Secret Codes to Check If Your Phone Is Being Tracked
Type a short string of stars and hashes and your phone reveals hidden network settings — but the viral promise that these codes ‘detect tracking’ is mostly wishful thinking. Below you will find what the popular phone codes genuinely show, what they cannot tell you, and the codes actually worth knowing — in plain language, with the practical steps that actually matter.
We will keep it grounded and practical, working through the realistic explanations in order so you are not left guessing or jumping to the scariest conclusion.
What USSD/MMI codes really are
These codes talk to your mobile carrier’s network, not to apps on your phone. They can reveal call-forwarding settings, your IMEI, and some network status — useful, but unrelated to whether spyware is installed.
The genuinely useful codes
A handful are worth saving: ##002# cancels all call forwarding, *#06# shows your IMEI, and the forwarding codes let you see if calls are being diverted. These solve real, narrow problems.
Why they can’t detect spyware
Monitoring apps live in the phone’s software and accounts, which network codes never touch. A code showing ‘no call forwarding’ says nothing about an app reading your screen.
Why the viral ‘spy code’ lists keep spreading
These lists go viral because the output looks cryptic and official, which makes the dramatic captions feel credible. In reality the codes return ordinary network status that has nothing to do with installed software.
Treat any post claiming a single code ‘detects spyware’ as a red flag for low-quality advice, and rely on the settings-and-accounts audit instead.
The codes worth knowing
Keep this short, honest list rather than the inflated viral versions.
*#06#— display your IMEI (save it in case of theft).*#21#— show whether calls/SMS are being unconditionally forwarded.*#62#— show where calls go when unreachable.##002#— cancel all call forwarding.
What to use instead for real detection
To actually check for monitoring, look where it lives: app permissions, accessibility settings, device-admin apps, configuration profiles and your account’s signed-in devices.
A reputable security scan plus that manual audit will tell you far more than any dialled code ever could.
Where this leaves you
Step back, and the way these relate becomes obvious. What USSD/MMI codes really are is usually where to look first; why they can’t detect spyware and why the viral ‘spy code’ lists keep spreading matter most when something there already seems off.
The picture only resolves when signs agree. Take a cluster seriously and follow through; treat a single outlier as the ordinary thing it almost always turns out to be.
Remember as well that prevention is easier than investigation. Once you have settled the immediate question, a few minutes spent on the basics — updates, a strong lock, careful installs — makes the next round of checks far simpler and far less likely to turn anything up.
The steps, start to finish
If you prefer a clear running order, use this — top to bottom, a couple of minutes in total:
- Dial *#06# and save your IMEI somewhere safe.
- Use *#21# and *#62# to review call forwarding.
- Dial ##002# to clear forwarding you did not set.
- For spyware, audit permissions, accessibility and accounts instead.
Holding the worry lightly
The biggest myth here is that a phone code can reveal spyware. Codes query the carrier network; spyware hides in software and accounts the codes never see.
Stay with that framing and you will spend your energy on the things that matter rather than the things that merely look alarming.
Where to verify it yourself
The honest summary
Use the codes for what they are good at — checking call forwarding and your IMEI — and audit settings and accounts for anything resembling real monitoring.
Unlike covert tools, TheTruthSpy is designed to sit in plain sight and to be set up with everyone’s knowledge. It is designed so that oversight is something a family agrees to, not something done in secret. You can set everything up in minutes, with the full feature list on hand if you want detail.
Related reading: Is My Phone Being Tracked? 12 Signs to Check Right Now, How to Check If Your Phone Is Being Tracked by Someone.
Quick answers
Do secret codes detect spyware?
No. USSD codes communicate with your carrier’s network and can show call-forwarding or IMEI details. They cannot see apps, permissions or account access, which is where monitoring actually lives.
Is it safe to dial these codes?
The informational ones above are safe. Be cautious with codes from random websites; some can change settings or trigger resets. Stick to the well-known few.
What does *#21# actually show?
Whether your calls, SMS or data are being unconditionally forwarded elsewhere. If forwarding you did not set is active, ##002# cancels it.
Could dialling a random code harm my phone?
Most informational codes are harmless, but some codes from untrusted sources can change settings or trigger resets. Stick to the well-known, documented few.