Specifically, your friends who you’ve enabled location for in the FindMy app will be able to see the watch’s location if you’ve enabled it on your apple watch in the Find My Friends app. When you open this app, it prompts you as pictured above for permission, so, you can open the app and make sure permissions are turned OFF if you don’t want your friends to be able to track your watch.

In reality, this isn’t a very practical threat to the typical user, but you should be on guard if you’re in a curious situation. And note plenty of people, like parents seeking to track their kids (forum), have perfectly legitimate reasons to track smartwatches.

How can You Prevent Your Smartwatch From Tracking You? 

Now, there are several things you can do to prevent someone from using a smartwatch to track you.

Editing App Permissions

Say no to apps! Don’t get in the habit of giving apps too many permissions. If an app requires user location confirmation, you need to be extra careful. An app that needs you to show your location or account info can be used by criminals.

Batteries Draining too Quickly or Smartwatch Overworking

Watch out for batteries draining too quickly or your smartwatch running hot, or working too hard. When this happens, it could mean that either the smartwatch is linked to another device or there are apps that you are not aware of. Go to your apps and display your settings. Check to see if there are apps that you are not familiar with, and disable them.

Security Solutions

Stay alert. On your smartphone, install a security solution. Most smartwatches are linked to mobile phones, which can easily be exploited by cybercriminals. Most mobile phones are connected to other networks.

There are tons of different antivirus and security protection apps available in both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

Buy a Smartwatch without GPS.

Avoiding GPS-enabled smartwatches. You are aware that as long as your smartwatch has a GPS, you can easily be tracked. So, if you don’t want a smartwatch that can track you, simply avoid buying one with GPS functionality.

Keeping Track Of It All

In this article, we showed you how to track your smartwatch in this article, whether it was lost or stolen. You’ve also seen how your own smartwatch may be used by someone else to track you, which is an unfortunate reality.

However, we’ve also given you some tips on how to keep your smartwatch from being used by cybercriminals in that way. Keep an eye out on our website for more articles about smartwatches.