Why is my AirTag showing wrong location?
I have my items with me but the air tag is reporting them to be in other places. The places are valid but from minutes earlier.
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
AirTag
Question marked as
An AirTag has no means by which it can determine or broadcast its location. In essence, an AirTag is nothing more than a "beacon" - whose signal is detected by other Apple devices.
When an Apple device detects an AirTag in close proximity, the unique identity of the AirTag along with the location of the detecting device is anonymously transmitted by the device to Apple's servers. Given that the detected AirTag will likely be within 100' (30m), of the detecting Apple device, the reported location will be relatively accurate at the time of the detection/anonymous report. The reported location will actually be that of the detecting device - which may be using GNSS/GPS to derive its own geographic location.
It follows therefore that if the AirTag is moved to a different location - another detection report will be required before the last known location will be updated. With tens or millions of "detecting" Apple devices worldwide, the gamble is that a "detector" may be within range of, or occasionally pass, the AirTag "beacon".