How To Scan For AirTags And Other ‘Items That Can Track Me’
Items That Can Track Me in Find My
Starting with iOS 15.2 users are able to make iPhone scan for AirTags and other unknown ‘Items That Can Track Me’. This is a new anti-stalking feature available in the Find My app.
AirTags And Stalking
Apple has designed the AirTags to help users to locate misplaced items. However, these can be used in malicious ways to, for secretly tracking others by planting them in hidden locations.
To prevent this Apple has designed the AirTags to play a sound after 8 hours since it was separated from their owner. More, iPhone users are alerted if an AirTag is traveling with them.
Now, you can also manually scan for AirTags and other Find My-enabled items (items that can be tracked in Find My without requiring an AirTag).
How To Scan For AirTags And Find My-Enabled Items
- Open Find My on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on the Items tab.
- Go for Items That Can Track Me.
- Tap Search after you read the splash screen and be patient until the scan is performed.
Fact: If not item is tracking you get the ‘No Items Found Nearby’ result. This means that there are no unknown items around that could potentially track you.
Important: Items are only found if they’re more than 50 meters away from their owner’s device and more than 15 minutes have passed since.
Help Return Lost Items
The ‘Identify Found Item’ option has been renamed to ‘Help Return Lost Items’.
Tap it an it will scan the found item. You might get a message from the owner that allows you to return the item.
AirTags, AirPods as well as other Find My-Enabled items can be tracked.
Tip: An items that is Find My compatible has the Location Services icon, between double brackets displayed on it.
What do you think about this new Find My anti-stalking feature? Do you plan to use it? Use the comments section to share your feedback.
Related: Notify when left behind is another new feature included in iOS 15, that will alert you whenever you forget items or devices in a location.
