Apple's AirTags and similar Bluetooth trackers are great for keeping track of all your stuff, whether you're always misplacing keys, wallets, luggage and even vehicles. Unfortunately, the fact that they're so good at keeping tabs on your stuff means that they're very easily exploited for more nefarious purposes — including stalking.

Thankfully, the problem isn't quite as severe as it used to be. AirTag stalking does still happen, but the fact that there are a bunch of ways to protect yourself means that it's a lot easier to spot rogue AirTags before it's too late. You just have to know what to look out for and what to do if a rogue AirTag is following you. Here's what you need to know about protecting yourself from AirTag stalking

How to detect rogue AirTags on iPhone

How to detect rogue AirTags on Android

For the longest time, Android users had few protections against AirTag stalking, but things have since changed. Apple and Google have collaborated to ensure that all people, no matter what operating system their phone has, are protected from AirTags and other Bluetooth trackers.

The good thing is that detecting rogue AirTags on Android is much the same as on iPhone. The feature is supposed to be switched on by default, though it helps to know how to check everything is up and running.

Apple also has its own Tracker Detect app on Google Play, which operates in much the same way as Google's manual scan. While the app is mostly obsolete, now that Android has tracker detection built in, it's still an extra tool you can exploit to make sure you're not being followed by AirTags or other trackers.

What to do if you get an unknown AirTag alert

You're walking along, minding your own business, and then suddenly you get an alert warning you that some kind of tracker appears to be following you. Now what do you do? The process is almost identical for Android and iPhone users, though the best key finders need to be handled slightly differently due to their differing design. For the sake of simplicity, we'll focus on Apple AirTags.

The first task is to actually locate the rogue AirTag, which you should only do when you're in a safe location. If you're potentially being followed, the last thing you want to do is stop and go hunting for the tracker in an isolated spot — nor should you go to either your home or workplace.

The initial notification will give you the option to play a sound through the AirTag speakers, which will let you track it down aurally. iPhone users with an iPhone 11 or newer (not including iPhone SE) can also track the AirTag with the Find My App, using their phone's Ultra Wideband connectivity.

Once you have the AirTag in your hand, you can scan it with your phone to get all the relevant details about it. Tap it against the top of an iPhone, or the back of an Android phone and the Tag's information should show up on screen — with the serial number and identifying information about the owner. Screenshot this, then back it up for safekeeping.

Your next task is to remove the battery, which will disable the AirTag and stop it from being tracked. Press the silver back panel into the AirTag and twist it counter-clockwise. This will remove the panel, at which point the battery should fall out. If you haven't been able to scan the rogue AirTag, be sure to make a note of the serial number stamped inside — this can be used by Apple and law enforcement to identify the owner.

For non-Apple trackers, you should make an attempt to remove the battery if possible. However, different trackers have different designs, so removing the battery may not always be the same; however, it should be obvious for most models. Be sure to check for a serial number as well, and document it somewhere safe.

Once you've recorded the identifying information from the AirTag, and have removed the battery, report the incident to the police and provide the now-disabled AirTag if asked. There's no guarantee that they will be able to do anything right away, but it's important to have a record that someone may have tried stalking you with an AirTag — it is a serious crime.

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The Apple AirTag 2 is here, after many years of waiting, and with it comes a bunch of new upgrades and design changes. Before launch, it had been rumored that the trackers would come with a louder speaker that's harder to tamper with — a change that would have been a major boon to security. Sadly, it seems this isn't the case.

While Apple promised that the second-generation AirTag would have “a suite of industry-first protections against unwanted tracking," a teardown from iFixit revealed this doesn't extend to the physical speaker itself. In fact, far from being tamper-proof, they found it's just as easy to disable as the original AirTag.

During the teardown process, iFixit highlighted the fact that the speaker is connected to the rest of the AirTag by two small wires. Once you open up the AirTag, those wires are totally exposed and can easily be broken with a soldering iron.

What's worse, there doesn't seem to be any kind of failsafe in place to stop the AirTag from operating if the speaker gets disconnected. iFixit reassembled the tag and found that it was working perfectly. In other words, if someone wants to disable the speaker for nefarious reasons, there's very little stopping them.

The only obstacle would be the lack of a soldering iron or some other tool capable of cutting two small wires. While not exactly ubiquitous tools, they are available for under $10, which isn't going to stop the most dedicated AirTag saboteurs.

Why does this matter?

The main issue here is that AirTags are unfortunately used to track innocent people far too often. Apple has done a lot of work to help warn people (primarily iPhone users) when there's a strange AirTag following them around. But getting alerts is only part of the story, since victims can force those rogue AirTags to make noise to help track them down.

Likewise, AirTags that have been separated from their owners' devices for too long will chirp to make their presence known — something that is designed to prevent people from being tracked without their knowledge.

No speaker means the act of finding a strange AirTag is significantly harder, and that's why AirTag stalkers have been known to tamper with the speaker. Even if they don't manage to disable the speaker entirely, muffling the sound can have a similar effect.

Making a speaker tamper-proof, or at least significantly harder to tamper with without breaking the AirTag, could have been a huge step toward improving public safety. It wouldn't stop talkers using AirTags (or similar trackers) from trying to follow their victims' movements, but it would have made it much harder to get away with it undetected.

At the very least, it would be nice if Apple had made the act of disabling the AirTag 2's speaker a little harder than breaking two measly little wires. I don't think that's too much to ask for.

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Apple's AirTags have long been the best key finder for iPhone users, but the company hadn't released a new model until this past week. The next generation of its AirTag, which some have christened the AirTag 2 (although Apple doesn't use that title.), finally launched, and at the same price as the original.

It would be easy to think that both tags would, realistically, do the same thing. However, while the tags might look very similar, Apple has included some much-needed hardware improvements. That being said, there are a few things you'll want to consider before ditching your first-generation AirTags. Let's break down everything we know about the two devices to find out what each offers and which would be the ideal choice for you.

AirTag vs AirTag 2: Price

Apple's AirTags tend to cost $29 for a single tag and $99 for a pack of four. Fortunately, Apple is charging the same price for the second-gen AirTags. While it has stopped selling the original AirTag, you can still find them for sale (until supplies last) at other retailers, where they're discounted. For example, Best Buy is offering a single first-gen AirTag for $27.99, and a pack of four for $79.

AirTag vs AirTag 2: Design

From a design standpoint, both the AirTag and the AirTag 2 look the same on the surface. It also means that the second generation of tags will fit in the same places that your current ones do.

There is one noticeable difference between the two tags, namely the writing on the tags. On the AirTag 2s, the writing inscribed around the edge is in capital letters, and mentions "NFC," "FIND MY," and notes the IP67 water and dust resistance. Meanwhile, if you look at the current Apple AirTags, you note that the text is written in lowercase, and also note that the tags are "Designed by Apple in California," and "Assembled in China."

AirTag vs AirTag 2: range and findability

The biggest reason to buy an Apple AirTag is to, of course, keep track of your items. With that in mind, the AirTag 2 comes with a noticeable improvement in the form of the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, the same found in the iPhone 17. This new chip makes it much easier to find the tag when you need to.

The AirTag 2 utilizes Haptic, visual and audio feedback with its new Precision Finding, which will help users to better track lost items up to 50% further away when compared to the current AirTags. On top of that, the AirTag 2's speaker is also 50% louder than the current AirTag. Meanwhile, an upgraded Bluetooth chip expands the overall range at which your phone or Apple Watch can pick up the signal.

AirTag vs AirTag 2: Find my Network and Share Item location

Apple has worked to expand the functionality of its new AirTag beyond just new hardware. This includes building on features like Share item location, which can be used to help users find an item by sharing its location with trusted third parties.

The AirTag 2 is also the first to allow you to tap into Precision Finding on the Apple Watch Series 9 or later, so you can do it all from your wrist. This is arguably one of the biggest improvements in terms of usability, as you don't have to pull out your phone while you're rushing around looking for your missing item.

Apple has also improved the security features on the new AirTag. The new tracker doesn't physically store location data or history on connected devices and utilizes end-to-end encryption for all communication with the Find My network. As such, only the owner of the device will have access to all the location data.

That being said, there are some limitations on which phones can actually use the new AirTags. For one, you will need to have iOS 26 installed on your phone, which could be a turn-off for many users who still don't want Apple's latest update.

AirTag vs AirTag 2: Should you upgrade?

While updating the AirTag might not be quite as exciting as seeing a new phone like the iPhone 18 Pro, it's a change that many users will appreciate. While the current AirTags are still perfectly viable, the updated design and features mean that there's little reason not to update when you can. With that being said, the limitation of requiring iOS 26 could make this a harder sell for some people.

Our advice? Keep on using your current AirTags if they're still working well, but pick up second-generation models if you need to buy new ones.

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Apple's big Awe Dropping iPhone 17 event is past us, but that doesn't mean the Cupertino giant is done announcing new devices. In the past, Apple has tended to hold a smaller event or online announcement in October.

As of this writing, Apple has not officially announced anything for October, but we expect some kind of announcement to occur this month. Rumors and leaks suggest a bevy of devices could make their debut before the end of 2025, likely before Halloween.

In both 2022 and 2023, Apple skipped the stage show and instead dropped new devices in October through press releases and slick promo videos. But in 2021 and again in 2023, the company embraced spooky season with full-on launch events.

Rumored devices Apple could announce

Without confirmation from Apple, there are a number of devices we believe the tech giant could announce soon.

The most obvious being the next iteration of MacBook Pro models. This year they could come with the M5, M5 Pro and M5 Max chipsets, but rumors suggest those MacBooks with those CPUs might not be announced until early 2026.

We expect some M5 MacBook Pro announcement this year.

Beyond laptops, Apple is supposedly going to launch a refreshed Apple TV set-top box, a new HomePod mini, and updated AirTags.

Here's what else Apple could announce:

• AirTags 2 - A new version of AirTags with a bigger tracking range, a louder speaker, and a new Ultra-Wideband chip.
• Apple TV - An upgraded streaming device should feature the A19 or A18 processor alongside support for Wi-Fi 7 via the Apple-made N1 chip. It will likely run tvOS 26 and in some wilder rumors could feature a camera for FaceTime features.
• HomePod mini 2- Similar to the other devices, the new HomePod mini should have the N1 chip, an updated Ultra Wideband chip, and S9 or newer chip and more colors.
• iPad Pro - Despite rumors of M5 chips going into production now, an M5 iPad Pro has been tipped to launch this fall multiple times. Typically, this one launches in the spring. The rumor mill has been quite certain the updated tablet is coming soon but don't be surprised if this one slips to its normal spring window.
• MacBook Pro - Outside of the new chip, the M5 version likely won't be that exciting beyond an upgraded camera. That's because the rumored MacBook Pro M6 should offer significant upgrades, including an OLED panel. This year might merely be a stopgap.
• Studio Display - Apple is reportedly working on two new Studio Display monitors which could launch this year or in early 2026. One monitor is a tech update to the normal Studio Display, and the other one could be anything from a new size to an upgraded Pro Display XDR.
• Vision Pro - Apple is has been tipped to refresh the Vision Pro with a faster M4 or M5 chip over the current M2 CPU. It could also get a new headstrap and maybe a Space Black colorway.

You'll notice a lot of the devices, especially anything with an M5 chip, are rumored to launch either this year or potentially in early 2026. If no Macs debut this fall, then we'll immediately look to next year for next run.

Apple debuted the e-series iPhone 16e in February of this year, so that could be a potential new window for product launches.

Whatever Apple announces in the next few months, keep Tom's Guide in your tabs as we'll be on hand to dispense all the latest Cupertino news.

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Apple's "Awe Dropping" launch event is only a day away now, and although the iPhone 17 and Apple Watch 11 announcements will steal the show, there may be some time left for Apple to finally give us the AirTag 2.

It's been four years since Apple first revealed what has become one of the best key finders you can buy, and rumors are rife about an update. Back in the spring, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman hinted the AirTag 2 was "prepared for launch," but it made no sense to launch at WWDC. Now it's September, and I'd argue revealing the device at the iPhone 17 event is much more fitting.

Why? Because one of the biggest claims about the AirTag 2 is that there will be upgrades to the tracker's ultra-wideband chip for longer-range precision finding support. What better way to introduce that than with a brand-new iPhone to take advantage of it? Since AirTags rely heavily on the iPhone to work, bundling it into tomorrow's announcement would seem like a smart move.

The current AirTag allows precision finding from between 10 and 30 meters away, but that's expected to get a boost to between 30 and 90 meters with the AirTag 2.

In addition, Apple is expected to add key privacy upgrades that address stalking concerns. Specifically, making the built-in speaker louder and much harder to remove without disabling the AirTag. And, frankly, the sooner this is introduced, the better.

Finally, there's also a suggestion Apple could include support for the tracker within visionOS for Apple's Vision Pro headset.

New AirTag, same design

It's widely expected that the AirTag 2 will keep the same design as the current model. This means that all the accessories people have accumulated — from lanyards and loops to keychains and luggage labels — will continue to work.

If you take a look at Amazon right now, you'll see that both single AirTags and the four-pack bundle are reduced right now. I'd love to say this is further proof tomorrow will bring us a refresh, but AirTags go on sale a lot. So this may just be a happy coincidence.

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One of my favorite ways to use Apple AirTags is to track my luggage whenever I do any kind of travelling. I'm not alone with that, and following the launch of iOS 18.2 last year Apple confirmed it had partnered with "15 airlines" on a system that lets travelers share the location of their AirTagged luggage.

That number has since grown to 30 different airlines, now that Saudia, the national carrier of Saudi Arabia, is on board. The airline announced this news on LinkedIn, confirming that travellers would be able to share the FindMy app's Item Location Link via Saudia's "dedicated digital portal."

It's only really relevant if your luggage actually gets lost, though. If you don't bother with checked luggage, or your bags end up on the carousel in the arrivals hall as planned, then you won't need to worry about any of this

The feature is only available on devices running iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2 or macOS 15.2 and up. So if you've been holding off on updating your phone, you might want to get iOS 18 installed before your next trip. Or the iOS 26 public beta, if you're feeling up to it.

Oh, and don't do what I did, and assume your AirTags are working before you leave. Make sure to check the batteries, and that you will actually be able to track your luggage in the event it does get lost.

Which Airlines support AirTag luggage tracking?

Saudia is just one of many airlines that supports AirTag tracking. So be sure to watch out for the following names next time you're looking to book airline tickets for yourself.

1. Aer Lingus
2. Ajet
3. AirCanada
4. Air India
5. Air New Zealand
6. American Airlines
7. Austrian Airlines
8. Breeze Airlines
9. British Airways
10. Brussels Airlines
11. Cathay Pacific
12. China Airlines
13. Delta
14. Eurowings
15. Finnair
16. Iberia
17. JetBlue
18. KLM
19. Lufthansa
20. Pegasus
21. Porter
22. Qantas
23. Saudia
24. Singapore Airlines
25. Sun Express
26. Swiss
27. Turkish Airlines
28. United
29. Virgin Atlantic
30. Vueling

How to share AirTag locations

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For parents who worry about their kids' whereabouts, you've probably considered putting a tracker on them for peace of mind. I keep an Apple AirTag on my child's stroller, just in case.

Skechers is making that a possibility thanks to its new Find My Skechers line of kids' sneakers that feature a secret compartment inside the shoe designed to hold an AirTag so that you can track your child. The line features shoes with sizes ranging from toddler to eight years old.

The compartment can be found by lifting the sneaker's insole and a fabric web liner. Underneath that is a plastic slot recessed into the midsole that holds the AirTag.

The compartment features a lid that screws in place to keep the tracker snug, which should keep kids from tampering with it. Skechers says the fabric and casing won't block the wireless signal for the tracker.

Additionally, the shoes don't feature any branding that would indicate a tracker is in the shoe, looking like any other Skecher. So it does make for a more covert way to track your kids.

Unlike some of our picks for the best GPS trackers for kids, which are mostly smartwatches, the hidden AirTag shoe is one that is unobtrusive and that kids likely won't take off and lose like they might a watch. And unlike our top pick, the Jiobit, it stays on their person and not just clipped to a jacket or backpack.

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Everyone I know raves about how helpful it is for them to attach an AirTag on their keychain to keep track of their keys, but my issue is that AirTags are quite obvious — which gives potential thieves a quick opportunity of removing them. That’s why I ditched mine in favor of this smart key tracker that doubles as a handy key organizer.

The KeySmart iPro is a smart key organizer that neatly organizes my keys together, while also acting as a lifesaving tool in the event it goes missing thanks to its Find My support. Essentially, it’s an AirTag disguised as a key organizer and I love it. For less than the cost of two AirTags, I think the KeySmart iPro still has value. I'd go far to say it's one of the best key finders around. Here’s why.

I have so much stuff on my keychain that it’s gotten so out of control in the last year, so I needed a change — but still want the peace of mind that an AirTag offers. I got all of that and more when I finally switched to the KeySmart iPro because of how it better organizes my keys. In fact, it can support up to 14 keys thanks in part to its design that lets me quickly expand it. While I don’t have that many keys on me, I did manage to get the six main keys I need for my home.

Much like a Swiss Army Knife, all the keys fold inside of it — but it typically accommodates standard keys that are uniformly flat. Meaning, I can’t install my car key because of how the fob has a thicker base for its controls.

