How one can Discover Out if Your Android Cellphone Is Being Tracked by an AirTag and What to Do

AirTags are a superconvenient method to hold observe of necessary objects, however they’ve been utilized by stalkers and thieves to maintain observe of individuals and never objects. Fortunately, Apple launched an official app on the Google Play Retailer to tell customers when an AirTag has been following them. 

Now that Google’s personal Find My Device network has launched, and Android has an analogous unknown-tracker alert system in place, the app might really feel a bit redundant, however in case you are feeling safer having each choices out there to you, we will break down learn how to use Apple’s Tracker Detect app in your Android telephone. 

For extra, take a look at newly announced Android features for May 2024 and how Android 15 changes the way you use your phone.

Use Tracker Detect on Android to scan for AirTags

The Tracker Detect app, out there within the Google Play Retailer without cost, means that you can use your Android to seek for and observe objects that work with Apple’s Discover My community, corresponding to AirTags, and are separated from their proprietor for at the very least quarter-hour. No Apple ID account is required.

After downloading Tracker Detect, activate Bluetooth, open the appliance, comply with the phrases and circumstances, and faucet the blue Scan button to seek for close by objects. If that is your first time utilizing Tracker Detect, you will be prompted to provide the app entry to Bluetooth, which it wants to search out any AirTags.

Your Android telephone will scan for as much as a minute, and if it finds an AirTag close to you, it is going to seem as “Unknown Airtag.” Should you do not discover something, you’ll be able to attempt the scan once more, particularly as a result of the tracker have to be separated from its proprietor for at the very least quarter-hour to seem.

What it’s best to do if an AirTag is following you

If Tracker Detect notices an AirTag that is been following you for at the very least 10 minutes, the app will then let you play a sound from the AirTag in an effort to extra simply discover the bodily tracker.

Should you do discover the AirTag, it is as much as you on the way you need to proceed. If the AirTag is with you accidentally, that means it isn’t getting used to observe you, and “Misplaced Mode” is enabled, you’ll be able to faucet and maintain your NFC-compatible Android to the white aspect of the tag to get extra data on learn how to return it.

Nonetheless, if the AirTag is getting used to trace you, you may also view the serial quantity by tapping it along with your telephone, which could show helpful if you happen to’re contemplating contacting regulation enforcement and require ID proof of who could be stalking you. You too can take the again cowl aside and look contained in the AirTag to search out the serial quantity.

How one can disable an AirTag

If you wish to shut down the AirTag and cease if from monitoring you, Tracker Detect will present a short however concise abstract on learn how to disable it:

1. Press down on the stainless-steel again cowl of the AirTag.
2. Rotate the quilt counter-clockwise till it stops.
3. Launch your fingers and the quilt will come off.
4. Take away the button cell battery.

Eradicating the battery will notify the proprietor that the AirTag has been disabled, so be warned.

Sadly, Tracker Detect lacks a few of the options which might be available natively on the iPhone — most significantly, automated background scans. On Tracker Detect, you will need to manually scan for AirTags every time, which is usually a nuisance if you happen to’re continuously nervous about being tracked. However once more, with Google’s Discover My System community and Android’s capacity to do that now, it is a bit much less of a fear.

For extra tech ideas, take a look at the YouTube Music feature that lets you hum a song to identify it and how to get Microsoft 365 for free.