How To Tell if Spyware Is on Your Phone and How to Remove It

Updated April 18, 2025.

While browsing the internet, you may accidentally install spyware on your phone without even knowing. Android phones are known to be more susceptible to spyware than iPhones; however, anyone who owns a smartphone needs to watch out for spyware, especially if your phone is outdated or jailbroken. You can tell if spyware is installed on your phone if your phone’s camera and mic turn on randomly, you hear a noise during phone calls, or you see unfamiliar apps and files on your phone. 

Continue reading to learn about the signs that your phone might be infected, how to remove spyware and how to prevent spyware from infecting your device in the first place.

Sign #1: Your phone camera and mic turn on randomly

Be cautious if you notice that your phone’s camera and microphone turn on randomly because it may indicate that spyware has infected your phone. Spyware can secretly use your phone’s camera and microphone to eavesdrop on your conversations, record audio or even take photos and videos without your knowledge. This raises serious concerns, compromising your privacy and putting your safety at risk as cybercriminals can gather personal information, track your location, listen into your conversations or even harass you. 

Sign #2: You hear noises during phone calls

Another common sign of spyware is hearing unusual noises during phone calls, such as beeping, distant voices and static. While sometimes these issues can be caused by poor signal, it may also indicate that spyware is secretly monitoring your calls. Not only is this an invasion of privacy, but cybercriminals can eavesdrop on confidential conversations that could be used for identity theft, blackmail or other malicious activities. 

Sign #3: Your phone is experiencing performance issues

If you ever notice a sudden decline in performance on your phone, such as freezing, overheating, battery draining quickly, long loading times, issues shutting off or rebooting, it could be a sign that spyware has infected your device. Spyware runs in the background of your phone, consuming system resources which make your phone feel sluggish, unresponsive or even unusable. 

Sign #4: You see unfamiliar apps or files on your phone

A clear sign that your phone might be infected with spyware is if you notice unfamiliar apps or files you do not recognize or remember downloading. These apps and files may look legitimate, but they are actually malicious programs that operate in the background, without your knowledge. Once installed, they can silently collect sensitive information like your bank account details, passwords or even location. 

Sign #5: You are getting unusual messages

If you start receiving unusual messages on your phone like strange texts, frequent error messages or pop-up ads, it may be that spyware has infected your phone. These messages are often attempts to lure you into clicking harmful links where you’re prompted to enter personal information. 

How can I remove spyware from my phone?

To remove spyware from your phone, take the following steps:

1. Reboot phone on safe mode: The first thing you need to do is disconnect your phone from the internet and reboot it on safe mode. Safe mode runs only on essential programs, cutting off the spyware’s connection to cybercriminals and allowing you to restart your phone without interference. 
2. Delete unfamiliar apps and files: After restarting in safe mode, review the apps and files on your phone. Look for apps and files you don’t remember downloading or look suspicious. Delete any malicious items and clear your browser cache to remove any malicious websites.
3. Run antivirus software: Some spyware may appear as legitimate apps or files, making it hard to detect. To identify and remove any hidden spyware, install antivirus software on your phone. Antivirus software scans your phone to find any hidden spyware and will remove the spyware from your phone. Having it installed on your phone will also help prevent future infections. 
4. Reboot your phone normally: After you have completed the previous steps, you can take your phone out of safe mode and reboot it normally. Once your phone boots up, you need to prevent future spyware from installing on your phone by updating your software and following cybersecurity best practices.

How to prevent spyware from getting on your phone in the future

It’s important to protect your information from getting stolen by preventing spyware from installing on your phone. You can stay protected from spyware by practicing the following:

Don’t download apps from untrusted websites

To avoid accidentally installing spyware, never download apps from untrusted websites or suspicious advertisements. You should only download apps from reliable sources such as Apple’s App Store and the Google Play store. 

Avoid clicking on unsolicited messages

Spyware can be delivered through phishing emails with malicious attachments or clicking on a harmful link. Avoid interacting with unsolicited messages that contain suspicious attachments or links and if you’re unsure, scan attachments for malware or check the links for discrepancies using a URL checker. 

Only browse on safe websites 

Cybercriminals can install spyware on your phone using drive-by downloads, where simply visiting an infected website can infect your phone with malware. To protect yourself, stick to trusted websites, type URLs directly into your browser and avoid clicking on suspicious links. Be cautious when using search engines, as some malicious ads or fake sites can appear in search results.

Keep your phone’s software up to date

Cybercriminals exploit security vulnerabilities in your phone’s software or applications to infect it with spyware. Keeping your phone’s software up to date is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself. Updates not only introduce new security features but also patch any security flaws that cybercriminals can take advantage of. Making sure your phone is running on the latest version of its operating system reduces the risk of spyware and other types of malware infections. 

Use a password manager

While a password manager doesn’t directly block spyware, it can reduce the risk of certain attacks. By generating, storing and autofilling passwords, it limits the need to type them manually which offers some protection against keyloggers, a type of spyware that records keystrokes. It also keeps your credentials securely stored in an encrypted vault. This makes your credentials harder to steal even if your device is compromised.

Install antivirus software

Antivirus software detects, prevents and removes known malware from your device. It is recommended to install reliable mobile antivirus software, as it can help uncover hidden spyware, block potential threats and alert you of malicious websites or harmful downloads. 

Stay protected against spyware

Spyware on your phone is like a silent intruder, stealing your personal data without your knowledge. Protecting your information from spyware is important to ensure you don’t wake up one day to find your privacy compromised. Knowing how to recognize spyware on your phone and following the cybersecurity best practices such as browsing on safe websites, installing antivirus software and using a password manager is necessary to keep yourself protected against spyware.