How to check your Android phone for stalkerware
Stalkerware is an app someone installs on your phone to watch you: your messages, your location, your photos, your screen. It usually hides its icon and pretends to be a system app. Here is how to check for it.
Before you start: think about your safety
If you think a partner, ex or family member is monitoring you, removing the app may alert them. Before you change anything, consider talking to someone you trust or a support organization. The Coalition Against Stalkerware lists help services at stopstalkerware.org. If you are in danger, contact your local emergency number.
Warning signs
None of these prove anything on their own, but together they are worth a look: the battery drains much faster than it used to, mobile data use jumps, the phone is warm when you aren’t using it, settings change that you didn’t touch, someone knows things they shouldn’t, or your phone was out of your hands and unlocked for a while.
Where stalkerware hides
Spy apps need a few powerful abilities to work. Check each of these places.
- Settings, then Apps, then See all apps. Apps without a home screen icon still show up here. Look for names you don’t recognize or generic names like “System Service” or “Sync”.
- Settings, then Accessibility, under Downloaded apps. Accessibility access lets an app read everything on your screen.
- Settings, then Apps, then Special app access, then Notification access. This lets an app read every message preview.
- Special app access, then Device admin apps. Device admin makes an app hard to uninstall.
- Open Google Play, tap your profile picture, then Play Protect, and run a scan. Make sure Play Protect wasn’t turned off.
Check faster with SentinelEye
SentinelEye’s spy app finder looks for exactly this pattern: apps that hide their icon but can still read your screen, read your notifications or control your phone. It also checks whether USB debugging is on and whether the phone is rooted, which spy apps often need. The scan runs on your phone and nothing is uploaded.
If you find something
Take screenshots first if you may want evidence later. Then, when it’s safe for you, remove the app’s device admin access, uninstall it, change your Google account password and turn on 2-step verification. If the app comes back or you can’t remove it, a factory reset clears it, but back up your photos and messages first.
Questions
Can stalkerware be installed without touching my phone?
On Android it almost always needs someone to hold your unlocked phone for a few minutes. That’s why a strong screen lock that only you know is the best protection.
Does a factory reset remove stalkerware?
Yes, in almost every case. Back up your data first, and don’t restore apps you don’t recognize afterwards.
Is SentinelEye free?
Yes. The spy app finder, hidden permissions and phone checks are free, with no ads. SentinelEye Pro is an optional one-time purchase.