Tracking someone's WhatsApp activity can be very tricky. WhatsApp doesn't want anyone to invade another person's privacy.
Yet, some situations deem it necessary. For example, parents need to monitor their kids' online engagements. Monitoring them ensures that they're not engaging in dangerous or inappropriate behavior.
Another reason to learn how to track someone on WhatsApp is when in a romantic relationship. One may want to track their partner or spouse's WhatsApp chats to ensure they aren't cheating. Also, an employer may want to know if employees use company time and resources well.
Whatever your reason, the first question is whether it's actually possible. Can you track someone's WhatsApp activity without directly accessing the target phone? Read on to find out.
In this article
Can You Track Someone on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp treats user privacy and safety seriously. It uses high-end technologies, including end-to-end encryption and two-step verification. That ensures only the user has access to their private chats.
So, the question is: Can you track someone on WhatsApp? Yes, despite the app's tight privacy policy, you can still monitor a person's activity. From their messages to online (last seen) status.
That is, different workarounds are used, as discussed below. Most of these workarounds are for free and you don't need to install any software on your device. You can even monitor a person's WhatsApp activity without them knowing.
How Can I Track Someone on WhatsApp Without Them Knowing?
You already have the answer to this: Can someone track my WhatsApp chats? You now want to know how.
Unfortunately, you can't track someone on WhatsApp, particularly their messages, without their knowledge. In some cases, it might take a while before one figures out that they're being tracked. But they'll know eventually.
The only data you can obtain without someone's knowledge is the online status, including the online duration, online or offline status, etc. And you can do that using a third-party app called WaLastseen. The app helps you know when someone was last seen on WhatsApp and how long that person has been online.
How to Track Someone’s Last Seen on WhatsApp with WaLastseen
So, how can I track someone on WhatsApp using WaLastseen? It's easy and quick, as described in the following steps.
Step 1: Get the WaLastseen App
Install WaLastSeen on your phone. Once the installation is complete, tap to open it.
Step 2: Add Contacts to WaLastseen
Next, grant access to the app to view your WhatsApp contacts. Then click on “Add Contact” to add any of your WhatsApp contacts to the app.
Step 3: Start Tracking
After adding the contact you wish to track, click Start Tracking at the bottom of the screen.
Wait for a few seconds. WaLastseen will display all the data you need about your chosen contact. The app gives you the option to monitor the person by date (Today, Yesterday, Last 7 Days). You can even select your preferred date using the calendar.
For example, suppose you choose Today. In that case, WaLastseen displays the time (in minutes and seconds) the person was online. It also displays the total time they spent online. Similarly, the Last 7 Days option has a chat that shows when a person was last seen online. The chat also tells how much time they spend online.
When you scroll down, there's Timeline. Here, you'll see all the times and how much time the person spent on the app. The app also offers an option to customize the time you wish to track someone. There's also a notification feature that can let you know when your target contact is online.
Now you know how to track others' WhatsApp status with WaLastseen. As you've realized, it's straightforward, and anyone can do it.
Other Free Options to Track Someone on WhatsApp
Above, you've learned how to find someone on WhatsApp without them knowing. That is, you've learned to track their online status secretly. But what about their chats and other information?
How do you track someone on WhatsApp and access their private messages and media? Although WaLastseen can't get you such data, some WhatsApp features make that possible. There are also third-party apps that you can use.
In this section, we'll discuss each one of these options. Continue reading to learn and then discover your ideal choice:
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Track Someone via WhatsApp Web
WhatsApp Web is an official feature that is free of charge. The feature allows users to seamlessly exchange messages between a smartphone and a computer. You can send messages and view conversations and statuses.
You can also download different media like photos, videos, audio files, and documents. The Web works on all popularly used internet browsers.
Follow these steps to learn how to track someone with WhatsApp on the Web:
- Open your favorite browser on your computer and go to the WhatsApp Web main page.
- Launch WhatsApp on the target phone. On Android, tap the three dots on the top-right corner > Image nameed Devices, then choose Image name a Device.
- For an iPhone, go to Settings, tap Image nameed Devices, then choose Image name a Device.
- Use the phone's camera to scan the QR code on the computer screen.
After that, the WhatsApp activities from the phone will be mirrored onto your PC screen. Many have asked: Can someone track WhatsApp messages?
Yes, and you now know how - through WhatsApp Web. It's for supervisory purposes, such as parents monitoring their children's online behavior. The feature updates in real-time as chats are sent and received. Also, it recognizes the computer as a connected device, ensuring monitoring transparency.
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Use WhatsApp Image nameed Devices
It's very easy to learn how to track someone in WhatsApp by Image nameing their device. This built-in feature of WhatsApp allows you to use the same WhatsApp account on up to four devices. You can Image name the target device to your device.
But, you must sign in to your primary phone every 14 days. That is to keep the Image nameed device connected to your WhatsApp account. Also, the Image nameed phone will show "This is a Image nameed device. Learn more" in Settings. Thus, the target person can easily detect that they are being tracked and log you out.
Follow the steps below to Image name a phone on WhatsApp using your primary mobile device:
- Open WhatsApp on the phone you wish to track. Tap the three-dot button at the top-right side of the screen.
- Tap Image name as a companion device. A QR code will appear.
- Launch WhatsApp on your primary device. On Android, tap the three-dot button > Image nameed devices > Image name a device.
- On iPhone, go to WhatsApp Settings, tap Image nameed Devices, then Image name a Device.
- Unlock the primary phone and scan the QR code on the target device. That will Image name the target WhatsApp contact to your phone.
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Track Someone by Restoring Their WhatsApp Backup
You can also track someone using WhatsApp by restoring their WhatsApp backup to your device. However, this is only possible if your target contact has backed up their data to iCloud or Google Drive.
On the downside, you must get a verification code from the target phone. Besides, you can't check all the chat history on WhatsApp. It may not show real-time or very chats created before the last backup.
How can I track someone's WhatsApp using this method? Follow these steps to restore someone's WhatsApp backup on Google Drive:
- Uninstall and reinstall WhatsApp on your phone.
- Log into WhatsApp with your device using the WhatsApp number you wish to track. You'll need to get the verification code from that number.
- Once you're logged in, you'll see a prompt to restore WhatsApp from Google Drive or iCloud backup.
- Click Restore to begin. After that, you can go through the chat history to find out who the person is chatting with.
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Track Someone by Syncing WhatsApp With Google Drive
WhatsApp offers an option to archive messages and other data on Google Drive. That makes the data accessible by using a simple setup on the target device.
On the downside, this method is only for Android users. Besides, the phone owner can easily see a Google Drive Image nameage in the settings. A delay in syncing backups could also impede the ability to view the latest messages.
But if you still want to know, here's how to track others WhatsApp messages using Google Drive:
- Grab the target phone and open WhatsApp. Go to Settings and enable the Chat Backup feature.
- Go to the Google Account section, then enter your Google account.
- Select Google Drive as the destination. You can also choose how often you want to back up the data.
After this setup, all the conversations and media will be synced to your Google Drive account.
Conclusion
Can someone track my WhatsApp chats? Yes, and this article has discussed just that. You've learned how to track someone online on WhatsApp in different ways.
You can monitor an individual's last seen status with WaLastseen. You can also track someone's private messages using WhatsApp Web and other techniques.
So, choose your preferred method and start tracking your target WhatsApp! However, please ensure you have a justifiable reason first to prevent any ethical or legal trouble.
