Does "Find My" features require an active cellular connection? Or does it work with only wifi?

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Level 1

5 points

Does "Find My" features require an active cellular connection? Or does it work with only wifi?

I'm considering buying some AirTags for me and my spouse. We both have iPhones and iPads.

One primary use case would be for keeping track of luggage when traveling abroad: I'd like to know if my checked bag is following me on a long series of connecting flights, or "lost" in some airport half-way around the world, many hours behind me. But my phone's (and my iPad's) "home" cellular service does not work overseas (outside USA). When I arrive at my destination abroad, I typically buy a local SIM for my phone & iPad and I have cellular connectivity again (though with a different phone number). During transit (when I would be most keenly interested in keeping track of my bags), I am limited to wifi for connectivity. I'm fine with that.

My question is: Are AirTags and the "Find My" app going to be OK with that too (wifi connectivity only)?

Do all the features of AirTags and the "Find My" app (on iPhone and iPad) work with only wifi connectivity? Or do they require a cellular connection (to my "home" phone number that Apple associates with my phone)?

Before buying AirTags, I want to ensure the features won't be crippled without cellular connectivity to my home phone number.

(In case it matters: I do NOT have Two Factor Authentication turned on for my Apple ID...and have no intention of enabling it).

I'm sure this must be a pretty common use-case: you fly off to Europe, your home number no longer works, and you want to check to see if your bags with AirTags are still in Rochester or Rome...

Thanks for the insights.

iPhone X

Posted on Nov 20, 2022 12:10 PM

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Answer 1

bryanr14

Community Specialist

Nov 22, 2022 1:29 PM in response to lonebirdman

Hello lonebirdman,

Thank you for reaching out in Apple Support Communities. From Apple's website it says,

How does it work?

Your AirTag sends out a secure Bluetooth signal that can be detected by nearby devices in the Find My network. These devices send the location of your AirTag to iCloud — then you can go to the Find My app and see it on a map. The whole process is anonymous and encrypted to protect your privacy. And itʼs efficient, so thereʼs no need to worry about battery life or data usage.

This information is outlined here: AirTag - Apple

In addition to that, here are the requirements to use and set up an AirTag:

What you need

- An iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 14.5 or iPadOS 14.5 or later and two-factor authentication

turned on.

- Find My turned on.

- Bluetooth turned on.

- A strong Wi-Fi or cellular connection.

- Location Services turned on: Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services.

- To be able to use Precision Finding and to see the most accurate location for your AirTag, turn on

Location Access for Find My. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services, then scroll down and tap

Find My. Check While Using the App or While Using the App or Widgets. Then turn on Precise

Location.

If you have a Managed Apple ID, you can't set up an AirTag.

This information is outlined here for you to reference: Set up your AirTag using your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

For additional questions, you can contact the sales support team at Apple through this link: Contact - How to Contact Us - Apple

Best regards.

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Answer 2

lonebirdman Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 22, 2022 10:03 PM in response to bryanr14

Thank you for the information - that's helpful, but also exasperating.

So, as indicated above, it *is* a requirement to have two factor authentication turned on. What a shame to cripple this technology with what surely must be one the the most foolish and short-sighted choices Apple has ever made for any product they've ever developed (I'm trying to be gentle here...).

Two factor authentication: a mandated technology that immediately causes your devices to stop working as soon as you leave your home country and renders those devices as unusable as a rock until you're back home. Brilliant implementation!

It's as if the product design team has never traveled outside their home town. There are many, many use cases where two factor authentication is completely impossible. Flying to another country, where your "trusted phone number" associated with your apple ID (that is, the cellular number used in your home country) that does not work. News flash for Apple developers: many people (I'd guess most) have phone numbers and cellular service that does not work in other countries (mine sure doesn't). So anything requiring two factor authentication leaves my devices dead-in-the-water, and as useless as a brick, once my flight to Paris goes wheels up. Great plan, "geniuses."

OK, so I guess no AirTags for me. Looking on the bright side, there's a hundred bucks Apple won't be squeezing out of me.

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Does "Find My" features require an active cellular connection? Or does it work with only wifi?

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