Despite this, I managed to get all my other keys to fit inside of the KeySmart iPro after carefully figuring out how to best place them inside.

What I really love most about it is how it supports Apple’s Find My function, which practically gives it the same tracking abilities of the AirTag — but in a discreet design.

Through the Find My app, I can see its location on a map and even play a sound to help me track it down easier around my home if I forgot where I put it last. On top of that, I really appreciate the notification I get every time it senses that I’ve left it behind.

Unlike other smart key finders, like those from Tile or Nomad’s Tracking Card, it doesn’t rely on a battery I need to replace — nor does it require a proprietary charging cable. Instead, the KeySmart iPro features a USB-C port covered by a plastic flap that’s much more convenient in my opinion.

Not only is it rated for up to 30 days of battery life, but the simple fact it’s a USB-C port makes it more ideal because I can charge it just about anywhere. There's also a built-in flashlight, which isn't as powerful as my phone's flashlight, but nonetheless helpful when I can't find anything else around.

Now that I’ve been using this, I don’t plan on going back to a regular keychain with an AirTag attached to it. For its $49 cost, I think it justifies its value over other smart key finders, especially when it actually organizes my keys. And yes, it comes with a bottle opener as well so now I don't have to ask a waiter for one at a BYOB restaurant.

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We aren't far away from the launch of the AirTag 2, according to a new claim from Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter. But don't expect to see the AirTag sequel appear that soon.

Gurman explains in a brief Q&A answer that Apple has been preparing for the debut of the AirTag 2 over the past few months, with the intention of launching it in the near future. This matches a previous claim of Gurman's — that we'd see Apple's new tracking tags launch in the middle of 2025. Although we're already in the sixth month of the year, so Apple would need to get a move on if it still had this launch window in mind.

However, Gurman doesn't expect to see the AirTag 2 later today at WWDC 2025, since they're not a good match for an event that normally focuses purely on Apple's software products.

We first saw the AirTag in spring 2021. While it remains one of the best key finders available four years on, there's no time like the present for Apple to give users an upgraded version.

The AirTag 2's design is believed to be staying the same as the current version, but there should still be some meaningful changes under the surface.

We've heard claims that there will be upgrades to the tracker's ultra wideband chip for longer-range precision finding support, a tougher speaker to prevent tampering with an AirTag's anti-stalking measures, and support for the tracker within visionOS for Apple's Vision Pro headset.

For the latest on Apple's event taking place today, check our WWDC 2025 live blog for more. This includes rumored announcements like iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe, as well as an overall redesign for the look and feel of all of Apple's software.

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I’ll be completely honest here, I am constantly losing track of stuff around my house. Keys, gadgets, my wallet, and who knows how many other things. Needless to say, Apple AirTags can come in handy — and it pays to have more than one at your disposal.

So it’s a good thing that the Apple AirTag 4 Pack is now just $69 in Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. Not only is that $30 off the usual price, it means you’re saving quite a bit of money compared to buying individual AirTags (currently $24 a piece).

One of my favorite places to use AirTags is in my luggage. You can’t always trust airlines will be able to keep tabs on things, even with the new digital tracking systems in place.

Nobody wants to be stuck at baggage claim waiting for a bag that will never arrive, . So I find it quite comforting to be able to check my bag has safely made it to my destination.

But why AirTags and not another one of the best key finders? Simple, because of how Apple has set up its trackers in the Find My network. As long as someone has Find My set up on their iPhone (or iPad), it will automatically ping passing AirTags.

The same isn’t true for other key finders, which rely on specific apps or less popular devices to operate — making it far harder to track their location.

AirTags are useful if you’re trying to track down something that doesn’t have quite so strict security as an airport. I’m constantly trying to figure out where my keys are, and whether it was me or my girlfriend that put them somewhere strange and promptly forgot about it.

Pinging the AirTag via Bluetooth and Ultra Wideband (UWB) means I can start figuring out where my things are. The simplest method is telling the AirTag’s onboard speaker to start playing a sound, though you can use UWB and Precision Finding to guide you to the missing tracker with on-screen directions.

The batteries also last around a year. So be sure to actually remember to change them when they need it. Trust me, I won’t ever make that mistake again.

Apple’s Find My network is an incredibly useful bit of software, giving users a way to track down their missing devices and accessories — including AirTags, iPhones and even certain kinds of headphones.

Unfortunately, it may not have been quite as secure as Apple had hoped, thanks to a serious exploit that was uncovered by researchers at George Mason University.

According to researchers this exploit would have allowed hackers to turn any Bluetooth device into an AirTag "without the opener ever realizing it." This would essentially let hackers track users through the Find My network without them realizing, and without the usual protections Apple has in place against AirTag stalking.

How this exploit works

Normally AirTags are designed to change their Bluetooth address based on a specific cryptographic key. Unfortunately researchers were able to develop a system that could find keys for those Bluetooth addresses, aided by “hundreds” of GPUs that could calculate a key match.

Dubbed “nRootTag,” this exploit had a frighteningly high success rate of 90% and was able to track down devices “within minutes.”

One experiment even saw researchers track the location of a computer within 10 feet, and they were later able to trace a moving e-bike as it was ridden on city streets. Another experiment let them recreate the path of a person’s flight by tracking a games console.

Proximity wasn’t a factor either, with hackers able to do all this from thousands of miles away.

As terrifying as it is that hackers could track your location so easily (or sell access to others), researchers pointed out that it could go much further than that. “While it is scary if your smart lock is hacked, it becomes far more horrifying if the attacker also knows its location. With the attack method we introduced, the attacker can achieve this.”

What happens next?

The George Mason team informed Apple of this exploit last July. Apple acknowledged the work of the team in the iOS 18.2 release notes, and told Tom's Guide it has "hardened" the Find My network to resist "inappropriate use" like this. That update was released on December 11 2024.

Apple also emphasized that the issue is not a vulnerability with Apple products. The exploit was used to track the location of Linux, Windows and Android systems through the Find My network without proper authorization, but not Apple.

It's unclear whether this exploit has been utilized by bad actors right now. However, researchers noted that a true fix to the problem could take years to develop, since updates can't be forced on at-risk customers. Researchers advise that users should stay cautious about granting apps Bluetooth permissions to try and avoid this kind of thing happening to them.

They should also keep software up to date and “consider privacy-focused operating systems for better protection against prying eyes.”

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2025 may be the year we finally see Apple’s second generation AirTags, hopefully with a bunch of upgrades and improvements. But there’s one change that nobody really saw coming, and it might be a big help for preventing AirTag stalking — speaker protection.

According to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, Apple is set to make it more difficult for people to remove speakers in AirTag 2. This could be an invaluable tool in the fight against AirTag stalking. Simply because the AirTag speakers are very important for actually hunting down any rogue AirTags that may be following you.

As Apple has rolled out new features to detect rogue AirTags and keep people safe from stalking, the speaker has become more and more important. Phones are now capable of detecting when an unknown AirTag seems to have been following someone around, but it can’t track down their exact location that easily. That’s where the speaker comes in.

By forcing a rogue Airtag to make a noise, people are able to find the trackers and dispose of them. Sadly, if someone has already disabled or damaged the speaker, then this process becomes much more difficult. By offering the speaker better protection, it means potential victims are far less likely to face that tactic.

It’s not clear how Apple will protect the speakers in AirTag 2, but this is definitely a good thing. Even without stalking in mind, ensuring the speaker is protected means legitimate users aren’t likely to accidentally damage their AirTags. Combine this with the rumored upgrade to Ultra Wideband connectivity and tracking down AirTags 2 should be significantly easier than the current trackers.

It’s not entirely clear when AirTags 2 will arrive, but reports suggest that they may be arriving later this year. As to when is anyone's guess right now, so we’ll have to just wait and see what Apple has in store for us as the months progress.

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If you're always losing your stuff, this deal is for you. Amazon has just slashed the price of Apple's AirTags, so you can grab a set and keep track of your important iteams.

Right now a 4-pack of AirTags is on sale for $69 at Amazon. This is $30 off and the lowest price I've seen for a 4-pack. You're now paying $17.49 per AirTag, which is a total steal. Make sure to grab this deal before it disappears!

The AirTag is one of the best keyfinders out there, especially for iPhone users. Our Apple AirTag review said these trackers are super easy to set up and a snap to use.

Their compact design means they can easily be slipped in a bag, placed on a keychain or kept safe in your luggage. Then, if something goes missing, you can use Apple Find My to track your items down. When you get close, you can switch to Precision Finding and your phone will guide you right to the AirTag with audio, visual and haptic feedback.

And the good news is the AirTag discounts aren't limited to the U.S. If you're reading this in the U.K, you can also score an AirTag 4-pack at Amazon for under £100. It's not quite the lowest price ever, but it's still a good deal to jump on.

Just so you know, there are a couple of downsides to the AirTag. First of all, they don't work with Android phones, so Android users will want to opt for something like the Tile Pro instead. In addition, the AirTag can emit a beep to help you find it, but it's not super loud. You'll probably have to get pretty close before you'll be able to hear it.

Still, the AirTag is a super useful device for iPhone users, and now you can get a set at a great price. Make sure to take advantage of this deal before it disappears. And if you're hunting for more savings, check out the top PS5 game deals in the PlayStation Store.

Apple has added new warnings to its AirTags after a recent Notice of Violation from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC.)

Apple AirTags are a great way to keep track of different items, like luggage, with ease. All you need to do is place them in the item and sync them with your FInd My app. However, Apple has faced some issues after the CPSC alleged that it failed to meet the warning label requirements outlined under Reese's law. For reference, Reese's law is focused on eliminating, or reducing, the risk of danger from ingestion of a button cell or coin batteries by children.

It's important to note that Apple's AirTags do meet the technical performance requirements for securing its lithium coin cell batteries. However, According to a recent report from MacReports, units imported after Reese's Law took effect lack the necessary on-product and on-box warnings that are required. The lack of these warnings would represent a threat to families with young children.

To address the reported violations Apple has made several changes to the packaging and Find My App. Firstly, Apple has added new warning symbols to the inside of the AirTags battery compartment. Apple has also added new warnings to the Find My app section that offers guidance for changing the batteries. This means that users will have the warnings at the time when it is most prudent. Finally, the new AirTag boxes include clear warning statements and symbols that comply with the regulatory standard.

While it is good to see Apple complying with the necessary safety requirements, AirTags are long overdue for a refresh in general. Originally released in April 2021, they remain one of the longest-running Apple products that have gone without any upgrades. However, a recent report from Mark Gurman about a possible AirTag 2 indicates this could soon change. Not only is Apple possibly working on an AirTag 2, but another rumor has indicated they could be in line for a major upgrade when they release next year.

Coin cell batteries are useful, but the danger of children swallowing them is very real. The changes that Apple have made will help to make sure that users are aware of the threat, and take the necessary steps to avoid danger.

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The AirTag is an incredibly useful tool for anyone embedded in Apple's ecosystem, but it does have its downsides. That includes the need to replace the CR2032 coin batteries every 12 months or so.

Even though the Find My app notifies you when an AirTag battery is running low (and a year is a pretty good benchmark for battery life!) I've still found myself looking for keys attached to a dead AirTag. Replacing the battery is my biggest problem with AirTag trackers — especially if you have a lot of them — and I know I'm not the only one that's been affected.

Which is where a $20 gadget called TimeCapsule from the company ElevationLab comes in. It's a simple solution to extend the life of an AirTag to up to a decade by transposing the power over to a pair of AA batteries.

It's a good time for this kind of gadget to surface (h/t Android Authority) since there are strong rumors the AirTag 2 is right around the corner. And while Apple's next version of the tracker will reportedly extend its range thanks to the addition of a new Ultra Wideband chip, we don't yet know how that'll impact battery life.

The brains behind the TimeCapsule claim that, when paired with high-capacity AA batteries, users will get "a decade of power" out of a single AirTag — expanding on the original coin cell lifetime by a factor of 14.

And while a single one will set you back $20 on Amazon, you can also pick up two for $30 or four for $40 — which brings the price comfortably down.

The trade-off

Of course the beauty of the AirTag is that it can more or less go anywhere thanks to its tiny size. You can slip one inside your wallet or bag without it taking up much space. The TimeCapsule limits some of that portability.

According to the ElevationLab product page, the rectangular casing is fully waterproof and uses "premium CNC machined screws" as part of its construction. Despite this, it makes the tracker bigger and bulkier as a trade-off against that longer lifespan.

To my mind, this is the perfect solution for adding an AirTag to, for example, a camera bag or a large piece of checked luggage during air travel. You could also potentially mount it to one of the best e-bikes or an electric scooter for location tracking your preferred transport method.

You'll need to spend a little extra on a pair of decent AA batteries too, but if you're getting a full decade of support for that investment, it seems well worth it to me.

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Apple is predicted to launch a new generation of its AirTag tracker next year with a significantly improved range, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Gurman believes Apple will use the next-generation Ultra Wideband chip (UWB) from the iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 to "considerably increase" the range for the AirTag 2.

The current AirTag trackers (introduced in 2021) offer Precision Finding from anywhere between 30 and 100 feet away. According to Gurman, the "new model should triple that by using the next-generation ultrawide-band chip."

Previous leaks and rumors have given us a fair idea that Apple will reveal the product in mid-2025 and Gurman noted last month the new version has now entered production. But what we don't know is how the upgraded chip will affect the pricing. Apple introduced the AirTag at $29 for a single tracker or $99 for a pack of four. Most of the time (like right now, as of time of writing) they can be found discounted at Amazon or Best Buy. But whether Apple keeps pricing the same or pushes it upwards remains to be seen.

Thanks to the new UWB chip, iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 owners can use Precision Finding inside the Find My app to find each other up to 200 feet away. It's possible then we could see the same functionality come to the AirTag 2.

Outside of Precision Finding, the AirTags can still utilize the vast Find My network to track keys, wallets or luggage across huge distances. Just remember to double-check the battery life before embarking on any long-distance trip.

While the internals may receive an upgrade, Gurman doesn't expect the outward appearance to alter for the next model. Which makes sense considering the huge array of first and third party AirTag accessories that have been produced over the last three years.

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If you need to keep track of something — or someone — there's no better time to scoop up a deal on one of the best keyfinders than during Amazon Prime Day. Case in point: My 102-year-old grandfather, (about to be 103 this December) may not be the dancer he once was, but he still likes to be mobile.

About a year or so ago, he bought an electric scooter to free himself from the confines of his assisted-living facility, and regularly takes it for jaunts around the neighborhood and on paths near where he lives. Never one to take things cautiously, he speeds around on the scooter like he was a teenager.

Naturally, my mom was a bit nervous about his excursions, so she asked me if there was a device that would keep tabs on him in case something happened. Among the best keyfinders, I recommended the Apple AirTags, as Apple devices are pretty ubiquitous. Right now, a four-pack of Apple AirTags is just $79 on Amazon, which is $20 off its regular price. We've seen them drop as low as $75, but this is still a pretty good deal.

She picked up some AirTags during the last Prime Day back in July, and popped one into the back of his scooter. While she doesn't monitor his every move, she will be able to locate him (or the scooter) if he takes a spill away from his home.

While they're no longer at the top of our list of the best keyfinders, iPhone owners will gravitate towards the AirTags, as the UWB radio in newer iPhones (iPhone 11 and up) allows for more precise tracking, which is especially helpful if you happen to lose your keys between a couch cushion. 

They're also super-easy to set up, which is also helpful if you're getting them for someone who's not as technologically inclined. Otherwise, you're going to be spending Thanksgiving doing tech support while everyone else is eating pie and watching football. 

Google's Find My Device may have only launched a few months ago but that's enough time for a comparison to Apple's AirTags. 

Recently, Reddit user u/chiselplow, decided to actually put Find My Device to the test against AirTags. Shared by our friends at TechRadar, the test pitted a Pebblebee tracker against an AirTag by putting both trackers into a mailbox and having them posted to another state.

Perhaps the test is unfair since Find My Device only launched in April and Apple's Find My has existed since 2019. Also, there will presumably be more tracking devices that utilize Find My Device versus the AirTag for Apple devices. Still, it's good to see where things currently stand. 

Both trackers work by utilizing an anonymous, crowdsourced network of nearby smartphones to find their location. Based on chiselplow's testing though, there was a big difference in the results.

They claimed that Apple's device continuously updated throughout the day pinging the AirTag's location. Meanwhile, the PebbleBee took 11 hours to show a new location. Based on their test, it looks like the PebbleBee never really found the location at all. 

At one point, they claimed that the PebbleBee had defaulted to showing its previous location, the sender's home. They also mentioned that the Find My Device map is in grayscale and not super detailed, especially in comparison to Apple's map which features satellite mode. 

Their conclusion was that Google's version of Find My Device is not worth it, "Pebblebee and the Google Find My Device Network are hot garbage and the entire thing has not been rolled out in a way that it can be useful, reliable, or worth spending your money on at this time."

The issues with Google's version might be related to a couple of different but compacting issues. One, in the US, the iPhone is the more dominant phone, while in other countries Android is more prevalent. Chiselowplow appears to be American.

Also, Google made the default setting for the Find My Device network "high-traffic areas only." To change this users have to switch to "all areas" or third-party manufacturers like Pebblebee have to have it switched on. 

