Does mSpy need to be installed on target phone?

Yes, mSpy generally needs to be installed on the target phone. Remote installation without any physical access or credentials is not feasible.

For Android devices, physical access to the target phone is required for installation, which typically takes 5-10 minutes.

For iPhones, while there are methods that do not involve traditional “installation” in the form of an app icon:

• iCloud Sync: Requires the target iPhone’s iCloud credentials and a 6-digit verification code sent to the target phone, implying at least temporary access to the device.
• Wi-Fi Sync: Requires an initial physical connection of the target iPhone to a computer via USB to install a sync application. After this initial setup, monitoring can proceed over Wi-Fi when both devices are on the same local network.