AirTag: Everything you need to know about Apple’s tracking device

Apple opened up its Find My network to third-party device makers, but that’s not stopping the company from making its own item tracker. We’ve heard rumors about AirTag since around 2019, and the company has finally released them. They’re pretty simple, really: You add the AirTag to your account, attach it to some object, and then the Find My app will tell you where it is in the Items tab.

Since nearly all modern Apple products can passively (and privately) use their Bluetooth radios to locate lost devices, you’ll have a pretty good chance of locating something that you accidentally leave somewhere. You can locate devices in real time, and also set a device to “Lost Mode,” which will notify you and display an optional phone number and message on the screen of whatever Apple got near enough to “find” it.

Here’s what you need to know about Apple’s own tracking devices.

AirTag costs $29 each

Little Bluetooth trackers are nothing new. Tile has been making them for years, and Apple even just announced that the Chipolo One Spot, coming in June, would support the Find My network. If you want an item tracker, what you care about are things like size, durability, the scale of the network, and price.

Apple’s first-party trackers cost $29 each. That’s even less than the $35 Tile Pro and about on par with Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag+. Apple lets you buy a four-pack for $99. Orders start on Friday, April 23, 2021, and they ship on April 30.

You use the Find My app

You don’t need a new app to use AirTag. They’ll show up as Items in the Find My app, newly updated for anyone with iOS 14.3, iPadOS 14.3, and macOS Big Sur 11.1.

AirTag require an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch

Though Find My works on a Mac, and MacBooks are a part of the Find My network, you’ll need an iPhone or iPod Touch running iOS 14.5 or later, or iPad running iPadOS 14.5 or later in order to set up your AirTag.

Once set up, AirTag work with all modern Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, iPod Touch devices, and MacBooks. You’ll be able to use Find My on all these devices to locate the objects you’ve attached an AirTag to. What’s more, all these devices are used to create the Find My network—hundreds of millions of Apple devices that all register the locations of your items whenever they pass within Bluetooth range.

The U1 chip allows for Precision Finding

You don’t need an iPhone with the U1 chip (the iPhone 11 or iPhone 12) in order to use AirTags. But if you have one, you can use a feature called Precision Finding. It uses the accelerometer, cameras, and more to direct you to the exact location of your tag. An arrow appears on the screen to show the direction and distance.

AirTag protects your privacy

As is true with all devices on the Find My network—from iPhones to e-bikes—there is no personally-identifiable information shared with anyone at any time. Apple uses end-to-end encryption and unique random identifiers, so it never knows which devices belong to which people. Only your devices know which identifiers are yours. What’s more, Apple only sends location information when it’s requested and only retains it for 24 hours. Unless you have Lost Mode enabled, other users never know which devices they have come across.

Learn more about Find My and privacy on Apple’s support site.

AirTag and stalking controversy

Not long after the AirTag release in April 2021, several reports appeared in the media about the AirTag being used to track people unwillingly and unknowingly. In one report, 150 cases that involved stalking with an AirTag were recorded by eight U.S. police departments. How many total reported cases in the U.S. of all police departments is not known.

Apple released a statement in February 2021 that addressed unwanted AirTag tracking. “AirTag was designed to help people locate their personal belongings, not to track people or another person’s property,” said Apple, “and we condemn in the strongest possible terms any malicious use of our products.” The statement also said that the company works with law enforcement and the company announced new features (listed below) in response to the concern.

AirTag privacy updates

These are the AirTag enhancements announced in response to unwanted AirTag tracking.

Warnings during setup of a new AirTag that states that the device is meant to track personal belonging and that tracking people is a crime in many regions. It also states that AirTag is designed to be detected by victims and that police may request indemnifying information about an AirTag owner.

The “Unknown Accessory Detected” alert says if a set of AirPods is travelling with the user. This AirTag information was previously not included. (Included in the AirTag Firmware Update 2.0.24.)

Precision Finding, which allows a user with an iPhone 11 or later to find an unknown AirTag more precisely. (Included in the AirTag Firmware Update 2.0.24.)

When an AirTag is detected, an alert sounds and is accompanied by an alert on and iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch screen, allowing a user to play sounds or use Precision Finding.

Tuning the unwanted tracking alerts so that it is louder. (Included in the AirTag Firmware Update 1.0.301.)

Updated the unwanted tracking alert system logic so that it alerts a user earlier than before about an unknown AirTag.

Updated support document to better explain the AirTag safety features.

Unknow AirTag alert on Android

In May 2024, Apple and Google made a joint announcement of the Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers specification. This allows users to get alerts about unwanted trackers, regardless of the platform. For example, this specification allows Android users to get alerts about AirTags, and iPhone users can get alerts for trackers made by Chipolo, Eufy, Jio, Motorola, and Pebblebee.

This capability was included in the iOS 17.5 update and Android 6.0+.

You can personalize your AirTag

When you order your AirTag, you can personalize each tag with free engraving, including 31 different Emoji.

AirTag holders cost more than AirTag

AirTag has no holes or clips or other means of attaching to your devices. Don’t worry, Apple will sell you one! The least expensive of which is the Polyurethane Loop (in four colors), which costs $29. The Leather Key Ring costs $35 and comes in three colors, and the Leather Loop comes in two colors and costs $39.

There will probably be a large third-party market of AirTag holders, clips, loops, and other attachment devices that are more affordable.

How to setup AirTag

AirTag is really easy to set up. Here are the steps. You can also see how it’s done in the video below.

When you take the AirTag out of the box it has an insert to prevent the battery from connecting. Once you remove the insert, the battery connects and AirTag turns on.

Place the AirTag near your iPhone, and the iPhone will sense it and automatically launch the setup process.

Give the AirTag a name.

Register with your Apple ID.

AirTag is all set. Now attach it to your item.

When will Apple release a new version of AirTag?

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported in May 2024 that Apple will be upgrading the AirTag in the middle of 2025. The update will involve “a better chip with improved location tracking.”

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