The tool is also missing features like UWB (ultra-wideband), though that is supposedly coming, along with Augmented Reality support. One thing that may improve it is the release of Google-made Android AirTags, though the tech giant has not released any plans to create such a product.

For now, based solely on this one test, the feature is not quite up to snuff, especially compared to Apple's more robust tracking network.

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Beyond being one of the best key finders we've tested, Apple's AirTags are some of the best accessories on the market for iPhone users. These small and discrete Bluetooth trackers measure just 1.26-inches wide, making them the perfect size to just throw into your bag or slip into your wallet. And right now, you can get them for as little as $18 a pop.

Right now, the Apple AirTag (4-pack) is on sale for $79 at Amazon. That's a savings of $25 off the set's normal $99 price and the deepest discount yet for Apple's smart Bluetooth trackers. If Amazon runs out of stock, you can also snag the same deal at Walmart. 

If you own one of the best iPhones, then this accessory is really a no-brainer. In our Apple AirTag review, we called the Editor's Choice tracker "a clever device that is super simple to set up, and its Precision Finding feature makes it easy to find everything from your keys and wallet to your backpack or luggage."

Not only do they play a loud sound to help you quickly find their general location, but their Precision Find feature uses an ultrawideband to provide accurate GPS-like directions to track down your AirTag to the inch. 

If you own an iPhone this is one of the best accessories you can buy. AirTags are priceless for the peace of mind these trackers bring if you often misplace your gear. Not only do they play a loud sound to help you quickly find their general location — even when in low power mode! — but their Precision Find feature uses an ultrawideband to provide accurate GPS-like directions to track down your AirTag to the inch. These handy trackers also pack an IP67 rating, which means they're sealed against dust and can handle some water immersion, and run on a single CR2032 coin cell battery.

At just $18 per AirTag, this 4-pack is an easy recommendation for anyone who has ever misplaced their keys. 

If you do a lot of traveling, odds are you know all about the trend of tossing an AirTag into your suitcase. That way if your checked luggage mysteriously vanishes between the airport and your destination, you at least have the comfort of tracking down where it is — even if the airline can’t.

The idea that I can double check which country my luggage is in, before it hits the baggage carousel, has always been rather comforting. There’s no need to stand there wondering whether your bag actually made your flight, and if you’re going to have to start your trip by buying some bare essentials.

If you’re going to do this with your own luggage, I implore you not to make the same mistake I did. Because it bit me in the behind right when I needed that Apple AirTag the most.

When AirTags fail — and it’s all your fault

Last December I took an extended weekend break in Denmark. It’s only an hour away by plane, so it's relatively easy trip to do if you need a quick getaway. Even in December, when the sun sets before 4pm.

Everything was going so well until I disembarked the plane in Billund, only to receive a text message saying that my bags had not made the flight.

Whether you spend an hour in the air or 10, that is not the kind of message you want to see when you get off a plane. My first thought was to reach for my iPad and try to figure out what happened. If I could track down the AirTag in my suitcase, I would at least find out where it was. 

To my horror, Apple’s Find My app could only register my iPad, which was in my hands, and my spare iPhone which was sitting on my desk over 500 miles away. The AirTag had vanished from my account.

While my first response was to wait and see if there had been a mistake, and then to contact British Airways in the hopes of retrieving my bag, I later made it my mission to figure out why Apple had decided my AirTag no longer existed.

It didn’t take long to figure out that I’d completely neglected to check the AirTag’s battery when I was packing. According to Apple, an AirTag is only supposed to last a year before the battery needs changing. My AirTag entered service roughly 14 months earlier, ahead of a vacation to Florida in October 2022.

That AirTag was well and truly dead. It was no more, it had ceased to be. It had expired and had gone to meet its maker. This was because I got complacent and forgot to check whether the thing still had power before I zipped up my suitcase the previous day.

Not only did this mean I couldn’t check where my luggage was, I also couldn’t check up on whether British Airways was being truthful when they promised that my bag would be arriving on a flight the following afternoon. Considering I was only there for two nights, I didn’t want to run the risk of the bag arriving right as I was about to head home.

Make sure your AirTag is still alive before you go to the Airport 

The crazy thing is I could have rectified it right away if I had noticed. I have so many small electronic gadgets that rely on CR2032 batteries that I always keep an ample supply in the kitchen drawer. When I eventually got home, swapping the battery and getting the AirTag connected to my Apple ID again took no time at all.

It also takes about 30 seconds to figure out whether your AirTag still has power leftover as well. I tend to find that the thing starts beeping as soon as I start moving my suitcase out of the attic , likely because it’s not connected to any of my devices via Bluetooth up there. 

Alternatively you can just check the Find My app to see if a) your AirTag shows up as within range and b) it starts beeping when you tap the “Play Sound” button. 

While the Find My app doesn’t tell you how much battery the tag has left, you’ll know for sure that it’s still alive for the time being. But if the battery is inching closer to its 12 month anniversary, there’s no harm in swapping it out for a fresh power cell and resetting the clock.

Really that should be one of those things that becomes routine before you travel. Like making doubly sure you have your passport, locking all the windows and doors or making sure you have enough chargers to power every family member’s devices.

Will it stop your bags getting lost, or accidentally left behind? Absolutely not. These things are going to happen, and no amount of smart gadgetry can ensure someone at the airline or airport doesn’t screw everything up. But at least you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing where they really are, and whether the airline is telling you the truth or not.

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Apple is in no hurry to release its next-generation AirTag, according to a new report.

The tech giant has decided to hold off on a 2024 AirTag 2 launch due to a backlog of available inventory, among other issues, Bloomberg’s Apple reporter Mark Gurman is reporting, citing people who claim to have knowledge of the company’s plans. Instead, Apple is now planning to launch AirTag 2 sometime in 2025.

Gurman said that Apple “clearly over-produced” the first-generation AirTag, believing that the key finders would be far more popular than they are. Instead, Apple has found that its “retail store back rooms and Apple device storage warehouses are still full to the brim with AirTags,” Gurman writes.

There’s been a steady stream of reports in recent months about Apple's next-generation AirTag launch plans. 

Last year, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple would begin mass production on the AirTag 2 starting in the second half of 2024, with key features such as extended range coming to the tracking device. Kuo believes that sales rose to 35 million units in 2022 from 20 million the previous year.

But this past October, Kuo walked back his claims, saying that Apple had indeed pushed its AirTag 2 launch date to 2025.

Gurman’s report similarly acknowledged that Apple wants to deliver a better ultrawideband wireless chip in the AirTag 2 to allow for better and extended range, as well as improved compatibility with existing Apple hardware.

That chip will likely be the U2 ultra wideband chip Apple bundled in the iPhone 15 and Apple Watch 9. The U2 chip can help you find friends in crowded environments with its Precision Finding mode and offers better range. Since those key features are only compatible with U2-equipped hardware, it would make sense for U2 compatibility to come to the next-generation AirTags.

Despite that, Gurman’s sources also said that Apple believes the existing AirTags “still work fairly well and have most of the features you’d want,” suggesting U2 compatibility, while important, may not be a deal breaker. And then there’s that pesky issue of excess inventory.

Whatever the case, the evidence is mounting that Apple won’t have much to say about AirTag this year. And don’t expect the notoriously secretive Apple to talk about any AirTag plans until it's ready to announce the product's ship date.

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I’m not the kind of person that often loses things but earlier this week, I found myself in a situation I never thought I’d end up in when I lost my car keys.

While Apple’s AirTags have become so popular that many consider them an essential travel accessory, before now, I never felt the need to use a Bluetooth tracker. Plus, with one of the best Android phones, there’s no easy way to use an AirTag even if I had wanted to.

There are plenty of Bluetooth trackers for Android though, with Tile and Samsung’s SmartTag being the most popular. However, as someone that hangs my keys up on the key rack under my Echo Show 15 the minute I walk through the door, I really never had a need for them until now. 

If you’re like me and constantly pat your pockets to make sure you have everything you left the house with every time you get up or leave to go somewhere else, you may also want to consider investing in one of the best key finders before it’s too late. I wish I had earlier as getting a Bluetooth tracker for my keys turned out to be a whole lot cheaper than it was to replace them.

Having kids changes everything

Even though I’m not a forgetful person, lately, things have started to go missing or end up on the complete opposite side of my house. And even though he’s little, my toddler son is definitely the culprit behind these disappearances.

While he has his own playroom full of toys, he prefers coming into my office and playing with one of the best mechanical keyboards instead. What can I say, he takes after his old man. Likewise, he also enjoys messing around with the best Nintendo Switch controllers and my arcade sticks even though he’s just pressing the buttons for fun at this point.

As his show and tell last week was for the letter “K," he took an old pair of keys with him to preschool. They too ended up right back on the key rack where they’re supposed to be when he arrived home from school. However, after dinner on Friday, he was walking around the house carrying a tote bag and my wife thought it would be funny to give him a pair of keys as he really looked like he was ready to go shopping. The problem though was that they were my car keys. I pointed this out and she put them right back on the key rack so that they’d be ready for when I needed them on Monday.

Monday morning came around and after rushing to get him ready for preschool, I went to the key rack to grab my keys but they weren’t there. While my son can now reach the island in the kitchen as well as all of the gadgets on my standing desk when it’s lowered down, he still can’t reach the key rack. Or at least I thought he couldn’t.

After a call to a mobile locksmith and waiting for a few hours for them to arrive, I found myself with two working car keys. The one on the right was a spare that needed to be reprogrammed to work with my car while the one on the left is an extra the locksmith made. As it turns out, he couldn’t reprogram my transponder key and started making the extra one. With both keys in hand, he was eventually able to reprogram it though.

Making sure it never happens again

During the two hours I spent waiting for the locksmith to arrive, I had plenty of time to do the necessary research on Bluetooth key finders. While I had held off on getting one before, I decided to invest in a Bluetooth key finder so that something like this would never happen again.

Although I had originally wanted to wait for the launch of Google’s Finder network as it looks to give Apple’s Find My a run for its money, time was of the essence since my toddler could easily run off with my keys again. For this reason, I turned to Tile and ordered a Tile Pro instead. Tile has been making Bluetooth trackers since 2013 and it’s a well-established company. While the company doesn’t use an entire network of phones like Apple does, it does have its own Tile Network that uses other devices running its app to anonymously help you locate lost trackers.

My Tile Pro arrived right after I finally dropped my son off at preschool. After downloading the app and adding my new Bluetooth tracker to my keyring, I started going through the setup process. All told, it took less than five minutes to get everything up and running and I’ve been really pleased with the experience so far.

From within the Tile app, I can see the last known location of my keys and tap the “Find” button to have them play a short ringtone. At the same time, if I ever misplace my phone around the house, I can tap the button on the Tile Pro to have the tracker quickly find it. Another thing I like about the tracker itself is that there’s a QR code on the back. If someone finds my keys and if I have “Notify When Found” set up, I’ll get either a text or email letting me know.

A small investment could have saved me hundreds

In total, it cost me $200 to get my car keys replaced while my new Tile Pro only set me back $30. If I had known this, I certainly would have invested in a Bluetooth tracker for my keys earlier instead of after the fact.

Even if you don’t consider yourself forgetful, it may also be worth investing in a Bluetooth key finder as you never know when your keys will fall out of your pocket or be stolen off your key rack by an enterprising toddler. 

I’m really liking my Tile Pro so far, especially since it can help me find my phone in a pinch, too. However, I’m still eagerly waiting to see what Google’s Finder network will be like. It will certainly be hard to dethrone the AirTag but a first-party Bluetooth tracker is something I’m sure myself and other Android users will be interested in. Until then though, I plan to keep using the Tile Pro and with a one-year battery life, it should be able to keep my keys accounted for in the meantime.

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If you were holding out hope for a second generation of Apple’s AirTags, already one of the best key finders out there,  it sounds like you’re going to have to wait a little longer. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, mass production on the AirTag 2 has now been pushed back to 2025 — the second such delay we’ve heard about so far.

Back in August, Kuo said AirTag 2 production could begin in the fourth quarter of 2024. That would mean the new trackers would arrive at the end of 2024 or early in 2025. Kuo also claimed that Apple could be working on a new ecosystem of spatial computing devices, which would use the Vision Pro headset as a central hub for other relevant devices — AirTag 2 included.

It isn’t clear what the cause of this latest delay might be, and Kuo isn’t particularly forthcoming with the details. Then again, if the Vision Pro headset is set to be the “core” of Apple’s new spatial computing ecosystem, then it has us wondering whether the cause could be related to Vision Pro production.

Then again, this delay may have nothing to do with the headset itself, and could be related to a whole bunch of other factors. Like Apple prioritizing production capacity for more important devices, or hurdles in the development of the AirTags 2 themselves.

We don’t know a great deal about the second generation of Apple trackers, other than they may be arriving in the next couple of years. There’s been no word on any potential design changes or additional features.

If Kuo is right about the Vision Pro acting as a spatial computing hub, we may see some integration with the headset and the AirTags’ augmented reality location feature — powered by the UWB chip. I wouldn’t be surprised if we’ll be able to use the Vision Pro to hunt lost AirTags in AR, which would offer a much better field of view than a smartphone screen.

There’s also the new U2, a second generation ultrawideband chip, that’s just been released inside the iPhone 15. According to Apple, this new chip greatly enhances the Find My feature, with the new Precision Finding mode helping you track down friends in crowded areas — as well as offering better range. These features require a U2-enabled device, like iPhone 15 or Apple Watch 9, to work, so releasing a U2 (or U3) AirTag is the next logical step.

But we’re just going to have to wait and see what Apple actually does with the AirTags going forward. And given the increasing number of reported delays, it’s not like we have much choice in the matter.

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Android users finally have some protection against AirTag stalking, now that Google’s Unknown Tracker Alerts feature has gone live. Google originally announced this feature back in May, during the Google I/O 2023 opening presentation, and later promised it would start rolling out in July. Now it looks like it’s finally here.

Google has already confirmed that Unknown Tracker Alerts is only compatible with AirTags for the time being, but didn’t specify why. Though it is probably a good place to start given the many high-profile cases of AirTags being used for illicit tracking — and the fact they automatically ping every iPhone that passes by.

While Apple did a lot to protect its own customers from AirTag stalking, Android users were left without any sort of meaningful protection. Google took its time stepping up, but it’s better late than never, and you can ensure you’re being protected from unknown AirTags following you around. 

Here’s how to get everything set up.

How to set up Unknown Tracker Alerts on Android

Other things you should know about Unknown Tracker Alerts

It's worth mentioning that Android won't detect AirTags unless they've been separated from one of their owners' devices. So when my iPad was switched on, a scan didn't detect my own AirTag. But as soon as the tablet was switched off, Android was able to pick up the tracker.

The automatic scans didn't seem to pick up on rogue AirTags anywhere near as quickly. In fact, 15 minutes after a manual scan first detected my tracker, the automatic scans still haven't picked up the presence of the AirTag — regardless of how much I move around with them both. 

It is unclear how often the automatic scans take place, however, and manual scans seem to reset the clock. It's been 20 minutes since the last manual scan as I write this, and there's still no sign my Pixel has picked up the AirTag without being prompted first.

Here's hoping it's just a case of me being impatient, rather than a broken feature. But I'll update this article if the AirTag gets picked up the way Google promises it should be. Otherwise, it's not a good look for the launch of such an important safety feature.

If you don't already know how to disable an AirTag, you'll be happy to hear it's rather easy. Simply twist off the silver backplate and Remove the battery. You'll want to make a note of the serial number while you're in there, since Apple can trace it back to the owner and hand everything over to the police.

Which Android devices have Unknown Tracker Alerts so far?

From what we can gather the rollout of Unknown Tracker Alerts is rather sporadic, which is actually not that surprising for Android. It looks like the feature is available on Google’s Pixels already, including a Pixel 4a that has been switched off for the past few weeks — and was last updated on July 1.

We also found that Unknown Tracker Alerts are available on Samsung devices running OneUI 5.1.1, like the Galaxy Z Fold 5, but not those running OneUI 5.1 like the Galaxy S23. 9to5Google also claims to have found the update on Samsung phones, but didn’t specify which ones.

We also spotted it on a Sony Xperia phone, while TechRadar claimed to have found the feature on the OnePlus Nord N20 5G. However, we found it was missing from the OnePlus Nord 2T 5G and the slightly more recent Motorola Razr+. So odds are the rollout of the feature is going to depend on how and when phone makers can actually activate it.

You’re just going to have to check your phone and see whether Unknown Tracker Alerts is available. If it’s not, be sure to check for any phone updates. Because a fresh new software update could make all the difference.

What about other Bluetooth trackers?

So far Android’s Unknown tracker alerts will only work with AirTags, and Google hasn’t specified why this is the case. We suspect it has something to do with how high-profile AirTags are and the fact that their location can be automatically tracked by every passing iPhone — which are pretty numerous. 

Other trackers typically rely on a network of people with that specific app installed, which means they aren’t nearly as effective for location tracking — illicit or otherwise.

We know Google already has plans to include other trackers in its upcoming Find My Device network reboot, and even confirmed support for Tile and Chipolo trackers at I/O 2023. If Android phones can track those trackers, it makes sense they’d also be able to detect unknown fobs that appear to be following you around.

