Photo source: Adam Sipos | Twitter: @sipinhoo
What is an AirTag?
AirTag makes it easy to keep track of your keys, wallet, purse, suitcase, luggage, and other valuables. Simply connect it to your item with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, and it will show in the Find My app.
It makes use of Apple’s awesome Find My network, a massive network of hundreds of millions of devices that will help you figure out where your things are even though they aren’t nearby.
AirTag was created with privacy in mind. has a number of different Bluetooth identifiers that shift on a regular basis. This keeps you from being followed from one location to the next.
Everyone’s information is secured with end-to-end encryption when the Find My network is used to locate an offline computer or AirTag. No one, including Apple, is aware of the location or identity of any of the users or devices who assist in the search for a missing one.
It was also created with the aim of discouraging unnecessary monitoring. If an unknown AirTag is seen traveling with you over time, Find My will warn you to prevent tracking without your knowledge.
Even if you don’t have an iOS device, an AirTag that hasn’t been with the person who registered it for a long time can make a sound when moved to help you find it. If you find an unexplained one, follow the instructions below to learn more about it and how to disable it.
If you come across an AirTag or a missing item with an AirTag
- Tap and hold the white side of the AirTag with the top of your iPhone or NFC-enabled device.
- A notification will appear on your screen. Tap it. This takes you to a page with information on the AirTag, including its serial number.
- You might see a message with details about how to reach the owner if the owner marked it as lost. You can contact the owner to inform them that their AirTag has been found.
If you see an “AirTag Found Moving With You” message
If you see this message on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 14.5 or later, it means that an AirTag that has been separated from the person who registered it is traveling with you, and the owner will be able to see its location.
It’s likely that an object you’re borrowing has an AirTag attached to it. To disable it or turn off “AirTag Detected” alerts, follow these steps:
- Tap the message to open it.
- If the AirTag is attached to an object you’re borrowing, you can switch off “AirTag Detected” notifications for one day by tapping Pause Safety Alerts. You can switch off Safety Alerts for one day or forever if you borrow one from a member of your Family Sharing community.
- If the owner has marked the AirTag as missing, you can tap Learn About This AirTag to see its serial number.
- Tap Instructions to Disable AirTag and follow the onscreen instructions to disable it and avoid sharing your place. Contact your local law enforcement, who will collaborate with Apple, if you believe your life is in danger. It’s possible that you’ll be asked to include the AirTag or its serial number.
If you hear an AirTag beep
When moved, any AirTag separated for a period of time from the person who registered it will make a sound to alert those nearby. If you find one after hearing it make a sound, you can use any device that has NFC, such as an iPhone or Android phone, to see if its owner marked it as lost and help return it.
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