What to Do if You Get Tracking Notifications on Your iPhone

PDF download Download Article
Find unwanted tracking devices with your iPhone’s safety alerts
PDF download Download Article

If you get a notification saying an AirTag or another device was detected near you, your iPhone is letting you know of a nearby device sharing your location. Luckily, Apple has safety measures to help you find the tracking device so you can locate and disable it. Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through what tracking notifications mean, how to turn them on, and what to do when one appears on your iPhone.

How to Enable iPhone Tracking Notifications

Turn on Location Services and Find My iPhone from your iPhone’s Privacy & Security settings. Switch on Bluetooth and make sure airplane mode is turned off. Then, go to Settings > Notifications > Tracking Notifications and turn them on.

Section 1 of 4:

What are tracking notifications on iPhone?

PDF download Download Article
  1. With the release of iOS 14.5, Apple added tracking notifications that sense unknown AirTags, AirPods, and other Bluetooth devices that are nearby. [1] If your phone senses that someone else’s device has been following your location, your phone will alert you of it. [2]
    • Apple released this update as a security measure so another person cannot illegally track you without your knowledge.
    • The notification may also mean that the tracker is attached to something you borrowed from a friend, such as their keys or a bag.
    2. Advertisement
Section 2 of 4:

How to Turn on Tracking Notifications on iPhone

PDF download Download Article
  1. While tracking notifications are on by default, you can access the settings to turn them off or back on again easily. Apple recommends keeping your tracking notifications on so you can better control your security and privacy. [3]
    • Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and turn them on.
    • From the Location Services menu, select System Services and turn on Find My iPhone .
    • In your Settings, turn on Bluetooth.
    • Go to Settings > Notifications > Tracking Notifications and turn them on. You can also access this setting from the Find My app and selecting Customize Tracking Notifications from the menu.
    • Make sure Airplane Mode is turned off so you receive notifications.
Section 3 of 4:

What to Do if You Receive Tracking Notifications

PDF download Download Article
  1. 1
    Tap the notification to locate the device. When a tracking notification appears on your screen, tap it to open the Find My app on your phone. Click on Continue to see where your phone first detected the device and where it has tracked your location. [4]
    • From there, you can click Play Sound to make the device play an audible noise so you’re able to find it.
    • Alternatively, use Find Nearby to turn on precision tracking, which will point you in the direction of the device.
    • If you missed the notification, open the Find My app, select Items , and then choose Items Detected With You to see what devices triggered the notification.
  2. 2
    Pause the safety alerts if you know who the device belongs to. If you’re borrowing something from a person you know and are not worried about the AirTag or device, then select Pause Safety Alerts from the menu. This stops any tracking notifications from appearing on your iPhone so they aren’t a nuisance. [5]
    • You can choose to pause alerts for a single day or turn them off indefinitely.
  3. 3
    Scan the device with your phone to access its information. Hold the device up to the top of your iPhone and wait for a notification to appear at the top of your screen. Tap on the notification to open a Safari window that displays information like the serial number, the last 4 digits of the device owner’s phone number, or a blurred email address. [6]
    • Take a screenshot when you open it to save the information so you don’t have to open the page again.
  4. 4
    Reach out to the device’s owner if it’s marked as lost. Check the device info page to see if the owner has marked it as lost. If they did, they may have provided a phone number or email address so you’re able to contact them. Let the owner know you found the device so you can figure out a way to return it to them. [7]
  5. 5
    Disable unfamiliar devices and contact law enforcement. If you’re unsure of who the device belongs to and you don’t want it tracking your location, click on Instructions to disable to learn how to turn the device off completely. Follow the steps on the screen to stop the device from sharing your location. Then, if you’re worried about your safety, contact your local police to let them know you found a tracking device. [8]
    • You may have to provide the device’s serial number so law enforcement can work with Apple to find who it belongs to.
    6. Advertisement
Section 4 of 4:

What are app activity tracking notifications?

PDF download Download Article
  1. Starting iOS 14.5, apps you install on your iPhone will ask if they can track your activity from other apps you have installed. Apps use this information to collect public personal data so you have more personalized ads. [9]
    • App activity tracking is not active on child accounts or if your Apple account is managed by education or business institutions.
  2. While you can always select Ask App Not to Track when the notification first appears, you can change individual app access later on. [10]
    • Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking .
    • Deselect Allow Apps to Request to Track to automatically have tracking disabled on new apps you install.
    • Scroll through the list and deselect tracking for individual apps.
    3. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • If you have an Android phone, it will detect trackers if you’re running 6.0 or later. Alternatively, you can download the Tracker Detect app to locate AirTags, AirPods, and other Bluetooth devices that move with you.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Hard Reset an iPhone
      Apple ID Sign Out Unavailable? Here's How to Fix It
      How to
      Get Past the Activation Lock on an iPhone or iPad without the Seller
      10 Simple Ways to Fix an iPhone or Android That Won’t Send Pictures
      6 Easy Steps to Reload Your Cash App Card at the Store
      How to
      Fix the “iPhone Unavailable” Message: Explanation and Fixes
      How to
      Turn On MMS Text Messages on an iPhone
      How to
      Use the iPhone Hidden Album to Hide Private Photos
      2 Ways to Get a Still Image from Video on iPhone or iPad
      How to
      Fix "Notifications Silenced" on iPhone Messages
      How to
      Downgrade and Restore Older Versions of iOS on iPhone
      How to
      Bypass Your Screen Time Passcode: Reset, Remove, or Hack Screen Time
      Turn Off Location Sharing on an iPhone Without Anyone Knowing
      4 Ways to Find Your Lost iPhone When It’s Offline or Dead
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-lk/guide/personal-safety/ips139b15fd9/web
      2. ↑ https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/05/apple-and-google-deliver-support-for-unwanted-tracking-alerts-in-ios-and-android/
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-lk/guide/personal-safety/ips139b15fd9/web
      4. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-lk/guide/personal-safety/ips139b15fd9/web
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/mGh7-IuPRR4?t=55
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/tOWk1TBq-Ek?t=20
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/tOWk1TBq-Ek?t=30
      8. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-lk/guide/personal-safety/ips139b15fd9/web
      9. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102420
      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102420

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 71 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement