How to Tell if Someone Is Accessing Your iPhone Remotely

Can someone access your iPhone remotely

Yes, someone can access your iPhone remotely. This is possible using spyware, which is a type of application that can monitor you without your knowledge. Spy tools give remote access to various forms of data, such as:

• Your real-time location
• Text messages
• Calls logs
• App usage history
• Photos and videos
• Screenshots of your display
• Feed from the microphone and camera

Spyware needs to be installed, so the person who wants to spy on you would have to physically tamper with your iPhone. More invasive forms of spyware—such as stalkerware—even require a jailbreak.

It's also possible for someone to remotely hack into your iPhone and install spyware. However, you shouldn't have to worry about that so long as you take steps to protect your iPhone from hackers.

How to know if someone is remotely accessing your iPhone

You can tell if someone is remotely accessing your iPhone by keeping an eye out for common symptoms of spyware, such as performance issues, weird-looking status symbols, and abnormal cellular data usage.

1. iPhone heats up more than usual

Your iPhone should not heat up unless you're engaging in resource-intensive activities, such as running a video game or applying a system software update. If the casing feels hot when you pick it up or the temperature spikes during normal usage, something malicious—like spyware—could be running in the background.

2. iPhone battery drains quickly

More activity requires more power, so another hint you've got spyware on your iPhone is a battery that drains rapidly. Dive into the battery usage stats in iOS for a clearer picture.

Here's how to monitor your iPhone's battery usage stats:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap Battery.
3. Check the Battery Level and Activity graphs to see if the battery is draining even when you aren't using it. You should also find a list of apps that use the battery the most under Battery Usage.

3. The camera or microphone turns on independently

Stalkerware can activate your iPhone's camera and microphone to record you. If you see an orange or green dot appearing randomly on the status bar, check the permissions on your iPhone to find what apps have access to the camera and microphone.

Here's how to see apps with camera and microphone permissions in iOS:

1. Open the Settings app and tap Privacy & Security.
2. Tap Camera and Microphone.
3. Revoke access to any suspicious apps you find under both categories.

4. You've lost access to your Apple ID

Someone who knows the password to your Apple ID can sign in on another device and view any data that syncs with iCloud—e.g., photos and messages. If you have trouble accessing your account through the Settings app (Settings > Apple ID), contact Apple Support immediately.

Apple also locks accounts if it detects suspicious login activity. If you get an error message, such as "Your Apple ID is locked," tap the Unlock Account option and verify yourself as the account owner. For more tips, check our guide on what to do if your iPhone has been hacked.

5. Weird apps on your iPhone

Your iPhone should not contain any apps that you did not install. Go through the Home Screen pages—including any folders—for apps with unfamiliar names or icons.

You can also visit the App Library and the storage management console iOS (Settings > General > iPhone Storage) to find even more apps. Don't forget that spy tools can remain hidden—learn how to show hidden apps on the iPhone.

6. Increased data usage

Spyware transmits a lot of data. If your iPhone is mostly on a cellular connection, you can monitor data usage by app to identify what consumes the most data.

Here's how to check your cellular data usage stats in iOS:

1. Open the Settings app and tap Cellular.
2. Scroll down to the Cellular Data section and set the filter to Sort By Usage.
3. Monitor the cellular stats regularly for any unusual increases.

7. Phone activity while your device is locked

An iPhone with spyware may display activity while it is locked. For instance, if the screen frequently lights up when its idle, it could be because a monitoring tool is waking up the device to transmit data or to activate the microphone or camera.

8. Messages you haven't sent are sent from your iPhone

Older forms of spyware use messages to communicate with the person spying on you. Open the Messages app and check if it's sending or receiving weird-looking SMS texts—these often contain cryptic-looking codes.

What to do if your iPhone is being remotely accessed

If you know someone is remotely accessing your iPhone, you must take immediate action to secure the device. This involves removing unrecognized programs and devices, changing your passwords, and running a comprehensive antivirus scan.

1. Remove unrecognized programs and devices

Start by removing programs that you did not install on your iPhone, including any unknown devices linked to your Apple ID.

Here's how to remove unrecognized programs and devices:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to General > iPhone Storage.
3. Tap on any app you do not recognize and select Delete App.

Here's how to remove unknown devices from your Apple ID:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap your Apple ID.
3. Scroll down to bring up a list of devices. If you notice a device that looks unfamiliar, tap it and select Remove from Account.

2. Change your passwords

Your Apple ID could be compromised—update your password immediately and make sure that two-factor authentication (2FA) is active.

Here's how to change your Apple ID password:

1. Open the Settings app and tap your Apple ID.
2. Tap Sign-in & Security.
3. Tap Change Password and set up a new password. If Two-Factor Authentication is set to Off, tap it and set up an additional form of authentication, such as a trusted phone number or security key.

3. Run an antivirus scan

Highly invasive forms of spyware can dig deep into the system software and be difficult to remove. If you want to ensure your iPhone is spyware-free, you must disinfect the device with a third-party malware removal utility.

Clario Anti Spy is an anti-spyware solution developed by  cybersecurity experts for iOS devices. Its Spyware Scan feature can quickly detect and remove spy apps, monitoring tools, and other  malicious software.

Here's how to run scan your iPhone with Clario Anti Spy's desktop app:

1. Install Clario Anti Spy on your Mac or PC and subscribe to create an account.
2. Select Mobile scanner on the sidebar.
3. Connect your phone via USB and select Scan my phone.  
4. Wait until Clario Anti Spy scans the device for spyware.
5. Follow the onscreen instructions to remove any detected spyware.

If you do not have access to a Mac or PC, you can run Clario Anti Spy directly on your iPhone.

Clario Anti Spy also comes with various other features to enhance your iPhone's security. For instance, there's a Device system check to identify security vulnerabilities like jailbreaks, a Data breach monitor to protect your passwords against data leaks, and an Unlock catch to record anyone tampering with the device.

4. Update your iPhone and apps

The latest updates for iOS closes loopholes that spyware and jailbreaks exploit to hijack the device. Make it a point to install any system software updates as soon as they become available. Regularly updating your apps also helps keep your iPhone secure.

Here's how to update iOS:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to General > Software Update.
3. Tap Update Now if there's a pending update.

Here's how to update your iOS apps:

1. Open the App Store and tap your profile portrait on the top right.
2. Swipe down and release to scan for new app updates.
3. Tap Update All.

5. Restoring iPhone to factory settings

You can restore your iPhone to factory defaults as a precaution to fully wipe it from spyware and start over from scratch. Make sure to take a data backup before you go ahead.

Here's how to factory reset your iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
3. Tap Erase All Content and Settings and follow all onscreen instructions to factory-reset the device.

6. Report to Apple support

You can always report the incident to Apple Support if you continue to have issues, such as an Apple ID that you can't access.

Here's how to contact Apple Support:

• Use the Apple Support app on your iPhone
• Call (800) APL–CARE
• Visit your nearest Apple Store

Conclusion

Knowing how spy tools behave can help you tell if someone is accessing your iPhone remotely. If you spot anything unusual, you must take the necessary steps to ensure that the device is spyware-free. Download Clario Anti Spy to clean your iPhone of malicious apps and to protect yourself against future spying attempts.