AirTags are exceedingly useful little units. They can assist you retain observe of absolutely anything. That features your keys, your pockets, and even your pet. They’re simply $30 apiece, so you may seize one and toss is in your baggage, purse, or automotive to be sure you know the place youre stuff is always. With that mentioned, nevertheless, it is also extremely straightforward for unhealthy actors to use AirTags for extra nefarious functions.
Whereas iPhones have a built-in strategy to notify a consumer in the event that they’re being tracked by an unknown AirTag, individuals utilizing Android telephones had been initially left at the hours of darkness. Fortunately, Apple launched an app to the Google Play Retailer to handle this referred to as Tracker Detect.
Since then, Google has launched its personal Discover My Machine community, which helps unknown tracker detection, although some could also be extra snug with having each apps working alongside one another. Beneath, we’ll present you how you can determine an unknown AirTag that is been monitoring you and what you are able to do about it.
For extra, try Apple’s Discover My vs Google’s Discover My Machine community.
Use Tracker Detect on Android to scan for AirTags
The Tracker Detect app, obtainable within the Google Play Retailer free of charge, permits you to use your Android to seek for and observe objects that work with Apple’s Discover My community, similar to AirTags, and are separated from their proprietor for a minimum of quarter-hour. No Apple ID account is required.
After downloading Tracker Detect, activate Bluetooth, open the applying, comply with the phrases and situations, and faucet the blue Scan button to seek for close by objects. If that is your first time utilizing Tracker Detect, you may be prompted to offer the app entry to Bluetooth, which it wants to seek out any AirTags.
Your Android cellphone will scan for as much as a minute, and if it finds an AirTag close to you, it is going to seem as “Unknown Airtag.” If you happen to do not discover something, you may attempt the scan once more, particularly as a result of the tracker should be separated from its proprietor for a minimum of quarter-hour to look.
What ought to I do if an AirTag is following me?
If Tracker Detect notices an AirTag that is been following you for a minimum of 10 minutes, the app will then will let you play a sound from the AirTag as a way to extra simply discover the bodily tracker.
If you happen to do discover the AirTag, it is as much as you on the way you need to proceed. If the AirTag is with you by chance, that means it is not getting used to comply with you, and “Misplaced Mode” is enabled, you may faucet and maintain your NFC-compatible Android to the white facet of the tag to get extra info on how you can return it.
Nevertheless, if the AirTag is getting used to trace you, you can even view the serial quantity by tapping it together with your cellphone, which could show helpful in the event you’re contemplating contacting regulation enforcement and require ID proof of who could be stalking you. You can even take the again cowl aside and look contained in the AirTag to seek out the serial quantity.
How do I disable an AirTag?
If you wish to shut down the AirTag and cease if from monitoring you, Tracker Detect will present a quick however concise abstract on how you can disable it:
- Press down on the chrome steel again cowl of the AirTag.
- Rotate the quilt counter-clockwise till it stops.
- Launch your fingers and the quilt will come off.
- Take away the button cell battery.
Eradicating the battery will notify the proprietor that the AirTag has been disabled, so be warned.
Sadly, Tracker Detect lacks among the options which can be obtainable natively on the iPhone — most significantly, automated background scans. On Tracker Detect, you could manually scan for AirTags every time, which is usually a nuisance in the event you’re continually anxious about being tracked. However once more, with Google’s Discover My Machine community and Android’s means to do that now, it is a bit much less of a fear.
For extra, do not miss the iOS 18 cheat sheet and all the brand new options coming to your iPhone.