What is mSpy on iPhone and How to Remove It: A Complete Guide

Finding yourself wondering if someone is secretly monitoring your iPhone is a deeply unsettling feeling. The fear that your private messages, photos, and location are being watched is a serious violation of your privacy. If you suspect an app like mSpy has been placed on your device, take a deep breath. You are in the right place.

This guide is designed to help you methodically find the truth, remove the monitoring for good, and secure your digital life. We will walk you through the exact steps to detect mSpy and, most importantly, remove it completely.

Part 1. What is mSpy and How Does It Work?

Before we dive into detection, it's important to understand what you're up against. mSpy is a well-known brand of monitoring software. It is commercially available and often marketed as a tool for parental control, allowing parents to keep track of their minor children's digital activities for safety reasons. Its features are powerful, capable of tracking GPS location, monitoring text messages and social media chats, viewing call logs, and accessing photos and videos.

However, when this type of software is installed on an adult's phone without their full knowledge and consent, it is no longer a parental control tool—it is spyware. Its use in this context is a severe invasion of privacy and is illegal in many jurisdictions. Understanding how it operates is the first step to defeating it.

Part 2. Is Your iPhone at Risk? Understanding the Two Main mSpy Methods

Spyware installation on an iPhone happens in one of two very different ways. The method used is the most important clue, as it will determine exactly how you detect and remove it.

Method 1: The iCloud Backup Method (No Jailbreak Needed)

This is by far the most common method used on iPhones. It's sneaky because it does not require any software to be installed on your iPhone itself. Instead, the person monitoring you uses your Apple ID email and password to access your data through your iCloud backups. Every time your phone backs up to iCloud, they can see new messages, photos, call logs, and more via their mSpy dashboard. For this to work, they need to know your credentials, and your account must not have Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) enabled.

Method 2: The Jailbreak Method (Requires Physical Access)

This method is much more invasive but also much less common. It requires the person to have physical access to your iPhone to perform a "jailbreak." A jailbreak is a process that removes many of Apple's built-in security restrictions, allowing unapproved software—like a powerful version of mSpy—to be installed directly onto the device. This version can be more powerful, but the presence of a jailbreak leaves clear evidence.

Part 3. How to Check for the Obvious Signs of a Jailbreak

Our first diagnostic step is to determine if your iPhone has been jailbroken. This is a simple check that will immediately tell you which path to follow.

A jailbreak is a major security vulnerability. One of the most common applications installed during the process is called "Cydia." It's essentially an app store for jailbroken devices.

How to Check iPhone Jailbreak Status:

Step 1. On your iPhone, swipe down from the middle of your Home Screen to open the Search bar.
Step 2. Type Cydia into the search bar.

If the Cydia app appears in the search results, your iPhone is jailbroken. This is a definitive sign that your device is compromised. You should immediately skip down to the Part 5.

If you search for Cydia and nothing appears, your phone is almost certainly not jailbroken. This is good news. It means you are dealing with the far more common iCloud-based monitoring. Continue to Part 4.

Part 4. How to Detect mSpy on a Standard (Non-Jailbroken) iPhone

If your phone is not jailbroken, mSpy has no icon and no visible app. Detection is not about finding an app; it's about finding evidence that your iCloud account is being accessed by someone else.

Telltale Sign #1: Check Your Apple ID Login History

This is the most reliable way to confirm your suspicions. If someone is using your iCloud credentials for mSpy, their device will be registered to your Apple ID.

How to Check Apple ID Login History:

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Tap on [Your Name] at the very top.
Step 3: Scroll down. You will see a list of all devices currently signed in with your Apple ID.
Step 4: Carefully review this list. Do you see any Mac, PC, or other devices that you do not recognize? An attacker might be using a web browser, which could show up as a Windows PC or Mac. If you see any device you are not 100% sure is yours, tap on it and select "Remove from Account."

This is strong evidence that your Apple ID has been compromised.

Telltale Sign #2: Review Your Device Management Profiles

In some rare cases, a malicious configuration profile might be installed. This is worth checking.

How to Check Device Management Profiles:

Step 1: Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management.
Step 2: Look under the "Configuration Profile" section. If you don't see this section, it means you have no profiles installed, which is great.
Step 3: If you do see a profile, tap on it to see who it's from. If it's not related to your work, school, or a legitimate app you trust, you should delete it.

What About Battery Drain and Data Usage?

