AirTags are exceedingly useful little gadgets. They may help you retain observe of absolutely anything. That features your keys, your pockets, and even your pet. They’re simply $30 apiece, so you possibly can seize one and toss is in your baggage, purse, or automobile to be sure you know the place youre stuff is always. With that mentioned, nonetheless, it is also extremely straightforward for unhealthy actors to use AirTags for extra nefarious functions.
Whereas iPhones have a built-in solution to notify a consumer in the event that they’re being tracked by an unknown AirTag, individuals utilizing Android telephones had been initially left in the dead of night. Fortunately, Apple launched an app to the Google Play Retailer to handle this known as Tracker Detect.
Since then, Google has launched its personal Discover My Gadget community, which helps unknown tracker detection, although some could also be extra comfy with having each apps working alongside one another. Under, we’ll present you the best way to 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 Gadget community.
Use Tracker Detect on Android to scan for AirTags
The Tracker Detect app, accessible within the Google Play Retailer totally free, lets you use your Android to seek for and observe objects that work with Apple’s Discover My community, comparable to AirTags, and are separated from their proprietor for at the least quarter-hour. No Apple ID account is required.
Simply hit Scan and seek for close by AirTags.
After downloading Tracker Detect, activate Bluetooth, open the appliance, comply with the phrases and circumstances, 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 can seem as “Unknown Airtag.” For those who do not discover something, you possibly can attempt the scan once more, particularly as a result of the tracker have to be separated from its proprietor for at the least 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 at the least 10 minutes, the app will then can help you play a sound from the AirTag so that you could extra simply discover the bodily tracker.
For those who 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 possibly can faucet and maintain your NFC-compatible Android to the white aspect of the tag to get extra data on the best way to return it.
Nonetheless, if the AirTag is getting used to trace you, you can even view the serial quantity by tapping it along with your cellphone, which could show helpful for those who’re contemplating contacting regulation enforcement and require ID proof of who may be stalking you. You may also take the again cowl aside and look contained in the AirTag to seek out the serial quantity.
The AirTag may be disabled by eradicating the CR2032 battery.
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 short however concise abstract on the best way to disable it:
- Press down on the stainless-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 might be accessible natively on the iPhone — most significantly, computerized background scans. On Tracker Detect, it’s essential to manually scan for AirTags every time, which generally is a nuisance for those who’re continuously frightened about being tracked. However once more, with Google’s Discover My Gadget 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.