But the revamped Find My Device network hasn’t launched yet, and Google previously said it had been delayed until Apple had a chance to roll out the upcoming “unwanted tracker alert specification” the two companies have been working on together. We still don’t know when that might be, but I suspect that it may tie into the upcoming launch of iOS 17. It’s not likely to roll out before then.

We’re just going to have to wait and see what happens in the coming months. For now, you should be safe in the knowledge that, at long last, Android users have some actual protection against rogue AirTags.

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Apple is gearing up to launch the AirTags 2 in the fall of next year, if rumors circulating on Twitter are to be believed.

Noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo  has shared a prediction that mass production of the second-generation AirTag is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Kuo believes Apple has plans to utilize AirTags outside of usage within the Find My application, saying they will be more closely integrated with Apple's upcoming Vision Pro headset as part of a spatial computing ecosystem. However, specific details on additional features for the item tracker have not been disclosed.

The current AirTag, released in April 2021, is priced at $29. According to Kuo, AirTags have quietly gained sales momentum, with estimated shipments reaching about 20 million units in 2021 and 35 million units in 2022. AirTags tap into Apple's vast Find My network and use Bluetooth and ultra wideband technology.

While intended to track wallets, bags, and purses, AirTags have received some past criticism over potential unwanted tracking. As a result Apple added safeguards like notification alerts and has also formed an alliance with Google to prevent stalking. 

The iPhone 15 models will likely feature an upgraded ultra wideband chip, the same type of chip used in AirTags, so it's possible Apple may also be planning to use the new UWB chip in both the new iPhones and the upcoming AirTag. The current AirTag utilizes Apple's U1 chip for Ultra Wideband, allowing for the Precision Finding feature that displays the distance and direction to the AirTag in the Find My app.

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Back at Google I/O 2023, Google announced that Android would be getting some system-level protection from Bluetooth trackers. Because, unlike iPhones, Android phones had few protections from anyone hoping to keep tabs of your location in secret. The good news is that these features will be starting to roll out this month.

Google has confirmed that the roll out of tracker detection features are set to hit phones running Android 6 and above. While the launch of Google’s revamped “Find My Device” network is being delayed a little longer, the important feature is coming, and Google’s revealed a few details about how it’s all going to work.

Automatic tracker detection

The first thing to note is that Google’s tracker detection will work automatically — much like it does on iPhones. Android devices will be able to detect when an unknown tracker has been separated from its parent device and appears to be traveling with you.

Tapping that notification gives you the opportunity to see more about that particular tracker. This includes a map of where the tracker has been detected traveling with you, and an option to force it to play a sound. That way, you can track down its location much more easily — and without the owner knowing.

The downside is that these automatic alerts will only work with Apple AirTags in the beginning. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, given the number of horror stories people have had related to AirTag stalking, but we would have liked to have seen better support at launch. Google claims that it’s working with manufacturers of some of the best keyfinders to expand these capabilities, and eventual support for Tile and Chipolo trackers was already confirmed at I/O.

It isn’t clear how long this automatic tracking takes to kick in, but we’ll presumably find out once the feature starts rolling out to the public.

Handling an unknown tracker

Once you have an unknown tracker in hand, Google’s system has a number of features that can help you handle the situation — and ensure it stops tracking your location there and then. Part of that involves the app telling you how to physically disable the Bluetooth tracker. In a number of cases, including the AirTag, that would involve instructions on how to remove the battery.

Unfortunately not all trackers have removable batteries, with the Tile Mate being a notable example. So the instructions you get will no doubt depend on which tracker is actually following you around. 

Google also notes that the tracker detection software may be able to pull some information from certain trackers. The blog post hasn’t specified which trackers this might refer to, but apparently placing the fob near the back of your device may allow the phone to read information like serial numbers or information about the owner.

Manual scanning

If you’re feeling proactive, or maybe a little paranoid, Google will let you do a manual scan of your surroundings. That way you can see if there are any trackers in your vicinity before the automatic system decides to flag them up for you. 

Head to Settings > Safety & Emergency > Unknown Tracker Alerts > and tap Scan Now. Apparently this scan takes around 10 seconds to complete, at which point Android will show all the nearby trackers that appear to have been separated from their owners. So it sounds like you won’t get any false positives because the guy across the street has an AirTag on his keys.

Tapping orphan trackers will show a bunch of tips on what you can do about it, much as you’d get with the automatic alerts.

Delays to the Find My Device network 

Back at I/O, Google announced that the new Find My Device network would be coming this summer. Unfortunately, it has now been delayed, because Google wants more time to finalize the “unwanted tracker alert specification” it’s been working on in partnership with Apple. That’s something the company aims to have done before the end of the year.

So when will the Find my Device network roll out? Google says it’ll be holding off until Apple has implemented those unwanted tracker protections to iOS. It’s not entirely clear what sort of difference this makes, or when Apple might be able to get things rolled out,  but that is just the way things are. 

Find My Device is Google’s take on Apple’s Find My network, offering the ability to track gadgets beyond phones and tablets. That includes headphones, luggage, third-party Bluetooth trackers, and so on. Just in case those things ever go missing, and you need to figure out where you put the blasted things in a hurry.

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Earlier this year Google and Apple announced they were teaming up to tackle the problem of AirTag stalking — something Android users have had very little protection from so far. While we still don’t know when this critical feature will arrive on Android, details about how the system might work have popped up online.

Researcher Mishaal Rahman tweeted  out screenshots of what looks like Android’s tracker-detection feature, which were obtained from AssembleDebug. In those screenshots we get to see a rundown of the detection feature’s interface, alongside some of the things it should be able to do when it rolls out in the near future. 

From the looks of things users will be able to toggle unknown tracker alerts on and off. Turning the feature on means you’ll receive alerts if an unknown tracker is detected following you around, though it isn’t clear how long the system takes to notice that the tracker appears to be following you. The alerts themselves will be available for 48 hours, after which they’re deleted.

Naturally, you’ll need to grant the system access to both Bluetooth and Location. Without them the system is useless.

Once a rogue tracker has been detected, Google’s app offers up a bunch of helpful information to help you figure out what to do next. The first is an option to make the tracker play a sound, and without alerting its owner in the process — meaning you can find and deactivate the darn thing.

The app also features the basic information on what to do, including contacting local law enforcement, recording the trackers’ serial number and advice on how to disable a rogue tracker. Since alerts are deleted after 48 hours, the app also suggests you screenshot everything for posterity.

Manual scanning also appears to be an option, in case you want to be vigilant or need to help track down a lost tracker for a friend. These results aren’t saved, and informs you of any trackers that are nearby. This page notes all trackers in the vicinity, and makes special note of any trackers that you have been alerted to in the past

The location of all these tracker-detection screens isn’t made clear in the screenshots. Based on what we heard at Google I/O back in May, this tracker-detecting software will be part of Google’s revamped Find My Device service. In a similar vein to Apple’s Find My network, this new system will let users track down phones, tablets and other compatible electronic devices like headphones.

Crucially, Google's app will also be able to sniff out rogue Bluetooth trackers, regardless of whether they’re made by Apple or some other company. There are plenty of options out there, after all.

There’s still no word on when the new Find My Device network will launch, or what sort of device rollout we can expect from Google. The fact that screenshots of the tracker detection system are already out there suggests that it may not be too far away. Here’s hoping that the rollout coincides with the launch of Android 14, though ideally it won’t be exclusive to the new OS.

Most of Apple’s WWDC 2023 keynote was devoted to the Vision Pro. However, if you were paying close attention to the company’s presentation for iOS 17, you might’ve noticed a special nugget tucked into the infographic at the end related to the AirTag. It’s the ground sharing function for the AirTag with iOS 17.

Ever since it was released in 2021, Apple’s AirTags have been used to help people find their lost items. Whether it’s their wallet stuck in between couch cushions, or a wandering furry pet that got out of their enclosure, iPhone owners have found several uses for AirTags.

With iOS 17’s release this fall, however, you'll be able to share tracking with other people thanks to this new group sharing function. You can expect sharing with up to five other people, making it more convenient than ever before to keep track of stuff. If something has gone missing, anyone in the group will be able to use Precision Finding to hone in on the location of the misplaced AirTag.

This shared feature with iOS 17 doesn’t just end with AirTags either because it’s open to other Find My network accessories that have since come out, like Eufy’s SmartTrack wallet and other supported luggage trackers. The latter is noteworthy because families on vacation could confidently know if their belongings have been left behind or not, rather than having one person having that responsibility.

There’s no arguing that it flew under the radar at WWDC 2023, where we were also introduced to the MacBook Air 15-inch and a new Mac Studio M2 Ultra,  but current AirTag owners should be excited for this new feature.

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Being tracked without your knowledge by an Apple AirTag or other Bluetooth-enabled tracking device could soon be a thing of the past thanks to a new specification put forth by both Google and Apple.

The best Bluetooth trackers can be quite useful when it comes to finding your keys or other personal items. However, they can also be misused to track individuals without their knowledge.

For this reason, Google and Apple have teamed up to propose a new industry specification designed to help combat the misuse of Bluetooth-enabled tracking devices for unwanted tracking according to a new blog post.

Once finalized, this new specification will allow Bluetooth trackers to be compatible with unauthorized tracking detection and alerts across both Android and iOS. Besides Google and Apple, Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, Eufy Security and Pebblebee have also expressed their support for this new specification.

Combatting unwanted tracking across Android and iOS

When Apple first launched AirTags back in 2021, the iPhone maker did so with a set of proactive features designed to discourage unwanted tracking. 

Now though, this new specification will build upon the company’s AirTag protections and by collaborating with Google, the two companies will take a “critical step forward to help combat unwanted tracking across iOS and Android."

Besides device manufacturers, a number of safety and advocacy groups, like the National Network to End Domestic Violence and the Center for Democracy, have also contributed their input into the development of this new specification.

The specification itself has been submitted to the Internet Engineering Task Force and interested parties have the opportunity to review and comment on it over the next three months. Following this, Google and Apple will work together to release a production implementation of the specification before it’s rolled out to Android and iOS by the end of 2023.

We’ll also likely hear more at Google I/O 2023 where the search giant plans to share additional details on how it’s working to combat unwanted tracking.

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Ever since Apple AirTags launched, there have been a shockingly high number of reports of those coin-sized trackers being used for stalking. While Apple has done a number of things to counter this disturbing trend, Android users have been virtually ignored by the company. 

It’s about time Google stepped in to fix that problem. Google I/O 2023, which will no doubt feature a number of major Android 14 announcements, is the perfect opportunity to do just that. Especially if the rumors that Google is developing its own “Grogu” tracking tags end up being proven true.

Android users have little defence against AirTag stalking

While tracking tags aren’t exclusive to Apple by any means, the very nature of AirTags makes them much more dangerous in the wrong hands. A Tile, for example, can only be found if another person with the Tile app passes by, whereas AirTags are part of Apple’s Find My network. That means any passing iPhone can ping an AirTag and narrow down its location.

Needless to say there are a lot more people with iPhones than Tiles, which makes them much easier to track. Even for people with perfectly innocent intentions, the scale of the Find My network is a selling point.

To its credit, Apple has done a lot to ensure AirTags can not be used for stalking. iPhones will automatically detect and alert you to any rogue AirTags in the vicinity, with the Find My app letting you track it down via sound or the ultra-wideband Precision Tracking feature. Manual searches are also an option, should you feel the need.

The problem is these features are central to the Find My app, which isn’t available on Android. Apple does have a tracker detection app on Google Play, but it only offers manual scanning — forcing users to be proactive. Third party apps like AirGuard do offer automatic tracker detection, but still requires users to be proactive enough to install it first.

So it’s about time Google stepped up to ensure its users are properly protected.

Google needs to hustle to ensure Android has anti-stalker tech

We first heard rumors that Google was working on its own tracker detection feature last March, after users spotted references to it in a Google Play Services update. Phrases like “unfamiliar tag detected notification” and “unfamiliar device alerts” along with mentions of “Tile tag” and “ATag”.

Since then we’ve heard nothing else of substance, be it directly from Google or through more unofficial channels. Android 13’s launch came and went without so much of a mention of tracking tags, and there’s been no mention of it in the first release of the Android 14 beta. 

The closest we’ve got to hearing anything is the rumor that Google could launch its own AirTag rivals in the near future. But if or when those trackers might arrive. Meanwhile, AirTag stalking is still very much a problem. Reports aren’t featured in the news as much as they once were, but it’s a problem that hasn’t gone away — even with all the safety features Apple has introduced.

AirTags have been on the market since April 2021, and it was almost immediately apparent that the anti-stalking features Apple implemented at launch weren’t good enough. If that wasn’t already a red flag, the fact that Apple’s improvements and methods were almost universally iPhone-centric should have prompted Google to figure something out.

There are no doubt various complexities involved with adding a system-level feature like this to Android — certainly more than updating an existing standalone app. Likewise, the nature of Android updates means that it’s going to take a long time for any new features to roll out to existing devices.

But two years is a long time, and it’s about time Google showed that if Apple won’t step up to safeguard Android users from its products, Google will. 

Bottom Line

It’s impossible to say how many people are affected by AirTag stalking, let alone how many of them are put at additional risk simply because they own an Android phone. But one victim is one too many, and measures need to be in place to ensure these kinds of products are much, much harder to exploit.

Unfortunately Apple has shown time and again that it doesn’t care about people who don’t buy its products. Whether that’s as mundane as not offering Apple TV Plus on Android phones, or straight up refusing to improve the security of text messaging between both platforms.

Google I/O 2023 is the perfect opportunity to announce new measures that protect users from tracker stalking — whether it’s from an AirTag, Tile, or some other rival product. Even if that feature won’t actually arrive until Android 14 later this year, it’s enough for Google to show it’s doing something about the problem. Alternatively if Google still has nothing to show us after two years of stalking reports, then we’re going to have to question where its priorities really lie.

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Amazon has slowly been building a new wireless network, and it's ready to show the world how pervasive it is. Almost three years ago, Amazon announced the launch of Amazon Sidewalk, a low-power, low-bandwidth wireless network that would enable more devices to connect to the Internet. 

But how do you build an entirely new wireless network without putting up signal repeaters and cell towers? In the case of Amazon, you simply build it into every Alexa and Ring device you can, which the company has done since 2018. 

In order to encourage developers to start creating devices that can work with the Sidewalk network, Amazon announced a Sidewalk developer kit, which lets you see just how far its network has spread. Amazon sent me the test kit to try out, and I was astounded by how many of my neighbors have an Alexa or Ring device.

First, a brief example of how Sidewalk works. 

Imagine if you had a Tile tracker with Sidewalk built in. Whenever the tracker came within range of a Sidewalk network — say, an Amazon Echo — it could transmit its location data to the Echo, which would then use a tiny part of your Internet connection to send that data to the cloud, so you could know where your Tile tracker is. It's potentially much more useful than waiting for it to come within range of a Bluetooth device, or, in the case of Apple's AirTag, an iPhone, pervasive as those may be. 

Amazon envisions Sidewalk will be used for much more than that, though. “We’ve rapidly built out a long-range, low-bandwidth network that now covers more than 90% of the U.S. population, and this is an open invitation for developers to put it to the test,” said Dave Limp, senior vice president of Amazon Devices & Services in a press release. “Sidewalk is designed to provide a secure, low-cost way to invent and connect a whole new range of devices.”

For example, Amazon is testing Sidewalk with Arizona State University to extend the range of  sunlight, temperature, CO2 detectors, and particle counters across its campus. Closer to home, a Sidewalk-enabled device might be a smart lock or smart lights on your property. 

When it was announced, many — including myself — were understandably concerned about how this would work. Not only am I loath to donate part of my bandwidth to Amazon, but I'm not thrilled with the idea of some random device being able to hop onto my home network. 

On its Sidewalk page, Amazon states that a Sidewalk Bridge uses a maximum of 80Kbps, and that Amazon caps the amount of data used by Sidewalk at 500MB. Also, Sidewalk devices don't get access to your Wi-Fi network, and any data coming from a Sidewalk device is encrypted. 

Still got the heebie jeebies? You can turn off Sidewalk on any of your devices. 

The test kit Amazon sent me is a small dongle, not much bigger than a USB thumb drive. Inside is a GPS module and a Sidewalk sensor; all I had to do was take a stroll through my neighborhood, and the device would record the relative signal strength of the Sidewalk network, and then upload it to a private test kit coverage map. 

I'm not going to post a photo of the map to protect my neighbors' privacy, but suffice it to say that it looks like a significant number of people have Alexa or Ring devices with an active Sidewalk network. 

A bit concerned with what I found, I asked an Amazon representative about my findings. "Preserving customer privacy and security is foundational to how we’ve built Amazon Sidewalk," they said. "Developers must register and sign agreements before they can receive a test kit. They will need to provide a valid address, phone number, and other verifying developer details. This allows us to take appropriate action if the test kits are misused, including turning off the test kits." 

Additionally, they mentioned that a strong signal in front of a person's house might not necessarily indicate they have an Alexa or Ring device. 

"By design, the RSSI signal does not provide a precise measurement or enough granularity to pinpoint a specific location of a Sidewalk Bridge device," the representative said. "The test kit ping that goes over Sidewalk doesn’t necessarily go to the closest Sidewalk Bridge device—these messages are capable of being sent over several miles." 

