Phone numbers are often the first piece of information we exchange when connecting with others. But did you know that this simple string of numbers can unlock a wealth of information, like a person’s address? Whether you’re trying to send a greeting card to a distant friend, reconnect with an old schoolmate, or just satisfying your curiosity about a new date, the phone number you get from them can lead you to their possible addresses. In this post, we’ll explore some of the tools and strategies to help you with that.

Key takeaways

• If the only clue you have is a phone number, people search websites, like BeenVerified, might be your best bet for finding their addresses quickly.
• Broaden your search with information beyond phone numbers.
• Remember that no service can ensure 100% accuracy.
• Double-check information and use it responsibly.

Table of content

If you only know the phone number, try these options:

If you know other details, try these options:

How to make the most of this post

This post focuses on finding possible addresses associated with a phone number, not real-time location tracking, which is nearly impossible (why?). So, if you’re looking to pinpoint a lost phone or check where someone is right now, the methods here won’t be very helpful. Those kinds of tasks require different technologies, the individual’s consent, and sometimes law enforcement involvement.

When searching for someone’s address, you don’t have to limit yourself to just using the phone number. Other information that you might have about them, like their name and the state they live in, can also be a good starting point. We’ve included the information you’ll need beforehand for each method, so you can go with the best approach based on what you already know.

Method 1. Use search engines

Search engines like Google and Bing can be helpful as you search for possible addresses linked to a phone number. It’s easier to find information about a phone number in certain situations, especially when the phone number is associated with public entities like schools and businesses. For example, if you search for the number and find it’s connected with a faculty member in a college, you get to know where they work, and you learn an address that they might stay at.

To find results that contain the exact phone number, put it in quotation marks. You may search for “(31*)-***-**69” instead of just the numbers. Note that phone numbers can be listed online in different formats, so also search for the number without any brackets or dashes, like “31******69”. This will help you spot any phone numbers that don’t follow the standard format.

While search engines sometimes will pull up several people search websites, be aware that some require paid subscriptions without making it clear upfront. We’ll explore some of the more reliable options in the following section, based on our hands-on testing.

Method 2. Try people search websites

People search websites are just like regular search engines, only they’re specifically designed to search for information about people. These platforms have access to large amounts of public records and directories, including from local and federal government, social media, and even some exclusive channels. Some more decent platforms are willing to improve their data matching techniques continuously to compile more relevant information.

We’ve tested several popular people search products, both free and paid, to see which ones work better for finding addresses. Typically, free platforms can only provide basic information like the possible owner’s name (which doesn’t help much if you already know their name). To find information less public, like addresses, you may consider paid services that have access to more data sources and better matching techniques.

Our top choice for paid services

BeenVerified emerged as a standout option for finding addresses. It allows searching not only by phone numbers but also by names, usernames, and email addresses. That means you can fully use its search resources to find addresses from other clues you have about the person. Even if you don’t know much else, a phone number is enough for BeenVerified to get started.

How to use BeenVerified?

Navigate to the search page, enter the phone number, and click on the search button. Then wait a few moments as BeenVerified searches for any relevant information. Once the report is ready, you can register with your email address to access it. Choose a subscription plan that best suits your needs, and you’ll enjoy unlimited access.

When you’re in the report, you won’t see the address right away. You’ll need to find the right person from the list of possible owners BeenVerified provides and click the Search Person button next to their name. This will show you more information, including their addresses. If you’re not sure who you’re looking for, check multiple reports to see if you can narrow it down.

We think it does a good job of searching for the following information.

BeenVerified strives to update and expand data sources constantly, so you can often find information that’s recent and detailed. Like in this sample report, we find addresses as new as a few months ago. A user also shared that BeenVified had done better than other products they tried, and eventually helped them connect with their long-lost friend^[1].

Even if the address is a little out of date, like if they just moved out of it, you can try requesting an address correction to see if you can get a current address.

BeenVerified can also access very old address information. That can be helpful When you’re filling out rental or credit card applications, where they often ask for a list of your past addresses. If you’re dealing with this, take a look at how to find your previous addresses.

Beyond addresses, there are other details to explore. For example, if the address is linked to an actual property, you can check its value, potential residents, and more. You might also find details about the possible phone number owner’s possible relatives, social media pages, and email addresses.

