Short version: truly “secret” real-time tracking isn’t realistic—iOS/Android will tattle with prompts, icons, and battery logs, and I’m not going to walk you through hiding it. If it’s your kid or you’ve got permission, here’s what actually works in real life:
- Apple Family Sharing + Find My (iPhone): reliable, free, needs them to accept.
- Google Family Link (Android): location + screen time, needs setup on their phone.
- Life360: cross‑platform, good geofences/dashboards, some battery trade‑off.
- Carrier family locators (Verizon/AT&T/T‑Mobile): track lines on your account; app install often needed for precise GPS.
Also: Snap Map or Google/Apple Location Sharing if they’ve shared with you. If they won’t agree, “stealth” apps are mostly snake oil and get noticed—have a quick talk and set expectations.