AirTag Detected Near You? Here’s How to Find It

Apple AirTags are a great tool to help you keep track of items like your wallet, keys, or backpack. However, they can also be used by untrustworthy individuals to track people without their knowledge or consent. Learn how to find an AirTag in the Find My app to prevent unwanted tracking and how to disable an AirTag that may be found near you.

Why You'll Love This Tip

• Enjoy greater peace of mind when you know how to scan for an AirTag that someone may be using to track you.
• Disable iPhone AirTags you discover from tracking your location through the Find My app.

How Apple AirTags Keep You Safe from Stalkers

AirTags have raised some concerns about the potential for unwanted location tracking, especially since they're so small that you may not notice if one has been planted on you or in your belongings. Fortunately, several safety measures exist to prevent this. First, AirTags that are away from their registered owner for a certain amount of time will start making a very noticeable alarm sound, so you can tell if one is near you and disable it. Second, an AirTag found moving with you, even for a short time, will cause an AirTag notification on your iPhone, alerting you that there's an unknown AirTag nearby. Finally, Apple has introduced the ability to scan for AirTags near you, just in case you think one is close by but hasn't yet triggered an alert on your iPhone.

How to Know If an AirTag Is Tracking You

We'll show you how to use Apple AirTag security features to keep yourself safe from unwanted tracking. To learn more about privacy and security for your Apple devices, sign up for our free Tip of the Day newsletter, and you'll automatically be subscribed to Security Friday, our newsletter dedicated to privacy and security. Now, here's how to find AirTags traveling with you:

1. If you receive one, tap the AirTag Found Moving With You notification and skip to Step 6. Otherwise, move on to step 2.
2. If you don't get a tracking notification on your iPhone but think an unwanted AirTag may be nearby, open the Find My app.
3. Tap Items.
4. Tap Unknown Items Detected with You. If you don't see this option, then your iPhone has not detected any AirTags nearby and you won't need to scan.
5. Tap Unknown AirTag. Note: Other Find My-enabled devices besides AirTags can be used to track you. For example, you might see Unknown AirPods instead.
6. You will see a map of the AirTag's location (including a path showing it moving with you if applicable), along with the exact time that this AirTag was detected. If an unwanted AirTag is found moving with you, I strongly recommend that you screenshot this screen in case you need it for legal purposes later.
7. Swipe up on the menu below the map to see more options to find and disable the unwanted AirTag.
8. If an AirTag is detected near you but you can't find it, tap Play Sound to see if you can hear where the AirTag is hidden via the sound of the alarm.
9. If you realize the AirTag found moving with you is actually a trusted AirTag (like one belonging to a friend you're currently hanging out with), tap Pause Tracking Notifications.
10. Next, tap Pause for Today.
11. To learn more about the unknown AirTag, tap Learn About This AirTag.
12. Hold the AirTag to the top of your iPhone, and tap the notification that appears.
13. You'll see a webpage with the AirTag's serial number and the last four digits of the owner's phone number.
14. To learn how to disable an unknown AirTag, tap Instructions to Disable AirTag and follow the on-screen prompts.

​That's how to detect AirTags! Now that you know how to scan for AirTags on your iPhone and disable them, you can move about your day with more peace of mind. Remember that if you do find an unwanted AirTag moving with you, it's a good idea to screenshot your findings, follow the steps to identify the AirTag, and report the information to local law enforcement.