"AirPods detected moving with you" notification is sent to other devices. My location movements are obviously shared with people I don't know. What kind of privacy breach is this?

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Level 1

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"AirPods detected moving with you" notification is sent to other devices. My location movements are obviously shared with people I don't know. What kind of privacy breach is this?

The notification “AirPods detected moving with you” is being sent to people around me. My friends are not added via the Find My app, nor do I have Family Sharing enabled. However, this notification is still being sent to people around me, and possibly even to strangers. When the people who receive this notification click on the alert, they can see my movements on a map (through my AirPods) and can track me quite accurately. I do not want to turn off my ‘location’ or ‘Find My device’ settings, as doing so doesn’t solve the problem, it just prevents me from seeing it. Even if I can’t see it, others still receive the notification. It’s unsettling not knowing who can access my AirPods’ location. Is there a way to stop this? Why are my AirPods sending my movements to devices they aren’t even connected to? I would appreciate your support, as this doesn’t make me feel safe.

iPhone 12, iOS 18

Posted on Oct 4, 2024 3:40 PM

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Answer 1

Mac Jim ID

Level 7

29,633 points

Oct 4, 2024 4:00 PM in response to incibicakci

I suggest you reset your AirPods and pair them with your iPhone again.

How to reset your AirPods and AirPods Pro - Apple Support

Two things must happen before a person sees that message:

The AirPods have been separated from the original owner.
The AirPods have been traveling with that person for a period of time.

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

If these are used AirPods, they may still be connected to the original owner and you will still be able to pair them to your phone. That would explain why others near you are seeing that message. Do you see the AirPods in your Find My?

Find your lost AirPods with Find My - Apple Support

If you find that the AirPods are still connected to someone else's Apple ID, then review this Support Article, because they will be able to track your location if they have not been reset:

If an item or device is connected to another Apple Account - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Oct 4, 2024 3:49 PM in response to incibicakci

Here is when others’ gear will detect your devices (potentially used as tracking devices), and will report them:

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

The messages do not identify the owner of the device, nor are these long-distance or remote detection, only that a (potential) tracking device is in proximity and moving with them.

If you are concerned about nearby people tracking you, many of us are already generating cloud of Bluetooth traffic, among other potentially-useful-for-tracking details.

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