Many articles will tell you to look for a suddenly draining battery or high data usage. While spyware can cause these issues, they are often symptoms of many other things, such as an aging battery, a new iOS update, or a poorly coded app. Do not rely on these signs alone. They are not definitive proof and can cause unnecessary panic. Focus on the concrete evidence of an unrecognized device in your Apple ID list.

Part 5. How to Remove mSpy from iPhone

If you have confirmed that your phone is not jailbroken but you suspect your iCloud account is compromised, follow these solutions immediately. This is the definitive solution to cut off mSpy's access.

Method 1: Use TunesKit Location Changer to remove mSpy on iPhone

Want to remove mSpy from tracking your iPhone location? Using a third-party tool to spoof your GPS location is an effective solution. TunesKit Location Changer is a comprehensive GPS spoofing tool packed with advanced features, and it supports both iOS and Android devices.

With this tool, you can easily change your device's GPS location without ever leaving your spot. Additionally, TunesKit Location Changer offers a dedicated Game Mode, making it ideal for playing location-based games like fake GPS location in Pokémon GO and Monster Hunter Now.

Step 1 Download and Install TunesKit Location Changer

To begin, launch the application on your PC and establish a connection to your iPad using a USB data cable. You will be required to authorize the computer by entering your iPhone's lock screen passcode. Once you have agreed to the disclaimer, select the General Mode.

Step 2 Select Your New Location

To teleport your device to remove mSpy on iPhone, simply search for any location on the map. Once you've chosen your destination, click Start Modifying. And your GPS location will be changed, and mSpy will stop tracking your iPhone.

Method 2: Change Your Apple ID Password NOW

This is the master key. By changing your Apple ID password, you immediately sever the connection between your iCloud account and the mSpy servers. The person monitoring you will be logged out and will no longer be able to receive any new data from your backups.

How to Change Your Apple ID Password to Remove mSpy on iPhone:

Step 1: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security.
Step 2: Tap Change Password.
Step 3: Follow the on-screen instructions to set a new, strong, and unique password. Do not use a password you have used anywhere else.

Method 3: Immediately Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-Factor Authentication is the single best security feature you can enable to protect your Apple ID. With 2FA active, even if someone steals your password, they cannot log into your account without a second verification code that is sent to one of your trusted devices (like your iPhone).

How to Enable 2FA to Remove mSpy on iPhone:

Step 1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Password & Security.
Step 2. Tap Turn On Two-Factor Authentication and follow the setup instructions.
Step 3. This is a non-negotiable step for your security. If it's already on, fantastic.

Once you have changed your password and enabled 2FA, the iCloud-based version of mSpy is completely defeated. It has no way to access your data.

Method 4: The Ultimate Failsafe: Performing a Factory Reset

While not strictly necessary for non-jailbroken phones after changing your password, a factory reset offers absolute peace of mind. For jailbroken phones, it is the only guaranteed solution. This process erases everything on your iPhone and installs a fresh version of iOS, wiping out any jailbreak and all associated software.

How to Perform a Full Restore:

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to a Mac or a Windows PC with iTunes.
Step 2. Open Finder (on Mac) or iTunes (on PC).
Step 3. Select your iPhone when it appears.
Step 4. Choose Back Up Now to save your important data (like photos and contacts).
Step 5. After the backup is complete, click Restore iPhone.... This will download and install a fresh copy of iOS.
Step 6. Once the restore is finished, you can choose to restore your data from the backup you just made.

Part 6. How to Prevent Future Spyware Attacks on Your iPhone

Securing your device is about building good digital habits.

• Guard Your Apple ID: Your password is the key to your digital kingdom. Never share it.
• Use 2FA: Two-Factor Authentication is your best defense. Keep it enabled.
• Don't Jailbreak: Jailbreaking your iPhone destroys its built-in security features. Avoid it.
• Set a Strong Passcode: Use a complex passcode or Face/Touch ID to prevent physical access.
• Beware of Phishing: Be suspicious of emails or texts asking for your Apple ID password. Apple will never ask for your password in an email.

Conclusion

Discovering that you might be monitored is frightening, but you are not powerless. By following the diagnostic steps in this guide, you can determine your risk, take decisive action to remove any spyware, and lock down your device against future attacks. By using TunesKit Location Changer, changing your password, enabling 2FA, and understanding the risks, you have taken back control and can once again trust that your personal life is truly private.