Have you ever lost your keys, wallet, backpack, or any other item and wished you could find it easily? If so, you are not alone. According to a study, the average person spends 2.5 days a year looking for misplaced items. That’s why Apple has created AirTag, a small and elegant device that can help you locate your belongings with your iPhone or iPad. In this article, we will explain what AirTag is, how it works, what are its benefits, and how it protects your privacy.
Table of Contents
What is AirTag?
AirTag is a tracking device developed by Apple. It is designed to act as a key finder, which helps people find personal objects (e.g. keys, bags, apparel, small electronic devices, vehicles). AirTag is a circular metal disc that measures 31.9 mm in diameter and 8 mm in thickness. It weighs 11 grams and has a user-replaceable CR2032 battery that can last up to a year. AirTag can be attached to your items using various accessories, such as key rings, loops, and holders. You can also personalize your AirTag with free engraving of text and emojis at the Apple Store.
Some of the features of AirTag are:
- It uses Bluetooth, Ultra Wideband, and NFC to connect with the Find My network and send your location to iCloud.
- It has a built-in speaker that can play a sound to help you find it nearby.
- It supports Precision Finding, which uses the U1 chip in iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 models to show you the distance and direction to your AirTag.
- It can be shared with up to five people, so friends and family can keep track of items everyone uses.
- It has built-in privacy features that prevent unwanted tracking and alert you if someone else’s AirTag is with you.
How Does AirTag Work?
AirTag works with the Find My app on your iPhone or iPad. The Find My app has a new Items tab, where you can see all your AirTags and their locations on a map. You can also name your AirTags, check their battery status, play a sound, enable Lost Mode, and erase them remotely.
There are two ways to find your AirTag: Precision Finding and Find Nearby.
Precision Finding
Precision Finding is a feature that uses the U1 chip in iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 models to show you the exact distance and direction to your AirTag. When you tap on an AirTag in the Find My app, you will see an arrow pointing toward it and a number indicating how far it is. You will also get haptic feedback and sound cues to guide you. Precision Finding works best when you are within 40 feet (12 meters) of your AirTag.
Find Nearby
Find Nearby is a feature that uses Bluetooth to play a sound on your AirTag’s speaker. This can help you locate it if it is hiding nearby, such as under the couch or in the next room. To use Find Nearby, you need to tap on an AirTag in the Find My app and then tap on Play Sound. You will hear a chirping sound coming from your AirTag. Find Nearby works within Bluetooth range, which is about 33 feet (10 meters).
Benefits of Using AirTag
AirTag can offer you many benefits, such as:
- Easily find lost items: AirTag can help you find your items quickly and easily, whether they are nearby or far away. You can use Precision Finding, Find Nearby, or the Find My network to locate your AirTag on a map. You can also enable Lost Mode, which will notify you when your AirTag is found by someone else. You can also display your contact information on your AirTag so that the finder can contact you by tapping it with an NFC-capable smartphone.
- Personal safety: AirTag can also help you protect yourself and your loved ones. You can attach an AirTag to your keys, wallet, backpack, or any other item that you carry with you. If you ever feel unsafe or need help, you can use the Find My app to share your location with your emergency contacts. You can also use Siri to ask for directions to your AirTag, in case you get lost or need to find your way back.
- Advanced tracking technology: AirTag uses the latest technology to provide you with accurate and reliable tracking. It uses Bluetooth, Ultra Wideband, and NFC to communicate with your iPhone or iPad. It also uses the Find My network, which is a crowdsourced network of hundreds of millions of Apple devices around the world. These devices can detect your AirTag and relay its location to iCloud, without compromising your privacy or data usage. This way, you can track your AirTag even if it is out of your range.
Privacy and Concerns
AirTag is designed to protect your privacy and prevent unwanted tracking. Some of the privacy features and concerns are:
- Built-in privacy features: AirTag has several features that ensure that only you can see where your AirTag is. Your location data and history are never stored on the AirTag itself. They are encrypted and sent to iCloud, where they are accessible only by you. The devices that relay the location of your AirTag also stay anonymous and do not share any personal information with Apple or anyone else. AirTag also uses rotating identifiers, which change frequently and prevent anyone from tracking your AirTag without your permission.
- Potential misuse by others: AirTag is designed to discourage unwanted tracking by others. If someone else’s AirTag finds its way into your stuff, your iPhone will notice it and send you an alert. You can then tap on the alert and see the details of the AirTag, such as its serial number and whether it is in Lost Mode. You can also disable the AirTag by removing its battery or contact Apple to report it. If you don’t have an iPhone, the AirTag will start playing a sound after a while, to let you know it is there. You can then tap it with an NFC-capable smartphone and see the details of the AirTag.
- Addressing privacy concerns: Apple has taken steps to address the privacy concerns raised by some experts and users. For example, Apple has reduced the time interval for the sound alert from three days to eight to 24 hours, depending on the movement of the AirTag. Apple has also announced that it will release an app for Android users later this year, which will allow them to detect and disable unwanted AirTags. Apple has also stated that it will continue to improve the privacy and security of AirTag and the Find My network.
AirTag is a remarkable device that can make your life easier and safer. It can help you find your items, protect yourself and your loved ones, and enjoy the advanced tracking technology. It also respects your privacy and prevents unwanted tracking. If you are interested in buying AirTag, you can visit the Apple Store or the Apple website and order one or a pack of four. You can also personalize your AirTag with free engraving of text and emoji. AirTag is compatible with iPhone SE, iPhone 6s or later, iPod touch (7th generation) with iOS 14.5 or later, iPad Pro, iPad (5th generation or later), iPad Air 2 or later, or iPad mini 4 or later with iPadOS 14.5 or later.