"It also depends on where and when the Bridge device sends the signal to the cloud. Thus, the individual pings you’re seeing on the map may be sent from a wide number of Sidewalk Bridge devices rather than just the house you pass by. For example, if you’re walking around your neighborhood and find a location that has a high RSSI number, the ping you’re seeing on the map could stem from a Ring Floodlight Cam that’s 600m away, or even an Echo Plus that’s sitting in a high-rise building."

Regardless of where the signal was coming from, it seemed to be pretty strong all around my town. I also used it when traveling to my office in midtown Manhattan, and though the sample size was smaller, there appeared to be fairly good coverage, though not inside my office building, where it seemed to stop tracking Sidewalk entirely. That's not entirely surprising, as there are far fewer local residences — and fewer opportunities to install an Amazon Echo or Ring — and I suspect that all of the high rises most likely interfere with the Sidewalk signal, much as they do with 5G cell service.

My neck of the world isn't necessarily indicative of the rest of the U.S., but from what I could see, Amazon's Sidewalk is — or has become — one of the largest networks in the country. You just don't know it yet.

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Google’s answer to Apple AirTags could be in the works, according to a brand new rumor from Twitter leaker Kuba Wojciechowski.

The tipster claims Google is developing a “smart tracker similar to Apple’s AirTag” under the code name 'Grogu' — the adorable green alien formerly known as Baby Yoda see in The Mandalorian series. 

Details are scarce, though Kuba notes that they recently discovered Google was working on fast pair support for tracking fobs. Now it sounds like the company could be taking things one step further.

There’s no shortage of trackers that are compatible with Android phones. Products from the likes of Tile and Chipolo have been around for years, letting Android users keep better track of their keys and other stuff that’s easy to lose. However, those products are tied to a companion app, limiting their effectiveness if you lose something beyond the range of your own phone.

Meanwhile Apple AirTags have the benefit of automatically pinging from every iPhone or iPad that comes within range — regardless of whether the owner has a specific app installed or not. If Google can offer the same sort of functionality, but built into the Android system, we hope it could offer Android users a similar experience. 

Even if iPhones are now outselling Android phones in the United States, there are a lot of Android phones out there. Enabling each one to ping lost trackers is going to far outmatch what third-party tracker companies can hope to offer.

Of course, there are going to be some downsides to this hypothetical scenario. The main one being the issue of stalking, a problem that has plagued AirTags since day one. Google would have to learn from Apple’s mistakes and ensure that Android phones can detect Grogu trackers easily and without any previous user input. 

Automatic detection for AirTags and other trackers should also be included from day one as well, since Apple doesn’t seem interested in taking proper action. Google promised it was working on some tracker detecting features last March, but everything has been quiet since. Hopefully, it’s something we’ll see when Android 14 launches later this year.

The other issue is that any system-level Android feature is slow to roll out, and tracker detection is no exception. Unlike Apple, which retains total control over iPhone software updates, Google only has control over the Google Pixel range. Updates for other phones are the responsibility of their respective manufacturers, who need time to get everything ready. Not to mention the fact that they often only bother with updates for 2-3 years after a phone launches.

We don’t know a great deal about what the Grogu tracker might include, though I expect that it will come with ultra wideband (UWB) and Bluetooth to aid detection and location efforts. 

As to why Google chose the name Grogu, we currently don’t know. It may be something to do with the tracking fobs employed by bounty hunters in The Mandalorian, or it might have been picked at random. We’re not likely to figure it out until Google shows us what the tracker is capable of.

We don't know exactly when Google might announce the Grogu tracker either. If the device is close to launch then May’s Google I/O conference is the most likely candidate. And failing that the Google Pixel 8 launch event we’re expecting sometime in the Fall. We’ll bring you more news as and when we hear it.

Apple has a long history of trying to ignore the existence of Android wherever possible. At best Android is an afterthought, but at other times Apple’s deliberate ignorance can have serious repercussions. The controversy surrounding Apple AirTags, and how easily they can be exploited for stalking, is one such example.

AirTags' greatest strength, the sheer scope of Apple’s Find My network, is also its greatest weakness. Because there are so many iPhones out in the world, and the fact every iPhone can detect nearby AirTags, tracking down a lost AirTag is significantly easier than a competing tracker. They can only be detected by phones with the relevant app installed, which are much fewer in number.

This unfortunate downside is that AirTags have been exploited to track people, primarily women, without their knowledge and to a terrifying degree. This has forced Apple to act, offering various updates designed to ensure unknown AirTags can be found quickly and easily. But, like so many other Apple efforts, those updates are exclusively targeting iPhone users.

Unfortunately, terrible people don’t discriminate based on what kind of phone you use. If a stalker wants to track a person using AirTags, their victim’s choice of phone isn’t going to factor into things. Apple needs to do a lot more to prevent AirTags from being used to stalk people whose only crime is not owning an iPhone.

Apple hasn’t done nothing, but it's not enough

If you own an iPhone, detecting AirTags that appear to be following you around is pretty simple. If the iPhone detects that the AirTag has been with you for a while, or that it’s moving with you, you’ll get an alert warning you that there’s an unknown AirTag in the vicinity. Manually triggering a search for unknown devices in the Find My app is also an option.

Once a rogue AirTag is detected, you can use the Find My app to force the tag to play a sound or track it down with the Precision Tracking feature.

All of this hinges on Apple’s Find My app, which isn’t available on Android. To its credit, Apple didn’t ignore Android devices completely, and launched the Tracker Detect app back in December of 2021. Unfortunately. this app doesn’t work in the background, as Find My does, and only lets you initiate a manual scan.

It’s not nothing, but it relies on people being continuously proactive and looking for AirTags that may or may not be nearby. More to the point. the Android app can’t differentiate between AirTags that are following you and any that might be in the area by pure coincidence — limiting its usefulness.

Similarly, Apple has updated AirTags so they will start making noise whenever they spend too long away from one of their owners’ devices. However, this only kicks in after 24 hours, and that’s plenty of time for a stalker to either do something malicious or see enough of your routine that they can take action later.

As many critics have noted, an AirTag’s beeping isn’t particularly loud. If it’s been well hidden you could easily not hear it.

What else can Apple do about AirTag stalking and Android?

One thing Apple could do is offer a chance for Android users to track AirTags from their phones. The benefit being that this app could be working in the background to search for unknown AirTags and offer Android users a similar level of security that iPhone users currently enjoy.

Google previously announced that it’s working on some sort of tracker safety feature that will be built into Android, but there hasn’t been any word on that since the middle of last year. Plus, since even Apple's own AirTag updates are reliant on phones being updated, and given how messy Android OEM updates are, a bunch of people likely won’t have access to it for a couple of years. 

Asking Apple to step in and offer a viable first-party AirTag detection app on Android isn’t unreasonable, and it’s certainly possible to accomplish. In fact, there is a third-party app out there called AirGuard, which is capable of detecting and notifying you of any stray trackers that appear to be following you around. That includes Apple’s AirTags, other Find My-connected devices and rival products from the likes of Tile.

It’s not perfect, and it takes some time to notify you that an unknown tracker is in the vicinity, but the fact it can do this automatically (after set-up) means it’s a step above what Apple is offering Android users. The best part is that AirGuard is free to use, which isn’t always true with other apps that advertise themselves as AirTag detectors.

However, given all the issues and reports that have come out about AirTag stalking, there shouldn’t be any need for a third party to step in and cover for Apple’s failures.

Preventing AirTag stalking shouldn't be the end of it

This issue stems from a wider problem. The fact that if you’re not an iPhone user you’re nearly irrelevant as far as Apple is concerned. 

Sometimes Apple throws Android users a bone in very bizarre ways. Apple Music is available on Android, but Apple TV Plus is not. AirPods can be used with an Android phone, albeit without the special iPhone-centric features, but you can’t buy and track your own AirTag unless you also have an iPad or Mac.

Apple has also stubbornly refused to concede that Apple/Android messaging needs to be more secure and feature-rich than regular SMS and MMS can provide. The company killed an attempt to bring iMessage to Android and has refused to implement the more secure RCS messaging on iPhones. You shouldn’t be talking to people that use Android; apparently, you should buy them iPhones instead. 

Android users are out there, and they’re pretty obvious — iMessage’s green bubbles have seen to that. It’s high time Apple pulled its head out of the sand and acknowledged them a little better. Even if it is just to make sure they’re not being put in danger by awful people wielding AirTags.

What to do if you find a strange AirTag

There are a few ways to find rogue AirTags, but if you do ever find one on your person be sure to go about it the right way. The first thing is to push the center of the back panel and remove it by spinning the panel counter-clockwise. This gives you access to the CR2032 battery, which you should remove. Without the battery, the AirTag will be completely inactive.

The AirTag's serial number is also visible from the inside. You should make a record of that, then report the whole incident to the police. Keep that AirTag safe (minus the battery) and hand it over to the cops if they ask for it. Apple will be able to use the serial number to identify the original owner of the AirTags and take the police can take the appropriate action.

If your AirTag is beeping or making random noises, you should know what the sounds mean and how to stop them. In fact, there are a few different reasons why your AirTag could be chirping.

Like other best key finders out there, Apple AirTags are item trackers that can help you keep tabs on your belongings. Whether you attach one to your keys, throw one in your suitcase or slip one in your wallet, an AirTag will let you know where your items are at all times. Their locations and settings can be managed within the Find My app on your iPhone or iPad.

Perhaps the most useful role of an AirTag is that it can lead you to the location of a lost item. Not only will your iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch give you directions to a lost item, but the connected AirTag will beep to give you an audible cue to follow.

But those beeps don’t only happen when you’re searching for your AirTag — sometimes, the AirTag can be making noise for other reasons. Here’s your guide to what those sounds might mean. (You can also watch Apple's AirTag YouTube video to hear what different AirTag chimes sound like.)

The AirTag is signaling a lost item (on purpose or by accident)

The most obvious reason an AirTag is beeping is that it’s initiated the signal to help you find a lost item. It’s also how someone else might be able to help you find your lost item. If it’s lost somewhere you’re far from, a Good Samaritan can hold their iPhone to the AirTag to report the item as found. In some cases, this could be your best chance at reuniting with your missing item.

That said, you might’ve accidentally triggered lost mode on your AirTag. If you hear your AirTag beeping and you’re not sure why, check the Find My app on your iOS device. You might see that you enabled tracking by mistake. Our guide to how AirTags work can help you navigate the tracking functionality of an AirTag you own.

The AirTag could be tracking you

There are measures in place to let you know when an AirTag is moving with you, whether or not its owner enabled lost mode. If you hear a beeping sound, and discover an AirTag that doesn’t belong to you, it could be tracking your location without your knowing. This will happen when your iPhone identifies an AirTag moving with you.

If you think an unknown AirTag might be following you, or even get an alert on your iPhone that an AirTag is moving with you, you can locate it from the Find My app. The chime it makes is unique from both the regular lost mode sound and sound that plays autonomously when an AirTag is moving with you.

Be sure to read our guide to how to tell if an AirTag is stalking you. Even if you’re not currently suspicious or being alerted to an unknown AirTag, it’s important to know what to do if you ever face this situation. 

The AirTag is ready for setup

The final two chimes associated with AirTags are heard during setup. One chime plays when an AirTag is ready to be set up, and the other plays when setup is complete. If you’ve just bought a new AirTag, these are some sounds you might hear.

Is your AirTag still beeping?

If your AirTag is still beeping and you’re not sure why, try resetting your AirTag, updating the AirTag’s software or changing the AirTag battery. Here’s our guide to how to factory reset your AirTags.

Traveling during the holiday season is no easy feat. Long lines at airports coupled with changing flight schedules, cancellations because of the weather and the risk of losing your luggage in the airport chaos are all real possibilities, as anyone who tried hopping on a Southwest Airlines flight recently can attest. 

There's not much you can do about abrupt flight cancellations, but using some of the best trackers to keep tabs on your luggage can at least help keep some of the travel stress at bay. Believe me, I know.

I jumped at the opportunity of buying myself an Apple AirTag during the Black Friday sales a couple months back. I was planning to travel from the US to India and I knew that having a tracker would help me keep tabs on my luggage especially since I had to change planes during my travels.

Traveling with an AirTag 

Setting up an AirTag with an iPhone is very simple, as it pops up on the iPhone's home screen. I gave my AirTag a moniker of my name and “Luggage AirTag” just in case I decided to buy another one for my keys in the future. The Find My app on your iPhone shows you the exact location of your AirTag. 

Apple’s tracker has many very useful features. Firstly, it is small and pretty inconspicuous so it can easily be slipped into a bag or a suitcase. In fact, leaving it inside my monstrously large suitcase, I was almost worried I might lose it, ironically. Of course, my iPhone would make sure that I didn’t. 

The AirTag can emit a beeping sound when you want to find the device around you. This is perfect for a set of keys, wallet or even a purse. Inside a suitcase, though, it can difficult to hear it beep. I put this to the test at home after packing my bag, just to check and it was too faint to hear between all my clothes. There was no chance I was going to hear the AirTag's alert at a noisy airport. 

The Find My app also lets you switch on notifications to notify you when the AirTag is left behind. You can choose to switch this on or off within the app. I toggled this on as I prepared for my trip.

If you have an iPhone 11 or later, you can take advantage of a Precision Finding feature for the AirTag that pinpoints the exact location of the AirTag by providing directions toward it in augmented reality. This feature is extremely handy in noisy places where the beep can’t be heard. 

I was excited to try out all the features and see if I could track the real time location of my bag as I flew halfway across the world.

Once I checked in my suitcase, I promptly got a notification saying that my AirTag was left behind. On my first flight, before taking off, I opened my Find My app to see that my suitcase was around my location which meant it made it to the right flight. I breathed a sigh of relief. The same thing happened when I took my second flight and I could see the AirTag was around my location again. 

Here's what AirTag's missing

On my way back to the US from India, I realized that the Apple AirTag misses out on a handy feature I wish Apple had included. While waiting for my luggage at the airport carousel, I checked my AirTag’s location. It was at the airport, obviously, but I couldn’t use Precision Finding to guide myself toward my bag. I had no option but to wait for it to appear at the baggage carousel. 

After waiting for a good 20 minutes, I noticed that my suitcase hadn’t moved. I was also running out of battery on my iPhone and had to close my Find My app before my phone died. 

After a 24-hour journey, I was tired and went and sat on a bench, where I thought I could keep an eye on the carousel as well. I wished there was a way for Apple to notify me when my bag was closer to me and I would have known when to go to the carousel to pick it up. 

Considering Apple has an option to notify you when the AirTag is no longer with you, this seems like it could be a simple update to let a user know when the tracker is now closer to you. 

Precision Finding is a handy feature, but in my experience ,it is only useful when looking for a smaller object in a more contained space or if something gets lost somewhere. People are using trackers in their luggage now more than ever, and I wish Apple would bring travel specific features for the AirTag to make it even more useful. 

I finally saw my bag in the distance and walked toward it. Checking my iPhone, I noticed the Find My app said that my AirTag was now with me. But that was too little, too late.

AirTag impressions

Overall, an AirTag is extremely useful in tracking bags or especially finding lost items. Had my luggage been left behind in another airport or misplaced, I would have been able to track it and even tell the airline exactly where it was. If you are planning any travel this year, I would highly recommend a good tracker to keep tabs on your suitcases and travel without the stress of misplaced stuff. 

Next: How to find your lost or stolen iPhone. Also check out: iPhone 15 may get USB-C, but here's why the world isn’t ready for USB-C yet.

As useful as Apple AirTags can be, they’ve also been exploited for nefarious purposes — helping stalkers track and keep tabs on unwitting victims. While Apple has been widely criticised for not anticipating this, there have been several updates designed to minimize the risk from stalkers — and the latest could prove to be a very big help.

Apple has released two separate AirTag firmware updates since November, but didn’t explain what changes were being implemented at the time. Now a new support document has all the details, including a long-promised feature that will help iPhone owners find any rogue AirTags in the immediate area.

AirTags have long had a “Precision Finding” feature, which utilizes Ultra-wideband to locate the tag with pinpoint accuracy. With it your iPhone can guide you to the tracker via augmented reality, with on-screen arrows pointing you in the right direction. It’s significantly better than the Bluetooth-only system employed in some cheap tracking fobs.

Previously, this feature was only available to your own registered AirTags. Now, with the new firmware updates, Apple has unlocked this feature for unknown AirTags that have been traveling with you. The update also notifies awake iPhones that an unknown AirTag is nearby, separated from its owner and emitting a sound to indicate it has moved. Just in case you can't hear it.

While this doesn’t stop AirTags being used as stalking tools, Apple's update does make it much easier to notice and track them down. Apple says that Precision Finding will be of particular help if the AirTag sound is hard to hear, or if the speaker has been tampered with.

Of course, this feature is only available for people with UWB-capable iPhones. So anyone with a device older than the iPhone 11, or running Android, won’t be able to take advantage of that. 

All Android users have got from Apple is the basic Tracker Detect app that relies on manually scanning for rogue AirTags at various intervals. Third-party apps like AirGuard offer an automatic safeguard. But it's clear iPhone owners are being prioritized by Apple. 

I think that should be next on the agenda. Give Android users the opportunity to use AirTags for themselves. Even if they only get basic Bluetooth tracking capabilities, rather than the fancy UWB features.

