How to Check if Someone is Accessing Your iPhone Remotely?

In our modern tech-savvy world, safeguarding your iPhone from unauthorized remote access is more important than ever. Your iPhone contains a ton of personal information, think about all those messages, photos, banking details and emails. If someone manages to get remote access without your knowledge, it could create major problems for your privacy and security.

So how do you know if someone is peeking at your iPhone from a distance? No need to stress! Here’s a thorough guide to help you recognize the signs and take the right steps.

What signs indicate that your iPhone might be accessed remotely?

Before we get into how to check for remote access, let’s first look at some signs that your device could be compromised.

1. Unexplained Battery Drain

If you notice that your iPhone’s battery is draining faster than usual, it might indicate that someone is remotely using your device. Remote access apps or spyware can run quietly in the background, eating up resources and causing your battery to deplete quickly.

What to check:

• To view battery usage, go to Settings > Battery to identify the apps consuming the most power.
• If you spot an app that’s using an unusually high amount of battery, it could be a red flag for malicious activity.

2. Unusual or Suspicious Activity in Apps

Another indicator that your iPhone may be accessed remotely is if you see strange activity in your apps like messages you didn’t send, photos you didn’t take or emails you didn’t read.

What to check:

• Look through your Messages, Emails and Photos for any unfamiliar activity.
• Check your Safari history or any other web browsers to see if any unknown websites were visited.
• If anything seems off, log out of your accounts right away and change your passwords.

3. Increased Data Usage

Remote access or spyware can also lead to increased data usage, especially if it’s sending information back to someone else. An unexpected increase in data usage may indicate unauthorized background activity on your phone.

What to check:

• Go to Settings > Cellular to monitor your data usage.
• If you notice a significant increase, particularly when you’re not actively using your phone, take a closer look at which apps are using the most data.

4. Unusual Device Behavior (Freezing, Lagging, or Restarting)

If your iPhone starts acting up like freezing, lagging or unexpectedly restarting, it might be a sign that someone has remote access to it. This could be due to unauthorized apps or processes running in the background, hogging your phone’s resources.

What to check:

• If your iPhone has become unresponsive or running slower than usual, it might be because of remote control apps lurking in the background.
• Try forcing a restart to see if the problem continues and afterward, take a look at your apps for any suspicious activity.

5. Unfamiliar Locations in Find My iPhone

When you check Find My iPhone and see your device’s location listed as somewhere unfamiliar or a place you haven’t visited, it could mean that someone is tracking your phone remotely.

What to check:

• Go to Find My from your Settings > [Your Name] > Find My.
• Look at the Location for any strange spots. If you spot any unfamiliar places, it’s possible someone is keeping tabs on your phone.

6. Strange Calls or Messages

If you start getting weird calls or messages that you didn’t make or if there are unexpected outgoing calls, it might suggest that someone is controlling your device remotely.

What to check:

• Check your Call History for any outgoing calls that you don’t recognize.
• Review your Text Messages for any that you didn’t send, or for strange numbers that have reached out to you.
• Don’t forget to check your Voicemail for any odd messages.

How to Check if Your iPhone is Being Accessed Remotely?

If you believe your iPhone is being accessed remotely, take these steps to check and protect your device.

1. Check Your Apple ID Account Activity

Your Apple ID is crucial for your iPhone’s security. If someone has access to it, they could control your device remotely. So, it’s wise to look for any strange sign-ins or activities in your account.

Here’s how to check your Apple ID activity:

• Open Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud.
• Scroll down and tap on Find My iPhone to see the device's status. If it shows as “Online” from a location you don’t recognize, it’s possible someone is accessing it remotely.
• You can also head over to appleid.apple.com to view recent logins or devices linked to your Apple ID. If you spot any unfamiliar devices, click Remove and make sure to change your Apple ID password.

2. Review Installed Apps and Profiles

Certain apps or profiles might enable remote control or monitoring of your device. It’s essential to regularly check the apps and profiles on your iPhone for anything that seems out of place.

How to review installed apps:

• Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
• Look for any apps you don’t recognize or remember installing. If you find something suspicious, uninstall it right away.

How to check for profiles:

• Navigate to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management.
• Check for any installed profiles or device management configurations. If you see any profiles that look unfamiliar, go ahead and remove them.

3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is like adding an extra layer of  protection to your Apple ID, making it a lot tougher for anyone to sneak in without your permission.

How to enable 2FA:

• Head over to Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security.
• Tap on Turn On Two-Factor Authentication and just follow the prompts.

4. Check for Remote Management or Monitoring Software

Sometimes, sneaky remote access software other management tools can be installed in your phone without you even realizing it. It’s a good idea to check for any suspicious software or profiles that could allow someone to access your device from afar.

How to check for remote management software:

• Go to Settings > General > Device Management.
• If you spot any profile or certificate that you didn’t install, get rid of it right away.

What to Do If You Suspect Remote Access?

If you think your iPhone might be accessed remotely, here are steps you can take to protect your device:

1. Change Your Apple ID Password: Start by changing your Apple ID password to something strong and unique. This will help block anyone from continuing to access your device remotely.
2. Revoke Access to Your Apple ID: If you believe your Apple ID has been compromised, sign out of all devices. Just go to Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out. After that, log back in with your new password.
3. Run a Full Security Check: Take the time to perform a thorough security check. Go through your device’s apps, settings, and profiles to make sure there’s nothing suspicious left behind.
4. Perform a Factory Reset: If you still feel uneasy about your iPhone’s security, you might want to consider a factory reset. This will completely wipe your phone and restore it to its original settings. You can accomplish this by navigating to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.
   • Note: Don’t forget to back up your important data before you do a factory reset!

Final Thoughts

Related Article

• How do I check my iPhone for spyware/malware?
• How to detect remote access on my iPhone?
• How to stop remote access to iPhone?