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If you get a notification saying an AirTag or another device was detected near you, your iPhone is letting you know of a nearby device sharing your location. Luckily, Apple has safety measures to help you find the tracking device so you can locate and disable it. Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through what tracking notifications mean, how to turn them on, and what to do when one appears on your iPhone.
How to Enable iPhone Tracking Notifications
Turn on Location Services and Find My iPhone from your iPhone’s Privacy & Security settings. Switch on Bluetooth and make sure airplane mode is turned off. Then, go to Settings > Notifications > Tracking Notifications and turn them on.
Steps
What to Do if You Receive Tracking Notifications
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1Tap the notification to locate the device. When a tracking notification appears on your screen, tap it to open the Find My app on your phone. Click on Continue to see where your phone first detected the device and where it has tracked your location.[4]
- From there, you can click Play Sound to make the device play an audible noise so you’re able to find it.
- Alternatively, use Find Nearby to turn on precision tracking, which will point you in the direction of the device.
- If you missed the notification, open the Find My app, select Items, and then choose Items Detected With You to see what devices triggered the notification.
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2Pause the safety alerts if you know who the device belongs to. If you’re borrowing something from a person you know and are not worried about the AirTag or device, then select Pause Safety Alerts from the menu. This stops any tracking notifications from appearing on your iPhone so they aren’t a nuisance.[5]
- You can choose to pause alerts for a single day or turn them off indefinitely.
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3Scan the device with your phone to access its information. Hold the device up to the top of your iPhone and wait for a notification to appear at the top of your screen. Tap on the notification to open a Safari window that displays information like the serial number, the last 4 digits of the device owner’s phone number, or a blurred email address.[6]
- Take a screenshot when you open it to save the information so you don’t have to open the page again.
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4Reach out to the device’s owner if it’s marked as lost. Check the device info page to see if the owner has marked it as lost. If they did, they may have provided a phone number or email address so you’re able to contact them. Let the owner know you found the device so you can figure out a way to return it to them.[7]
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5Disable unfamiliar devices and contact law enforcement. If you’re unsure of who the device belongs to and you don’t want it tracking your location, click on Instructions to disable to learn how to turn the device off completely. Follow the steps on the screen to stop the device from sharing your location. Then, if you’re worried about your safety, contact your local police to let them know you found a tracking device.[8]
- You may have to provide the device’s serial number so law enforcement can work with Apple to find who it belongs to.
Expert Q&A
Tips
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If you have an Android phone, it will detect trackers if you’re running 6.0 or later. Alternatively, you can download the Tracker Detect app to locate AirTags, AirPods, and other Bluetooth devices that move with you.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-lk/guide/personal-safety/ips139b15fd9/web
- ↑ https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/05/apple-and-google-deliver-support-for-unwanted-tracking-alerts-in-ios-and-android/
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-lk/guide/personal-safety/ips139b15fd9/web
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-lk/guide/personal-safety/ips139b15fd9/web
- ↑ https://youtu.be/mGh7-IuPRR4?t=55
- ↑ https://youtu.be/tOWk1TBq-Ek?t=20
- ↑ https://youtu.be/tOWk1TBq-Ek?t=30
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-lk/guide/personal-safety/ips139b15fd9/web
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102420