BeenVerified generates well-organized and easy-to-read reports. There’s a navigation bar on the site that quickly guides you straight to the information you’re curious about.

Despite all these benefits, you should note that such tools can not be 100% accurate. Part of the reasons are limited data access, outdated data, and data matching issues, and more importantly, it’s more about the trade-off between efficiency and accuracy. That means these sites are more about providing quick and relevant information, not perfect precision. So we recommend you always double-check the information you get with caution.

How to take advantage of free tools

While free tools might not give you much information, they’re a great place to start your search. Some paid platforms, like TruePeopleSearch and ThatsThem, offer a few free details, including addresses, before you have to pay. Just be aware that they might try to redirect you to paid services without being completely upfront.

There are also free Caller ID lookup sites, like Spy Dialer and FreeCallerLookup.com, that can give you the possible owner’s name associated with a phone number. This can be a useful clue to expand your search.

Method 3. Spot addresses from social media

Social media can be a good place to find addresses. If someone has tagged their location in a photo or post, you can get a direct address. Besides, social media profiles are often updated more frequently than other sources, so you might find a more recent address.

But first, you’ll need to find their social media profiles from phone numbers. There are several ways to do that, including syncing your contacts and using search engines smartly. However, social media platforms often restrict access to their data, so it’s difficult to find linked social media pages with a phone number without third-party services, like people search tools. Besides, if the person you’re looking for is not active on social media, you may not find anything useful.

Method 4. Make use of public property records

In the US, property records are generally public information. This means you can often find clues to someone’s address if you know their name and the county they might live in. To search for these records, you can find online portals for county tax assessor’s offices. If the person owns any property, their address will be listed in the records. Of course, it’s necessary to confirm if they actually live at that address.

If you only have a phone number, you can first try a phone number lookup to find the person’s name before searching for their property records. However, these methods can be time-consuming and require multiple searches. Additionally, property owners sometimes manage their property through trusts, which means their names won’t appear on these records. For a more efficient and reliable way to find someone, we recommend you use a people search platform. This is the most convenient method we’ve found in our testing.

Method 5. Request an address correction

This is a clever trick we learned from the court’s advice on locating people who’ve been sued and moved. If you know the last former address of the person you’re looking for, send an empty, stamped envelope addressed to it. Below your return address, write “Address Correction Requested” and “Do Not Forward”. After a few days (or weeks, depending on the distance), the envelope should be returned to you along with the person’s new address.

Note that this method requires extra fees and it doesn’t always work. It won’t be successful if the person hasn’t filed a Change of Address form with the USPS (US Postal Service), meaning they don’t want their mail forwarded. Additionally, the USPS typically only forwards mail for 12 months^[2], so this method might not work if you’re sending the envelope too late.

The myths and realities of phone number location tracking

You’ll find plenty of websites claiming they can pinpoint a phone number’s location. We were also curious about their effectiveness, so we tested several, including popular options like phone locators, IP loggers, and IMEI tracking. Unfortunately, none of them yielded meaningful results.

Phone locators like Mobile-location.com only provided the city where the number was registered, not a specific address. IP loggers require the person to click a link you send them, and even then, you only get an IP address, which is difficult to link to a physical location. IMEI tracking is also ineffective without specialized technology and law enforcement involvement.

The only reliable ways to track a phone’s real-time location are to physically install a GPS device, convince the owner to install a location tracking app or spyware, or have them turn on location sharing. So any claims of finding a phone’s location using just a phone number should be met with skepticism.

Final thoughts

Sometimes you won’t find anything, even after trying every possible method, including people search websites designed to uncover personal information. This happens especially when the phone number doesn’t leave many digital traces. Don’t be afraid to get creative! Combine multiple methods and search strategies to increase your chances of success. If phone numbers aren’t yielding results, consider starting with other details you have about the person. And always remember to respect people’s privacy and use information lawfully.

References

1. Barber, Christi. (2023, November 13). BeenVerified.com review. Trustpilot. https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.beenverified.com?aspects=address&page=2&sort=recency↩
2. USPS. (n.d.). Standard Forward Mail & Change of Address. https://www.usps.com/manage/forward.htm↩