What to do if you find an unknown AirTag

AirTags that have been separated from their paired iPhone or iPad for more than 24 hours will start beeping. It doesn’t matter whether it’s been lost, or someone has placed it there maliciously. It’s not terribly loud, and a lot can happen in 24 hours, but it does mean there are some measures in place to try and keep you (and your location) safe.

If you ever find an unknown AirTag, the first thing you should do is take out the battery.You do this by pushing down on the center of the back panel and spinning counter clockwise. The battery is an ordinary CR2032 coin battery and will pop straight out. This will shut down the AirTag until the battery is replaced.

The inside of the AirTag also displays the serial number, which you should make a record of and report to the police. Don’t destroy or dispose of the AirTag, and hand it over to the police if they ask for it. Apple will then be able to use the serial number to track down the AirTag’s owner, and the cops can do whatever it is they need to do in these situations.

You can now signal your AirTags to beep from a Mac, finally adding a feature that's been missing from macOS for no good reason.

As discovered in the macOS Ventura 13.1 beta by MacRumors, the Mac Find My app now lets you activate the AirTag's chime to help you find it and whatever item it's in or attached to. While Macs have been able to provide directions to an AirTag in the past, if you wanted the chime you'd currently have to use either an iPhone or iPad. 

We're glad Apple's added the option to start the chirp from a Mac as we can imagine it was a little inconvenient if you were trying to find your lost item and didn't want to or couldn't carry your Mac with you to keep following the instructions it gave. A chirp means you still have a chance of finding whatever it is without needing to have your Mac in line-of-sight.

There's no sign of whether this feature will work with other Apple products. For example, the AirPods Pro 2's case can produce a sound to help a user track it just like an AirTag.

While AirTags have gotten a lot of negative attention for their use as a stalking tool, they still function as effective key finders, especially for users already invested in the Apple ecosystem. 

Also, Apple's made a lot of updates to make potential nefarious use easier to detect, such as by making the unwanted tracking alert louder. Users wanting extra guarantees of protection can do other things like activating Item Safety Alerts on their iPhone, or installing apps like Tracker Detect or AirGuard on Android devices.

macOS Ventura 13.1 should arrive later this month alongside iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2, bringing several updates to compatible Macs, iPhones and iPads. Notable among these is the new Freeform whiteboard app, updates for the Home smart home management app, and new lockscreen widgets for Sleep and Medications.

It is officially Black Friday week and some of the most popular Black Friday deals are already here at record-low prices. This includes Apple’s popular AirTags that are down to the lowest price we have ever seen.

Right now, you can get a 4-pack of Apple AirTags for $74 at Amazon. This is down from the regular MSRP of $99 and is the lowest price yet on AirTags which rarely get a price cut. This is one of the best Apple deals around right now.

Apple's AirTag is the best key finder for iPhone users. It works seamlessly with newer iPhone models (iPhone 11 or later), allowing you to use Precision Finding to track the exact location of your AirTag — or whatever you've attached it to.

In our Apple AirTag review, we gave the device high praise for its simplicity and ease of use. All you have to do is open the Find My app on your phone and you can use it to track the location of the AirTag, which you can attach to your keys, wallet, bag, luggage and more.

Once you get close to the AirTag, within around 20 feet, you will be able to use Precision Finding to get exact directions. The AirTag will also beep to give you an idea of its location. 

The Apple AirTag is rarely ever on sale and even when it is, it drops only by $10. That's what makes this deal on the AirTags even sweeter — it is the lowest price we have ever seen on the 4-pack and comes just in time for holiday travel.

Apple also offers a range of keyrings and loops to keep your AirTags securely attached to your keys or luggage, which can be purchased separately.

Looking for more savings? Check out our list of the best Apple Black Friday deals, plus our Walmart Black Friday deals live blog for big savings on AirPods, TVs and more. 

The best key finders all help you find your stuff in one way or another, but how they go about it are important differentiators that should impact your buying decision.

The Apple AirTag 2, and to a lesser extent the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag 2, are both ubiquitous, but only work with their respective manufacturers' own devices. You'll need to go third party for something that can work across OSes, and for that, we like the Tile (previously called the Tile Mate).

Life360, the company behind Tile, is fortunate enough to have several entries on this guide, as the Tile Pro and Tile Sticker are both effective in their own niches. And don't overlook the Chipolo Pop or Pebblebee Halo either, the other two members of this list of top performers.

So read on to lean more about the best key finders you can buy today.

The best key finder overall

After putting all of the new Tiles through their paces, I'd recommend the regular Tile (called the Tile Mate until recently; it's still the same product) as the model to buy. And since Tile trackers work with both Android devices and iPhones, that makes the Tile the best key finder for most people.

Why get the Tile over the Tile Pro, which is the company's premium option? For starters, the key finders have identical features — the main exception being that the Pro promises longer range and delivers a louder alarm. But in my testing those differences didn't prove noticeable enough to justify the Pro's higher price tag. I think you can get largely the same experience with the Tile and save yourself $10 in the process.

The Tile's alarm proved loud enough for me to hear during testing, even with a lot of ambient noise around me. The range of this Bluetooth tracker didn't come close to the 350 feet that Tile promises, but it should prove reliable enough in the most common circumstances where you need to track down your keys (or whatever other valuables you attach the Tile to).

New features includes integration with the Life360 app — Life360 now owns Tile — and an SOS feature where you can press a button on the Tile three times to send out alerts to your Life360 contacts. That's a helpful addition, particularly for anxious parents, but it comes at the expense of one of my favorite Tile features — pressing the button twice on the key finder to sound an alarm on your phone in case you've misplaced that device. You can set the button to trigger the two-way find feature or the SOS alert, but it can't be both.

That limitation aside, I like the compact design of the Tile, which fits easily at the end of any key chain. And different color options allow you to keep track of your keys in a style that suits your tastes.

Read our full Tile (2024) review.

The best key finder for Samsung phones

The Galaxy SmartTag 2 is a big improvement over Samsung's original key tracker. It's got a better IP67 water resistance rating and a replaceable battery that can last 500 hours of regular use (and even longer if you use a power-saver mode). Samsung also built Ultra Wideband support into its tracker so recent Galaxy smartphones can take advantage of a compass feature in the the SmartThings companion app for more precise finding.

The SmartTag 2 delivered excellent range in our testing, allowing us to get several hundred feet away before we lost connection with our keys. The alarm could be louder, but neat additions like a two-way find feature let you locate a misplaced phone as easily as you can find your keys.

The SmartTag only works with Samsung phones, so owners of other Android devices or iPhones will want to consider another option. But if you have a Galaxy flagship released in the last couple years, this is a great accessory to have on hand.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy SmartTag 2 review.

The best specialty finder

The Tile Sticker's limited range means you shouldn't use it in every circumstance where you need to track the location of something. But for finding easily lost items around the home, the Sticker is more than up to the task — especially if the item has a smooth surface to which this tracker can easily be stuck to.

I attached the Sticker to my Apple TV remote, and that's put an end to me frantically lifting up couch cushions when the remote drops out of sight. All I have to do is tap a button on the Tile app on my phone, and the Tile Sticker sounds out an alarm that's perfectly audible within the confines of my home, helping me pinpoint the exact location of my remote.

Any object with a smooth surface is ideal for the Tile Sticker — laptops, tablets, passports and more. That said, the knob-shaped sticker does protrude quite noticeably, so if you're a fan of sleek, streamlined designs, you may not care for a tracking device that interferes with that look. I don't mind the sticker on my remote control, for example, but I'm not sure I'd want it slapped on the top of my MacBook Air.

Nevertheless, the Tile Sticker proved to be dependable in my testing, and the adhesive keeps the tracker firmly attached to your valuables. You'll need to swap in a new Sticker every three years, as that's how long the non-replaceable battery is supposed to last. But during those three years, you won't need to spend a lot of time searching for items that used to regularly disappear.

Read our full Tile Sticker (2024) review.

The best key finder for iPhones

The Apple AirTag 2 doesn't change much from the 2021 original, but the alterations keep Apple's first-party option on par with the numerous competitors that have sprung up in the meantime.

Apple gave the AirTag 2 an updated Ultra Wideband chip to improve the Precision Finding range, a louder speaker to help draw your attention to a lost item, and support for finding with an Apple Watch, all without a price increase from the original. Just like before, you can track the tag with the Find My app, sharing tracking info with up to five others so you can all keep track of a shared item, or help each other when something important goes missing.

The AirTag 2 still uses a CR2032 coin battery, which is simple enough to replace when the time comes (Apple estimates a year per battery), although a rechargeable option would perhaps have been better. But if you want the ultimate Apple tracking experience, this is still the obvious choice.

Read our full Apple AirTag 2 review.

The best alternative to Tile

I once tested the Chipolo One, which came with one of the loudest alarms I've heard on any key finder. The Chipolo Pop is even louder, if you can believe it, carrying a rating of 120 decibels. Sound the alert via the companion app on your phone, and you'll be able to hear the Chipolo Pop sound off above the din — as will anyhow us within earshot.

The alarm makes the Pop a good key tracker, but the reason my colleague Tom Pritchard swears by it as an alternative to some of the other devices on this list is it works with both Google's Find Hub and Apple's Find My networks. That makes the Chipolo Pop idea for Android and iPhone users alike. He also appreciates the keyring hole that makes it easy to attach the Chipolo Pop to your keys without having to add any additional straps.

The Chipolo Pop didn't have amazing range in Tom's testing, which is consistent with past Chipolo trackers I've used. You also won't get the Ultra Wideband connectivity available on the Galaxy SmartTag or AirTag. But the Chipolo Pop does have some handy features like free out-of-range alerts that ping you when you've left your tracker behind. I also think the range of color choices you have at your disposal help the Chipolo Pop stand out in a world of monochrome key finders.

Read our full Chipolo Pop review.

Best range for Tile key finders

While I think the standard Tile delivers the best value of Life360's current lineup of key finders, there's still an argument to be made for the Tile Pro instead. It does offer the widest range of any Tile finder, even if it did fall well short of the promised 500-foot range when I tested it. That said, your phone will certainly stay connected to the Tile Pro at a longer distance than it would with the Tile, at least based on my experience.

The loud alarm on the Tile Pro also makes it a worthwhile option. Even when I was 80 feet away from the key finder, I could still make out its 110 decibel alarm over a buzz of ambient noise in a public park.

Like the other new Tile trackers, the Tile Pro integrates with the Life360 software and adds an SOS Alert feature that notifies your contacts when you press the button on your key finder three times. It's a good feature that offers peace of mind, but enabling it turns off another great Tile feature — the ability to press your key finder to sound an alarm on your phone in case you've misplaced that device. I like both features — I don't like having to choose between them.

Environmentally-conscious users will appreciate that the Tile Pro's battery is replaceable — other Tile trackers have to be completely replaced after three years. Removing the back panel is a snap, and even with the removable battery, Life360 still promises IP68 water resistance for the Tile.

Read our full Tile Pro (2024) review.

Best rugged key finder

Trackers are sometimes a necessary tool to make users feel safe at any time of day, and anywhere they want to roam. That's why we like the Pebblebee Halo, a tag that is ready for anything.

With an IP66 water and dust resistance rating and a chunky build, you can rest assured this tag isn't going to break even under duress. When things get stressful, the user can activate either a silent or loud alarm with a button combination or pull tab respectively, sending live tracking data to up to five users in your 'Safety Circle' for as long as the alarm is going.

This feature relies on Pebblebee's Alert Live service, which is free for a year with the purchase of a Halo, or $2.99/month or $24.99/year after that. Fortunately, you can also use a free tier that sends a static location to one contact when you sound the alarm, which may be all you need to feel more secure.

Geofencing is supported where available, which is good news if you use an iPhone, but not if you're on Android and use Google Find Hub. There's also no ultrawide band support, meaning you don't get the Precision Finding abilities of an AirTag, for instance.

Read our full Pebblebee Halo review

How to choose the best key finder

Here's the criteria to keep in mind when you're shopping for a key finder.

• Connectivity and range: The majority of the devices in our best key finder rankings connect to your phone over Bluetooth. That generally means ranges of 200 feet or so, though in our experience, many trackers top out at 100 feet. (That's just as well, as beyond a certain distance, it's hard to hear the alarm anyhow.)

The current Tile Pro promises a 500-foot range, though our testing produced numbers well short of that, while Samsung's Galaxy SmartTag 2 demonstrated an extensive reach in our tests. Both Apple and Samsung offer key finders that use Ultra Wideband tracking, which promises more precise tracking data.

• Alarm Sound: Check the decibel rating for the key finder. You'll want a good loud signal of at least 80 to 85 decibels so that you can hear your key finder over any ambient noise. In our testing, we've been impressed by the loudness of the Tile Pro, though the Chipolo Pop is the loudest of the bunch at 120 decibels.

• Other Features: Consider key finders that have two-way finding features, where you can press a button on the key finder to track down your phone. Some key finders also offer geofence features, where your phone will get an alert if your keys are ever out of range — the Chipolo Pop's out-of-range alerts are particularly impressive if you prize this capability. Tile's out-of-range alerts require a subscription and don't work as well in my opinion.

• Battery Life: Look up how long the battery will last on your key finder. If it's a replaceable battery, count on about six months, though Tile's Pro trackers try to stretch that out to a year before you have to swap in a new CR2032 battery. That's a fairly standard expectation for a CR2032-powered device.

Non-replaceable batteries should last longer and offer a clearly defined replacement program for when your device is running low on juice. The Tile and Tile Tracker, which have non-replaceable batteries, both claim to last three years.

• Tracking Multiple Items: Many of the companion apps for the devices we've reviewed here support multiple trackers, so that you can keep tabs on more than just one item. (You can track a purse, too, or a wallet, in addition to your keys.) Some products, like Tile, even let you share your tracker with another user, so that both of you can pinpoint the location of your keys. (Tile Premium gives you the ability to share your Tile tracker with unlimited users.) Tile now integrates with the Life360 app, extending features even further. Chipolo, meanwhile, offers support for both Apple's Find My and Google's Find Hub networks, increasing the chances that your lost keys will be recovered.

• Price: The average key finder costs between $20 and $30. A few, like the Tile Pro, cost $35, but offer longer range than standard key finders. You'll generally pay up for key finders with Ultra Wideband connectivity, which come in at around $30.

You'll also want to consider compatibility. The Bluetooth-based Samsung Galaxy SmartTag 2 will just work with Samsung's phones while the SmartTag Plus works with a more limited selection of devices. (Samsung phones dating back to the Galaxy S21 Plus, Galaxy S21 Ultra, and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra have the necessary Ultra Wideband connectivity as do more recent phones like the Galaxy S24 and S25 models.) Similarly, to get the most out of Apple's AirTag, you're going to need an iPhone 11 or later (excluding both the 2020 and 2022 iPhone SE and the iPhone 16e and iPhone 17e — those phones lack an Ultra Wideband chip.

How we test the best key finders

We put every key finder we review through a series of tests. To test the volume of the alarm, we bury the key finder in a clothes hamper filled with laundry and see how far we can walk away before the alarm becomes inaudible. We also check to how long the alarm sounds before shutting off.

To test range, we go to a public park and leave the key finder behind. We check every 10 feet until we lose the signal or can no longer hear the alarm. We also take note of how quickly the key finder re-establishes a connection with our phone once it's back in range. If a key finder promises a digital leash feature, we walk away, taking note of how long before we receive an out-of-range notification on our phone.

With some key finders now offering ranges beyond 100 feet, we also go to a local football field and check ranges on those trackers.

We consider the size and shape of each key finder. We also look at the ease of inserting a new battery into those devices with replaceable batteries; if the battery can't we replaced, we consider whether the key finder maker has a replacement program in place.

We also look at the design of the companion app for each key finder, and consider additional features such as two-way finding capabilities.

The summer of lost luggage. That’s what the summer of 2022 will probably be remembered for (that and the stiflingly hot weather). You have every reason to be worried about checking in your luggage. With most people waiting days or even weeks to retrieve their luggage from airports in Europe, UK and the US, it seems like the luggage conveyor belt loop has itself in knots.

Not all hope is lost though. With the global lost luggage crisis looming over summer plans worldwide, people are turning towards one innovative tech solution — trackers.

Some people have been lucky enough to get their bags in a day or two, others have found their bags thousands of miles away from them, and the really unlucky ones have not seen their luggage in weeks. Adding a tracker to your bag might just make the difference in knowing whether your luggage is at your destination, and can help you retrieve your bag that much faster.

Many people have taken to Twitter, Reddit and other social media platforms to share their experiences and complain against airlines. Airlines on the other hand appear short-staffed and out of their depth, not just with all the lost bags but also in addressing the large number of calls and complaints. 

The bottom line is that if you have to travel right now we would highly recommend not checking your bags because of the chaos at most airports. But if you really do need to, don’t rely on sticking your contact details to your bag — instead, use a tracker to locate it.

The summer savior comes in the form of Apple AirTags. These Tile-like trackers are the most reliable of the lot, and what I personally rely on while traveling.

How to use an AirTag to track your luggage

Apple’s AirTag connects to the iPhone’s built-in Find My app and is one of the best trackers available right now. It has a compact design, so it can fit in anywhere. 

In your luggage, we would recommend putting it inside your bag (rather than using a keychain to leave it hanging) so it doesn’t get damaged. 

