How does the AirTag work?

it only works if it's within bluetooth range of an ios device with bluetooth enabled

when it is then it will have the ios device send it's gps position to the appleID account the tag is registered to because it will roughly be the gps position of the tag itself, being within bluetooth range and all

so if there are no ios devices within range the tag will be dead in the water so it's not suited for tracking pets in a rural arear

yashvi144 wrote:

Apple AirTags connect through Bluetooth to neighbouring Apple iPhone or iPad devices using the Find My network. All of the AirTags' specifics and data are uploaded to the cloud and pinned to a map for simple access. Two methods exist for locating your AirTags. If the information is sufficient for you, it's excellent, but if anyone wants to know more about it, you should visit the official website Deccanera.

That is not an official Apple website.

This is the official website:

AirTag - Apple

So any time someone within 33 feet gets close to your luggage with an iphone then your luggage is trackable. Just think how many airport workers have an iphone. Airtags would be a solid solution for this. I have an airtag in one of my cars at home and it's location gets update when people are on the daily walks and my car is in the garage and they are walking on the sidewalk outside of the garage. Also I get location when my kid takes it to the grocery store or driving down the freeway next to other cars that have an iphone. it's very nice and working just like a gps tracker :)

clayp00l wrote:

How many people have iPhones iPads? everytime it goes near one of these apple devices the unsuspecting owners device is reporting back to apples servers and giving last known location on a map

No, Apple isn't keeping track of you using other people's AirTags:

AirTag and Find My network items use the power of the Find My network — an encrypted, anonymous network of hundreds of millions of Apple devices. Devices in the Find My network use secure Bluetooth technology to detect your missing items nearby and report their approximate location back to you, so you can find them privately and securely.

Add an AirTag to Find My to keep track of personal items - Apple Support

Perhaps you might find this an interesting read:

Nobody in the entire chain knows who owns the tag, who is reporting the position, or what that reported position is.

ONLY your own trusted devices … running FindMy … have the key to decrypt your tag’s position.

Find My security – Apple Support (AU)

Using Find My to locate missing Apple devices – Apple Support (AU)

How many people have iPhones iPads? everytime it goes near one of these apple devices the unsuspecting owners device is reporting back to apples servers and giving last known location on a map

Yes and no? It will connect to any device that has “find my” network enabled which I believe it is by default. And then send that location information to you. And with the mass amount of iPhones out there unless what ever your tracking is sitting in the middle of a deserted area you should be able to get a ping eventually.

Apple AirTags connect through Bluetooth to neighbouring Apple iPhone or iPad devices using the Find My network. All of the AirTags' specifics and data are uploaded to the cloud and pinned to a map for simple access. Two methods exist for locating your AirTags.

[Link Edited by Moderator]


If it’s within Bluetooth range of any Apple device, it will give you the location of your tagged item.

That’s because you’re technically stalking him! His mother’s phone picked up the fact that an airtag she doesn’t own is following her child. It’s literally the “anti-stalking” technology they use to prevent unapproved people (YOU!) from spying on/stalking people (YOUR grandkid). Your act of “hiding” it from without someone’s knowledge is literally stalking and illegal. That’s why his mother was informed! Don’t do that!

You seem to know what you want. If this is your main concern, don’t get one, and instead buy a GPS tracker. Apple’s not trying to deceive people with these.

clayp00l wrote:

thanks for repeating exactly what I just said.

I did not repeat what you just said. Your post implied that Apple was tracking iPhone users through other people's AirTags. They are not. What is getting reported is the location of the AirTag.

So you’re saying that for argument sake your tag is the other end of the country. As long as it’s in range of another iOS Bluetooth enabled device, it can hop from one device to another until it finds one connected to the cloud and then can notify you its location ?

If your grandson is sharing an Apple ID with his mother or is in a Family Sharing group, she would receive a notification that there was an unknown AirTag traveling with him.

Whatever your "personal reasons", what you did violated Apple's intended use of AirTags, their privacy polices and possibly, the law.

What to do if you get an alert that an AirTag, set of AirPods, Find My network accessory, or compatible Bluetooth location-tracking device is with you - Apple Support

Yes if her phone is near the bag, after a while(not sure how long) she would get an alert on her phone. That notification feature is part of apple's anti-stalking campaign probably required by the govnerment.