A small tag meant for finding lost keys can also be slipped into a bag or car to follow someone. Both iPhone and Android now watch for that. Here is how to make sure the alerts are on, what to do if one shows up, and how to check manually.
What the Alerts Do
Bluetooth item trackers such as Apple AirTags, and tags that work with Google’s Find Hub network, report their location through nearby phones. If a tracker that isn’t yours keeps traveling with you, your phone can warn you. Google says an Android alert is sent at most once per tracker per day, and that you have to physically move with the tracker for a while before it triggers.
Turn On Alerts on iPhone
Apple lists several settings that must be on for tracking notifications to arrive. Alerts for compatible third-party Bluetooth trackers need iOS 17.5 or later.
- Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and turn on Location Services. Scroll to System Services and turn on Significant Locations.
- Open Settings > Bluetooth and turn Bluetooth on.
- Open Settings > Notifications > Tracking Notifications and turn on Allow Notifications.
- Make sure Airplane Mode is off. Apple says tracking notifications don’t arrive while it is on.
Turn On Alerts on Android
The feature works on Android 6 and up, and automatic alerts need Location turned on.
- On Android 12 and newer: Settings > Safety & emergency > Unknown tracker alerts, then turn on Allow alerts.
- On Android 11 and older: Settings > Google > Personal & device safety > Unknown tracker alerts.
Google’s help page spells out the turn-off steps, so these are the same screens with the toggle switched on. Menu names can differ slightly by phone maker.
Run a Manual Scan on Android
You don’t have to wait for an alert. Open Settings > Safety & emergency > Unknown tracker alerts and tap Scan now. The scan takes about 10 seconds. On Android 11 and up it doesn’t need Location. Google’s scan covers Find Hub–compatible tags and Apple AirTags.
If You Get an Alert on iPhone
- Tap the alert, then tap Continue.
- Tap Play Sound and listen. Tap it again for more time.
- On an iPhone with Ultra Wideband, tap Find to get distance and direction to an AirTag.
- If you can’t find it, check pockets, the outer pockets of bags, and your vehicle.
To learn about an AirTag you find, hold the top of your phone near its white side. A notification shows its serial number and the last four digits of the owner’s phone number. Take a screenshot to document it.
To disable it, open Find My > Items, scroll to the bottom, tap Unknown Items Detected with You, then Instructions to Disable. For an AirTag, that means removing its battery. Apple notes that turning off Find My, Bluetooth or Location Services on your phone does not stop the owner from seeing the tag’s location.
If You Get an Alert on Android
- Tap the notification to open a map of where the tracker traveled with you.
- Tap Play sound. Google says this doesn’t notify the owner.
- When you find it, tap Next steps for options, including saving the tracker’s information and turning it off using the maker’s instructions.
Apple also points Android users to its Tracker Detect app, which can detect a nearby tracker after it has been around you for at least 10 minutes.
If You Feel Unsafe
Both companies say the same thing: go to a public place and contact local law enforcement or a trusted person. Keep the tracker and its serial number, since police can work with the company to trace it. Don’t confront anyone yourself.
Worth Remembering
A missing alert doesn’t prove you’re clear. Alerts depend on settings, software versions and time spent moving. If something feels off, run the scan and check your car and bags anyway.
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