Connect your AirTag to your iPhone by simply bringing the AirTag close to your phone. It will then walk you through the setup using the Find My app. The AirTag will connect to your phone through Bluetooth and it will then ask you to name the AirTag. You will then be asked to register the AirTag to your Apple ID and you're all set.

Once connected, you will be able to see the location of your AirTag on your Find My app.

You can also tap into the Precision Finding feature within the app that uses the U1 Ultra Wideband chip in newer Apple phones to provide more detailed directions on finding lost items.

Battery life is not a hassle, as the AirTag will last you well over a year on a single coin cell battery. 

The range of an AirTag, while listed to be 30 feet, is effectively much wider — if it's traveling close to other iPhones and iPads. This is how it will work in helping you track your bag. As long as an AirTag is within the (Bluetooth) range of Apple's Find My network or anybody’s iPhone or iPad, it can passively communicate with it. 

There are multiple privacy concerns with AirTags though, and Apple AirTag stalking is still a real danger. So we would say, be wary, but if you want to track your luggage this is a good option for around $99 for a pack of 4 AirTags — especially if you have more than one bag to keep track of.

How to track your luggage with Tile

Tile has a whole host of products like the Tile Pro or the Tile Mate to choose from. The Tile Pro (2022) is the new tracker from the company, and it's the best key finder in our list. But it is also extremely capable of tracking your luggage. 

Connect the Tile Pro to your phone using the Tile app. Like AirTag, it will connect using Bluetooth. There is a physical button on most Tile devices that can be pressed for two-way detection. So you can press the button on the device to find your phone or you can press the “Find” button within the Tile app and you will see your tracker's location. You can even play a sound to locate it.

This two-way tracking is useful for finding your keys or wallet but to locate your luggage miles away Tile, like Apple, connects to a Tile network and you will know on your app even if your bags are not around you.

Tile also claims that it can connect to your phone through the floor of the plane — for checked baggage. This can help determine if your luggage made your connecting flight.

Even at the baggage carousel, when your bag with the Tile inside gets close, the gray circle in your app will turn green, so you will know when your bag is getting close to you. Tile Pro will cost you $34, while Tile Mate is priced at $24.

You can also use some of the best key finders to track your bags like SmartTag and Chipolo as well. Pebblebee also has new accessories to track your belongings that integrate with Apple’s Find My app.

So if you can’t rely on airlines to reunite you with your luggage this summer, you can probably rely on these trackers to at least let you know where your bags currently are!

If you're an iPhone user who's constantly losing stuff, this is a deal you need to take advantage of. Rarely on sale, Apple's AirTag key finders are now $10 off.

For a limited time, you can get a 4-pack of AirTags for $89 at Amazon.  This works out to about $22 per tag, which is one of the best Apple deals around right now.

We consider Apple's AirTag to be the best key finder for iPhone users. It works seamlessly with newer iPhone models (iPhone 11 or later,) allowing you to use Precision Finding to track the exact location of your AirTag — or whatever you've attached it to.

In our Apple AirTag review, we gave the device high praise for its ease of use. Simply open the Find My app on your phone and you can use it to track the location of the AirTag. Once you get close to the AirTag, within around 20 feet, you will be able to use Precision Finding to get exact directions. The AirTag will also beep to give you an idea of its location, but it can be a little too quiet to be reliably heard if the AirTag is under something. Luckily, using the directions on the app will be enough to find your AirTag in most cases.

About the size of a coat button at 1.26-inches across, the AirTag is designed with all the usual flair Apple products are known for. And just like other Apple products, there are plenty of accessories on the market, too. Apple offers a range of keyrings and loops to keep your AirTags securely attached to your keys or luggage, which can be purchased separately.

Looking for more savings? Check out our list of the best Apple deals, plus the best Amazon deals for the sales to shop this month.

Apple AirTags can be very useful devices, but they’ve already proven themselves to be rather dangerous. A large swathe of people, the majority of whom are women, have reported issues with AirTag stalking since Apple launched the tracking tags last year. And the problem doesn’t seem to be getting better.

Last week actor Hannah Rose May, known for her roles in Nova Vita and Altered Carbon, shared her own tale of being tracked by a rogue AirTag for at least two hours.

"An Apple AirTag was put on me to track my location Saturday night. I’m sharing what happened to me so you know what to look for as I had never heard of this prior to Saturday night," the actor explained. 

The Independent contacted Apple for comment, but was directed to a statement already released back in February.

“AirTag was designed to help people locate their personal belongings, not to track people or another person’s property,” the statement says, “and we condemn in the strongest possible terms any malicious use of our products.”

Apple then goes on to talk about all the different systems it’s put in place to stop AirTag tracking, while also insisting that stalking is a problem that isn’t an AirTag-exclusive issue.

“Unwanted tracking has long been a societal problem, and we took this concern seriously in the design of AirTag. It's why the Find My network is built with privacy in mind, uses end-to-end encryption, and why we innovated with the first-ever proactive system to alert you of unwanted tracking. We hope this starts an industry trend for others to also provide these sorts of proactive warnings in their products.”

May appears to have been lucky, with Apple’s detection systems working as intended. The actor had attended an after-hours event at Disneyland, from 11.45 p.m. to 2 a.m. and only realized an AirTag had been placed on her person after an alert from the Find My app towards the end of the night. 

Apparently, May didn’t think anything of it until opening the notification, at which point she was informed an unknown AirTag had been tracking her for at least two hours. Fortunately, the device was disabled before she went home, and May had spent the night in a group.

“Airtags are the size of a coin. It’s scary how easy they are to slip into a pocket or purse. Originally created to locate your keys it’s evident they are being used for more bad than good,” May tweeted. “The happiest place on earth could of [sic] very easily turned into my worst nightmare.”

What can Apple do about this? 

May noted that users should be alerted sooner, and I’m inclined to agree. Two hours is an awfully long time for a random person to be able to track and monitor your location. The Find My app should be alerting people to the presence of unknown AirTags much sooner, and with alerts that are much more difficult to miss; almost impossible, in fact, because this stuff is important.

The problem isn’t specifically unique to Apple, since there are plenty of other trackers on sale. However, the popularity of iPhones, and the fact each device is a part of the Find My network, means AirTags are significantly easier to track accurately. Because no matter how similar products from the likes of Samsung or Tile might be, their networks don’t have that same level of reach.

Which is why Apple needs to be taking anti-stalking measures more seriously than it appears to be doing. People have been killed after being tracked by AirTags, and the response needs to be better than the equivalent of “people suck, what else can we do about it?”

Apple has pushed out multiple updates to AirTag’s anti-stalking measures since they launched, but there’s still a lot to be desired. The fact that it can take up to two hours to be alerted to the presence of a rogue tracker is a perfect example of that. Likewise, those alerts only pop up if you’re using an iPhone. 

Apple does offer the Tracker Detect app on Android, but it requires people to manually scan for nearby AirTags rather than doing it automatically. No matter how vigilant you are about your safety, having to constantly make your phone scan for rogue trackers sounds exhausting — and Apple can and should do better.

Of course, Google has a responsibility to add anti-tracker features to Android, which would ideally work the same way as Apple’s Find My system. However, that doesn’t appear to have been officially announced, and the onus is on Apple to ensure AirTags are not exploited in this way.

How can you avoid being stalked by AirTags?

If you’re worried about the possibility of being stalked by an AirTag, there are some things you can do. Our guide explaining how to tell if an AirTag is stalking you, goes into the subject in a lot more details, but here are the basics you need to know.

iPhone users: Rogue AirTags can be spotted by all iPhones up to (and including) the iPhone 6S — provided you have iOS 14.5 or newer software installed. You can make sure anti-stalking features are switched on in the Find My app, then tapping the Me icon in the bottom right and checking Item Safety Alerts is enabled.

Android users: It may be easy to install Apple’s Tracker Detect app, which is compatible with Android 9.0 and above, but as mentioned before this doesn’t scan automatically. You’re better off with a third party app like AirGuard, which works with Android 5.0 and above, and has the ability to detect AirTags and other Bluetooth-enabled trackers automatically.

AirTags will also start beeping if separated from their paired device for more than 24 hours. While it’s not an ideal solution to prevent stalking, given the time constraints, but it’s a better option than being tracked for an extended period.

What to do if you find a rogue AirTag 

If you do ever find an unknown AirTag on your person, you can deactivate it from the Find My app. Removing the battery also works, and is worth doing anyway to make sure the tag is completely disconnected from the Find My network.

To do this push down on the center of the AirTag’s back panel and spin counter clockwise. This will open up the back, letting you remove the CR2032 battery within. Doing this also revealed the tag’s serial number, which the police and Apple can use to track down the tag’s original owner. 

Once you’ve made a note of the serial number, make sure you don’t destroy or damage the AirTag. It’s evidence against whoever put it there, so be sure to file a report with the police and hand it over if asked.

Next: You can use your AirTag for good too, like to track your luggage while traveling and not lose your bags this summer.

Even in the face of safety concerns, the Apple AirTag could get a new version if the current model continues to sell well. 

That's according to analyst and accurate Apple tipster, Ming-Chi Kuo, who has predicted that a second-generation AirTag could be coming based on the fact that Apple's key finder is expected to hit 35m total units sold by the end of 2022. If sales continue at that high a level, it does seem likely that Apple would want to refresh the AirTag.

Of course, the idea of even more AirTags is perhaps more scary than exciting. If you've been following our coverage of the AirTag since it launched, you'll know that Apple's been struggling to stop the tracker from being used for illegal and dubious purposes, with a recent alleged murder reportedly linked to AirTag stalking, plus large numbers of other police reports referring to stalking via AirTags.

In fact, we've even argued in the past that Apple should stop selling the AirTag given the risk it poses. That goes especially for non-iPhone users, who can't detect errant AirTags as easily since many of Apple's security measures rely on using iOS.

Apple has responded to these events and criticisms with several software updates since February 2022 to enhance user protection, plus a dedicated Android app to help Android users manually scan for AirTags. It's still not enough though, and perhaps that's where a new version of the AirTags could help.

With the chance to revise the AirTag's hardware, Apple would have the chance to add in some tough new security measures to make misusing the trackers even more difficult. An update to make them easier for non-Apple devices to find them to, would also be critical. It wouldn't fix the problems caused by the current generation but it could help prevent more incidents in the future.

It could still be a few years until Apple decides to release an AirTag 2, if it happens at all. In the meantime, Apple needs to continue its software updates to make the current AirTag as safe as it can be.

If you're concerned about the risk of AirTags, we have a guide on how to tell if an AirTag is stalking you so you know how to look or listen out for unexpected tags and what to do if you find one. 

An Apple AirTag has reportedly been used by an Indiana woman to track down her boyfriend and, after a dispute, kill him. This appears to be the first death related to AirTag use. 

USA Today reported that in an affidavit it obtained, 26-year-old Gaylyn Morris told a witness that she used the tracking capabilities of an AirTag to follow her boyfriend, 26-year-old Andre Smith, to an Indianapolis bar. Having found Smith, the couple engaged in a heated argument, with Morris reportedly swinging an empty wine bottle at a woman Smith was with at the time. 

This led to the bar owner asking the three to leave, and then according to the court records seen by USA Today, Morris got into her car, which was parked outside, and clipped Smith with it. He fell to the ground, and Morris then "backed over Smith, then pulled forward and hit him for a third time." 

Smith was later pronounced dead at the scene, while Morris was detained by the police after she left the car and chased after the woman Smith was with. 

According to the Indianapolis Star, Morris was latter charged with murder. As such, this is the first reported incident of both a death and murder charge being linked to the ability of AirTags to be used to track people. 

Apple’s intended use of AirTags has been for users to keep track of their objects, say a keys, handbag or even a bicycle. Using AirTags in conjunction with an iPhone allows users to track down the objects the tags are attached to should they be misplaced, or in some cases stolen. 

However, there have been a swathe of reports that have seen AirTags used for darker purposes, specifically the tracking and subsequent stalking of people who may be unaware that they are carrying an AirTag or have one with them. 

Apple has made changes to try to make the AirTags safer and to thwart would-be stalkers. Updates include proactive alerts if an unknown AirTag is traveling with you, launching an Android app that notifies users of AirTags, and shortening the time window of when an AirTag chimes if it’s been separated from its owner from three days to between 8 and 24 hours. The alert chimes have also been recently boosted when an AirTag gets detected by an unpaired iPhone. 

But as this incident indicates, there’s clearly some work that needs to be done to make sure AirTags are used for tracking objects and not people. How Apple will be able to make that distinction remains unclear. And removing the chance that such tech could be used for unsavory purposes seems to be a problem without a solution at the moment. 

In fact, this has had our global editor-in-chief Mark Spoonauer to declare that it's time to pause sales of Apple AirTags, as he argued that they are too dangerous to exist in its current form. If you are worried about such insidious tracking, then here's how to tell if an AirTag is stalking you.  

Read Next: AirTag stalking continues to be a problem — and here's what you can do to protect yourself

Update: A woman reportedly used an AirTag to track and murder her boyfriend.

The Apple AirTag has been given another update to make it safer. As found in documentation for the latest AirTag firmware by MacRumors, Apple's introduced a much-needed improvement to its sound alert function to allow you to find unknown and unwanted AirTags more easily.

As the support document says, the firmware has "[tuned] the unwanted tracking sound to more easily locate an unknown AirTag." It also specifies you need iOS 14.5 or later to make use of the feature, the minimum iOS version required to use AirTags at all.

This change is one of several promised for the AirTag by Apple earlier this year and with unfortunately good reason. The AirTag has been involved in all too many stalking and harassment cases since it launched, and while Apple continues to put work into preventing the trackers from being used for intrusive and illegal purposes, the product still remains all too easy to abuse. In fact, TG's own Mark Spoonauer argued that Apple should halt AirTag sales until it enacts all these changes and ensures Android users aren't left vulnerable.

As explained in Apple's roadmap from February, users who get an alert for an unknown AirTag nearby can order the tag to play a sound to make it easier to find. Apple's adjustment means the AirTag will now play more of its loudest sounds when in this mode, hopefully making hunting down the tracking tag much quicker.

If you have an AirTag, you can double-check if it's fully updated by going into the Find My app, selecting the AirTag from your Items list, and seeing if it's running firmware version 1.0.301. If it isn't, leave the AirTag within Bluetooth range of your iPhone (about 33 feet/10 meters according to Apple) and the update should happen automatically.

Bear in mind that you may not have the update ready yet, as Apple has said the new firmware is rolling out gradually over the next couple of weeks, with all devices slated to receive it by May 13. If you're concerned in the meantime, here's how to tell if an AirTag is stalking you and what you can do about it right now.

If you’ve been following the news, Apple’s AirTags have continually been popping up in headlines for all the wrong reasons. These are just some of them:

• Woman stalked with Apple AirTag device in Montgomery County, police say 
• A tracking device made by Apple is showing up in suspected crimes
• Apple AirTags - 'A perfect tool for stalking'

But it’s this most recent headline from a Vice special report that has me wondering whether this product should even exist — at least in its current form: 

“Police Records Show Women Are Being Stalked With Apple AirTags Across the Country”

This in-depth special report shows that AirTags are being used to stalk and harass women. The site obtained 150 police records over an eight-month period from eight police departments.

According to Vice, “in 50 cases women called the police because they started getting notifications that their whereabouts were being tracked by an AirTag they didn’t own. Of those, 25 could identify a man in their lives—ex-partners, husbands, bosses—who they strongly suspected planted the AirTags on their cars in order to follow and harass them.”

Unsurprisingly, most of these cases involved exes. One woman reported that her ex had slashed her tiles and left an AirTag in the car. And another woman said she found AirTags attached to her car multiple times, and her ex (who has a history of assault) showed up to her locations at the same time the victim did. 

Apple has made a number of changes to try to make the AirTags safer and to thwart would-be stalkers. These include proactive alerts if an unknown AirTag is traveling with you, launching an Android app that notifies users of AirTags and shortening the time window of when an AirTag chimes when separated from its owner from three days to between 8 and 24 hours. 

But AirTags are still being used to stalk victims, which has raised questions around whether Apple has reacted quickly enough to the dangers these devices pose when in the wrong hands.

"Apple had considered mitigations for stalking but they simply hadn’t done enough," Eva Galperin, the director of cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, told me. "They had not consulted people who have worked directly with survivors and they had difficulty imagining the targeting of survivors who exist outside of the Apple ecosystem." 

In February, Apple announced other advancements coming to the AirTag and Find My Network. One is a privacy warning during setup that's part of iOS 15.4 that stalkers will just ignore.

But other changes coming "later this year" should help. Precision finding will help iPhone 11, iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 users to see the distance and direction to an unknown AirTag, thereby making them easier to find. Apple will also display an alert on your phone when an unknown AirTag near you makes a sound, and is also working on making the sound itself louder.

But all of these changes don’t help the women who are being stalked right now. And Android users are particularly vulnerable, because they would have to know to download the Apple Tracker Detect app to protect themselves and perform a manual scan. 

"Having to download an app and run a scan every single time is not parity with the kind of detection that you get in iOS," said Galperin. "If you live outside of Apple’s walled garden, you do not receive the same protections from Apple’s products."

Avi Greengart, founder and lead analyst at Techsponential, says that the "vast majority" of people are using AirTags productively to keep tracker of their bags, valuables, and even children who may wonder off. But he agrees that AirTags have an Android problem.

