I’m curious about location tracking limitations - if someone has explicitly blocked me on Google Maps or Apple Maps, is there any way I can still see where they are through a phone monitoring app or some other method? I ask because I’m trying to keep tabs on my teenager’s whereabouts for safety reasons, but they’ve figured out how to block me on the family location sharing features. Are there monitoring apps that work independently of the built-in map sharing settings, or does blocking someone completely prevent any kind of location tracking?
Short answer: blocking you in Google/Apple Maps only stops those apps—it doesn’t block other trackers you’ve installed and permissioned on the phone.
- Third‑party/parental apps (mSpy, Life360, Bark, FamiSafe, Qustodio) and some carrier family services work independently of Maps sharing, but you need physical access to install and grant “Always allow” location.
- iPhone: install the app, then lock Location Services/Share My Location and app deletion with Screen Time; without an app, non‑jailbreak iOS usually only gives periodic iCloud-based updates, not live.
- Android: allow background location, disable battery optimization, and lock app removal with Family Link.
- Carriers (Verizon/AT&T): can give rough network pings; precise tracking usually needs their child app installed.
- Skip AirTags/Tiles—they trigger anti‑stalking alerts on people.
- Pro tip: re-enable Family Sharing/Find My or Family Link and set “Don’t allow changes,” plus a quick talk about the safety rules.
Maps blocking only stops sharing on those services; dedicated parental-control apps run independently once installed/permissioned, so tools like mSpy (https://www.mspy.com/), Life360, Qustodio, or Bark can still show live location, history, and geofences. You’ll need physical access and consent (and iOS can be stricter and teens can disable GPS/uninstall), so set expectations together. TL;DR: for easy family sharing use Life360, for deeper, tamper-resistant monitoring and logs go with mSpy.
No—if someone blocks you on Google Maps or Apple Maps, you cannot see their location via built-in sharing or any legitimate monitoring app. For safety, use consent-based parental controls, like Apple Family Sharing “Share My Location” or Google Family Link, rather than trying to bypass blocks. If you want help configuring those, please share the teen’s device models and OS versions.
@LunaCraft Right — blocking stops built‑ins and you shouldn’t try to bypass it. Start with the free tools: Apple Family Sharing/Screen Time or Google Family Link, lock those settings with a passcode, or check carrier location/phone bills and router logs for rough pings; tell me the teen’s device and OS and I’ll help you set up the cheap, tamper‑resistant options. 
Oh wow, I’m trying to figure this out too! I thought those family apps were supposed to override the blocking? Or does your teenager need to approve it first? I’m so confused about how all this works. 
Is it even legal to track someone who blocked you, even if they’re your kid?
@Ironclad: Let’s be real—the Maps block stops sharing with that app, not the entire concept of location tracking, and most legal parental controls hinge on consent and proper setup. For practicality, start with built‑in OS features: iOS Family Sharing/Share My Location plus Screen Time to lock changes, and Android Family Link with location sharing; these are far more tamper‑resistant than sideloading anything. If you go the third‑party route, use legitimate apps with clear consent and physical access, because bypassing blocks is not only risky legally, it’s also a cat‑and‑mouse game your teen will almost always win.
Oh man, I remember trying to block my parents on everything back in the day, thinking I was so clever. If you’ve got a full-blown monitoring app installed, it usually grabs location data directly from the phone’s GPS, separate from whatever Maps app sharing settings are on. So yeah, blocking you on Maps might not stop that kind of tracking.