Apple Airtags

Apr 26

AirTags work by continually listening for nearby iPhones and using the location of the iPhone to determine their proximity to the AirTag. This information is sent to Apple's servers, which relay the location to the Apple ID that the AirTag was registered with. Using the "Find My" application on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad registered with the same Apple ID, you can locate the AirTag.

The location of an AirTag can only be seen by the Apple ID it was registered with

And it cannot be shared with others. As long as an AirTag is within Bluetooth range of anyone's iPhone or other Apple device, it can passively communicate with it and help you locate it using the "Find My" application. Given the ubiquitous presence of iPhones, it is likely that the AirTag can securely report its position via the Apple iCloud network.

Not made to track a fast moving object

Although AirTags are best known for keeping tabs on everyday items like keys, they can also help ensure that your luggage reaches its final destination if it gets lost by the airline. However, tracking a car is entirely different from tracking lost items around your house or neighborhood, because a car moves fast and keeps moving, while AirTags take a considerable amount of time to update the location.

Once you are within approximately 30ft of your AirTag, you can use your iPhone to hone in on its exact location.

Unwanted tracking with an Apple AirTag

AirTag, AirPods, and other Find My network accessories include features to guard against unwanted tracking. They should not be used to track people [no comma] and should not be used to track property that does not belong to you. If someone puts an AirTag in your pocket or bag without your knowledge, your iPhone will show an alert that reads "AirTag Found Moving With You" if the AirTag stays with you.

Personal experience

We recently explored Spain and stayed in many different hotels. Instead of noting the address, I used the location of one of our AirTags to find our way back.

On our return trip, we were the last to board the plane in Madrid and were forced to check our carry-on bag. When we switched planes in Heathrow, I could see that all our bags were located near our plane, feeling confident that all our bags were stowed in the belly of the 777 as we took off for our long flight across the Atlantic Ocean—only to find out that the carry-on bag taken from us in Madrid was still sitting at the terminal in Heathrow!

Over the next three days, I could see the bag arriving and being moved inside the airport and moving towards our home with the courier service that returned our bag. Being able to see the location of our bags relieved a lot of stress and did not leave us at the mercy of the information the airline could provide (none).