"Apple has adjusted AirTag functionality within the Apple ecosystem," Greengart shared over email. "Where change needs to occur is on Android to ensure that they get zero-setup alerts."

Google is reportedly looking to build a Bluetooth tracker into the Android OS itself, according to 9to5Google, but that's not official and there’s no timetable for a release.

I would strongly argue that AirTags should be pulled from the market until Apple is able to implement all of the changes it has promised — and until there is a device detection scanner built directly into the Android operating system. 

In its February press release, Apple touted the main benefits of AirTags when used properly, such as finding a lost wallet or tracking down critical medicine. But I don't think any of these positive uses outweigh the safety of women who are being stalked. 

As Albert Fox Cahn, executive director at the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, told Vice, “the only solution is to stop selling and supporting AirTags. This product is far too dangerous to stay on the market.” 

What the EFF's Galperin is asking for is for every maker of a physical tracker to agree on a standard that allows both iOS and Android to recognize them and always look for them in the background. We're just not there yet.

It’s time for Apple to stop reacting and to press the reset button on AirTags before someone gets killed. In the meantime, see our guide on how to tell if an AirTag is stalking you — and what you can do about it. 

Edit (April 29): Since the publishing of this article, Apple has released new firmware for the AirTag that increases the volume of its alert tone when detected by an unpaired iPhone.

Read next: Apple AirTags are continuing to be used maliciously, and Apple needs to do more about it

Update: A woman reportedly used an AirTag to track and murder her boyfriend. Plus despite continuing safety concerns, Apple could end up making an AirTag 2 if it continues to sell well.

Ever since the launch of Apple's AirTags last year, we’ve been hearing stories about how they’re being used for an unintended purpose: stalking. It's been a particular problem for women, and now it seems it may be even more serious than people realized. So much so that it could be time to take Apple AirTags off the market.

That's according to research by Motherboard, which got hold of reports from eight major police departments, covering a period of eight months. In that time there were 150 reports that mentioned AirTags, 50 of which came from women who had received notifications that a rogue AirTag was tracking them.

Half of those 50 women suspected a man in their lives may have been responsible for planting the AirTag — with the goal of following and harassing them. In one case, a woman had called the police because a man had escalated his harassment; the report records her as saying he’d placed an AirTag in her car and threatened to “make her life hell”.

Other cases involved an angry ex slashing a woman’s tires and leaving an AirTag in her car, plus a woman who reported finding AirTags attached to her car on multiple occasions. She claimed it was her ex, who has a history of assault, since he was able to show up at places at the same time as her.

Ex-partners mysteriously appearing is a recurring story in the reports, as are fears and threats that the person planting the AirTag intended to inflict physical harm. However, some reports came from women in an active relationship with the man stalking them, some of whom became violent when confronted about it.

Of the 150 reports, only one involved a man who suspected his ex-girlfriend was stalking him with an AirTag. Less than half of the reports mention AirTags being involved in some sort of robbery. 

It’s worth emphasizing that these reports came from just eight police jurisdictions, of the thousands that exist in the United States. It also doesn’t take into account any of the other countries where AirTags are on sale. In other words, the 50 stalking reports are likely just scratching the surface.

What is Apple doing about it?

Apple has faced criticism over AirTags and their ability to be used for criminal purposes — particularly stalking. iOS has had a feature that automatically detects unfamiliar AirTags since the fobs launched in April 2021, and it's received multiple updates since, but it’s clear that isn’t enough. 

For starters, it ignores the fact Android users exist, and may be subject to AirTag stalking. Knowing an AirTag is following you is also not as helpful as being able to track it down. Apple did launch the Tracker Detect app to Android at the end of last year. Unfortunately, the app doesn’t work automatically, like it does on iPhone; the user needs to actively scan for nearby AirTags, which doesn't help much if you have no idea you are being stalked.

Apple has also promised to launch a precision-tracking feature to help victims hunt down unknown trackers. This should also make it clearer if someone is potentially being tracked with an AirTag. 

Sadly, this feature isn’t set to arrive until later this year, and Apple only announced support for iPhone 11, iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 devices — presumably because it relies on ultrawide band technology that isn’t available in other devices.

Clearly more needs to be done to prevent this kind of abuse from occurring. Soon Google may have plans to add an OS-level tracker detector to Android, which will be a helpful tool to have, but it's not available to help people that are being stalked right now.

How can you avoid AirTag stalking?

AirTags work by using Apple's Find My network, which means that every iPhone that passes into range can pick up AirTag signals and automatically relay them to Apple. Given the number of iPhones in use at any given time, it's therefore very easy to track down where an AirTag is.

This is great for finding lost keys, but it also make AirTags an effective and low-cost weapon for stalkers. More so than if the perpetrator were to use something like a Tile, which doesn't have the same reach as Apple's network does.

It pays to know how to protect yourself, and how to flag unfamiliar AirTags that may be following you around. We have a detailed guide explaining how to tell if an AirTag is stalking you, but here are the basics.

iPhone users: Anyone rocking an iPhone 6S or newer can flag unknown AirTags, provided they have iOS 14.5 or a more recent update. Head to the Find My app, tap the Me icon in the bottom right and make sure Item Safety Alerts is enabled.

Android users: There are two options for you. The first is Apple's own Tracker Detect app, though this requires you to manually scan for stray AirTags and requires Android 9.0 or above. 

If you'd prefer something automatic, try AirGuard. This will periodically scan for stray AirTags and it works on older devices up to Android 5.0. It can also detect trackers by other companies such as Tile.

Everyone else: If you don't have a smartphone, or your phone is too old for a dedicated tracker-detection app, you don't have many options. But an AirTag will start beeping if it's separated from its paired iPhone or iPad for more than 24 hours — so listen out for any unexpected chirping sounds. This is not a foolproof solution, as the beeping isn't terribly loud, but it is better than being totally oblivious to its presence for extended periods.

Found a rogue AirTag? Be sure to grab the serial number, either from the detection app or by removing the AirTag's back panel, before proceeding to deactivate it.

To do this, push down on the center of the back panel and spin counter clockwise. This opens up the AirTag, letting you remove the battery inside. Once done, you should report the incident and the AirTag's serial number to the police. Apple can then use the number to track down the AirTag's owner.

Google may be giving Android the ability to detect Apple AirTags and other Bluetooth trackers by default, and without downloading any other apps.

9to5Google examined code found within the latest version of Google Play Services and found evidence of Google seemingly working on a detection system for trackers. Specifically, it found references to “Unfamiliar device alerts” and  “Unfamiliar Tag Detected Notification” features, as well as mentions of "Tile tag" and "ATag," which sound like specific identifiers for Tile trackers and Apple AirTags. 

Beyond these notifications, another string of code suggests that users will be able to ring the tag too to help them figure out its precise location.

Having this ability enabled by default in Android itself would make it much easier to find errant tags, and bring some welcome peace of mind to users. AirTag safety is a widespread concern right now because it's been proven to easily to track people without their knowledge with the tag.

Apple has made changes with the new iOS 15.4 update that makes it easier to find errant AirTags, but that doesn't help out Android users. Instead it offers the Tracker Detect Android app that allows users to scan for AirTags nearby. And Tile has done something similar with its Scan and Secure feature, which can be used on the Tile app even without an account. 

However, both of these only work when activated manually rather than continuously in the background, and the Tile version requires you to move locations as you scan.

Google could still be some way off making this feature live, or it may decide to drop the idea entirely. However, with Android 13 due to launch in a couple of months, we'll be keeping a close eye on if it features a Google-made answer to the problem of unwanted tracking.

Despite Apple's best efforts to the contrary, the company's AirTag trackers have become a convenient, cheap and effective way to stalk people ever since the tiny tracking devices were released in April 2021.

AirTags use Apple's Find My network so that nearby iPhones and iPads can pick up their signals and relay them to Apple, along with the location. The AirTag owner is then notified where the AirTag is. 

Since there are nearly a billion iPhones being used worldwide, an AirTag can be precisely located by its owner anywhere there are people with iPhones nearby  —even underground or in buildings.

Near-constant local-news reports of apparent AirTag stalking, stories that show how easy it is to stalk someone using AirTags, and, most recently, two state attorneys general issuing consumer warnings about AirTag stalking have led Apple to recently promise to update its apps to make detecting and finding rogue AirTags more effective. 

The first updates, such as a new legal warning pop-up and more specific, un-disableable warning messages, are now live in the new iOS 15.4 beta. However, most of those changes won't be ready for months. And while Google seems to be working on a built-in tracker detector for Android, that doesn't seem anywhere near done either. The problem is such that we think it's time to take Apple AirTags off the market.

In the meantime, here's what you can do to make sure someone else's AirTag isn't stalking you.

Make sure you can detect AirTags on an iPhone

If you have an iPhone 6s or later, update your device to the latest possible version of iOS. 

Devices with at least iOS 14.5 installed will receive notifications about nearby AirTags and other devices that use the location services of Apple's Find My network. You'll get notifications only if those devices have been separated from their paired iPhones or iPads and have been following your own iPhone or iPad's movements for a few hours. 

Make sure you've enabled notifications about unknown Find My devices. Go into the Find My app on your iPhone or iPad, tap the Me icon in the bottom right, and scroll down to make sure that "Item Safety Alerts" is toggled on.

Make sure you can detect AirTags on an Android phone

If you have an Android phone, download the AirGuard app from the Google Play store, install it and turn on Bluetooth. AirGuard is compatible with Android 5.0 Lollipop and later, so most Android phones and tablets released after 2012 should support it.

AirGuard will periodically scan around you and give you the same kind of notifications about rogue Find My devices that iOS 14.5 provides for iPhone users. (Apple's own Tracker Detect Android app is less useful because it doesn't scan automatically and requires at least Android 9.0 Pie.)

Once AirGuard is installed and updated, iPhone and Android users will be on roughly equal footing, at least for the moment. But the anti-stalking changes that Apple has promised for later in 2022 will mostly help iPhone users.

Google may be working on its own anti-stalking functionality for Android, based on code found in a new version of Google Play Services. This isn't an official feature though, and may not go live for some time.

How to detect AirTags if you have no smartphone, or a very old one

If you don't have a smartphone, or you're using one that can't update to iOS 14.5 or Android 5, then the only kind of notification you'll receive that someone else's AirTag is in your immediate vicinity is a persistent chirp. 

An AirTag will begin chirping 24 hours after it's been separated from its paired iPhone or iPad. It doesn't have to be "moving with you" — it could just be lost. 

Compared to the notifications that modern iPhone users get after a few hours, this 24-hour waiting period does put at a disadvantage people without smartphones, Android users without AirGuard, and users of iPhone 6 or earlier when it comes to being notified about about possible stalking attempts using AirTags. 

iPhone notifications that mean an AirTag may be tracking you

Apple's notification system about rogue AirTags can be a bit confusing. It's meant to detect all Find My devices, including AirTags, AirPods, and third-party devices like dog collars and electric bikes, that have been separated for at least a few hours from their paired iPhones and are mirroring your iPhone's movements.

The notifications may display the words "Unknown Device Detected," "Unknown Accessory Detected," "Unknown AirTag Detected," "Item Detected Near You," "AirTag Found Moving With You" or something similar. They will also display a map of your general area to show how the device has been moving along with you.

But you'll need to figure out if the detected device is really a threat. For example, "Unknown Device Detected," a message that's turned up in several reports of AirTag stalking, could just indicate a lost pair of AirPods on your bus or train. 

Theoretically, a pair of AirPods could also be used to track you, but that's unlikely as they cost at least six times as much as a $29 AirTag. If the rightful owner of the AirTag, AirPods or other tracking device has marked them as lost, then you may see a message in the iPhone notification about how to contact the owner.

Apple plans to soon specify, as best it can, exactly what your iPhone is detecting. Your phone should already tell you if it's pretty certain the device is an AirTag, and a few months from now, some messages may say "AirPods Pro detected." 

If the iPhone can't tell exactly what it's detecting, the notification will still be "Unknown Device Detected" or "Unknown Accessory Detected" even if it's actually an AirTag.

Android notifications that mean an AirTag may be stalking you

On Android, the AirGuard app will pop up a notification on your screen that "A tracker was discovered!" Tap the notification and you'll get a display of the detected devices's MAC address (i.e, the unique ID of its Bluetooth chip). 

You'll also see the date and time of when the device was first and was most recently detected, plus a map and timeline showing how it's been mirroring your movements. 

Apple's Tracker Detect app for Android is more bare-bones. You have to start the scan manually, and while you're not going to be doing that all day, it might be wise to do so when you leave a crowded public place such as a bar, restaurant, shopping mall or concert venue.

If Tracker Detect finds a possible rogue AirTag, it will display the words "Unknown AirTag" and tell you how long ago it was spotted. But you won't get a map or a timeline.

Sounds that may mean an AirTag is stalking you

As stated above, an AirTag will start chirping if it's been separated from its paired iPhone or iPad for more than 24 hours, whether it's just lost or it's actively tracking you. This is the only way that someone without a smartphone, or whose smartphone died, can detect an AirTag. 

However, that chirp isn't terribly loud. It might be hard to hear if the AirTag is in a coat pocket, a bulky purse, inside packed luggage or on the outside of car. And there's already a gray market that resells AirTags whose speakers have been disconnected.

Apple seems to have made the volume of the lost-AirTag sound louder as of an update rolling out through the end of April/beginning of May, which will make this more reliable.

What to do if you detect a rogue AirTag

If you get a notification on your phone of an unknown device or tracker, or you hear an AirTag chirping, what you do next depends on whether you're home. 

If you're traveling, don't go straight home just yet. You need to find the device and possibly disable it first. If you're already home, you need to find it as quickly as possible. There are several ways.

The most obvious one is to follow the sound of the chirps. You may have to empty coat pockets or purses, remove cushions from sofas, or examine the outside of a car. (Check inside the gas-cap door or behind a license plate.)

If you've got an iPhone running iOS 14.5 or later, you can force the device to start chirping right from the notification alerts on your phone. The same goes for Android phones with AirGuard or Tracker Detect installed, although the former lets you force chirps immediately, while Apple's app makes you wait 10 minutes.

If your iPhone runs iOS 15.2 or later, then you can wirelessly disable the AirTag right from the notification screen without physically finding it. 

For everyone else, you've got to find the actual device, and for now that means following the chirps. 

Later this year, Apple will roll out an update to the Precision Finding for iPhone 11 and later devices. This will use those phones' UltraWideBand chips to display on the screen how far you are from the AirTag and in which direction it is — a feature that at the moment works only with AirTags legitimately paired with your iPhone.

What to do if you find a rogue AirTag

Once you find the AirTag, don't destroy it. First, you want to get the serial number, which may be displayed in the rogue-AirTag notifications you get on an iPhone; the serial number can also be found by tapping an NFC-enabled Android phone against the AirTag.

After that's done, you can disable the AirTag by pushing down on the center of the back panel and twisting the panel counterclockwise. The panel will pop off, and inside is a standard CR2302 watch battery that you can just pop out. 

Think twice about doing this, though, because it's possible that the AirTag (or other device) was lost in good faith, and disabling it means that its rightful owner won't be able to use Find My to locate their missing item.

The serial number is also printed inside the back panel. Apple recommends that you go to the police and report the incident along with the AirTag's serial number, which will let Apple track down the rightful (and possibly wrongheaded) owner.

It's also important to remember that it's not just AirTags; your smartphone location data is being shared and sold, so knowing how to turn off location tracking is more important than ever.

Correction: An earlier version of this story overstated the possible ways of disabling someone else's AirTag. The only current way to do so is to remove the battery. Tom's Guide regrets the error.

The latest iOS 15.4 beta has begun the process of making AirTag trackers more stalker-proof, with the first batch of changes Apple promised now usable in the in-development software.

As reported by MacRumors, most  noticeable among these changes is a new pop-up that appears during the AirTag set-up process. It shows your Apple ID profile picture and email address, and warns you that using these tags is a crime in many countries and that your details are available on the AirTag if it's discovered by a stalking victim or the authorities.

Beyond that, it's now no longer possible to disable Item Safety Alerts outright, only customize how the notifications appear. This means you can't force someone's iPhone to ignore these alerts if you manage to access it.

Also, other Find My-compatible devices like AirPods are now properly identified in the Find My app. This should make it more obvious to a user receiving a warning if they should be concerned about an alert or not.

Apple's AirTags have been popping up frequently in news stories about cases of AirTags stalking, so these changes are a good start. More is needed to make the AirTag truly difficult to use secretly or criminally while still keeping it functional for innocent purposes, but Apple has further plans to beef up AirTags anti-stalking measures. These include making the AirTag's built-in speakers louder, introducing Precision Finding for unknown AirTags, and software improvements that will allow the identification of malicious AirTags faster.

The other noteworthy change in this beta is a new fifth American English voice for Siri. Other features introduced in previous iOS 15.4 betas include the long-awaited Universal Control feature for navigating between your iPhone, iPad and Mac with a single keyboard and mouse, or an update to Face ID that will allow you to use it while wearing a mask.

If you want to try out these features now, you can download the beta by signing up as a developer. However, even when Apple releases a public beta for iOS 15.4, we don't recommend trying out beta software on your main devices.