10 Best Features of Hidden AirTags
When Apple AirTags were first released, I thought the devices would be useless once the novelty wore off, but after a year of using them, my assumption was proven wrong. AirTags has quite a few useful hidden features that make the product worth considering even if you don’t lose things often. Here are the best hidden features of your Apple AirTags.
Rename your AirTags
It sounds obvious, but you should really rename your AirTags so you can easily identify each item they’re attached to. Instead of calling them “AirTags #1 Pranay”, you can change it to something like “Blue Backpack Pranay”. To do this, go to the Find My app on your iPhone and select Items > AirTag > Rename Item . Once you’ve chosen names that are specific and easy to pronounce, you can try the following tip.
Use Siri to find your AirTags
When you’re looking for a lost item with Airtag, the fastest way to find it is through Siri. You can ask Siri to find an item using a voice command, such as “Hey Siri, find Pranay’s luggage.” Just use whatever name you give the AirTag and Siri will quickly find the item and you’ll hear a sound that lets you quickly find it. It’s much faster than going to the Find My app on your iPhone and tapping Items > AirTags > Play Sound .
Share your AirTag’s location with a loved one
If you trust your loved ones to keep track of you, consider sharing your AirTag’s location with them. This can be useful for those who work night shifts or have long commutes, as it allows loved ones to know where they are in the event of an emergency. As long as the AirTag is in your car or attached to an item you always carry with you (house keys, phone, etc.), this feature will work fine. Turn it on by opening the Find Me app on your iPhone and going to Items > AirTags > Share AirTag > Add Person .
Put your AirTags in Lost Mode
Your AirTags have two useful features that allow others to find your lost items. One allows you to share contact information with anyone who finds your lost AirTag, and the other allows you to share the location of your AirTag with trusted people, such as airline employees who are trying to find your luggage. You can set up both of these settings by going to the Find Me app on your iPhone and selecting Items > AirTag > Lost AirTag . Tap Show Contact Info or Share Location and follow the on-screen instructions to set these features.
You can find the owner of lost AirTags
If you come across someone else’s AirTags, you can use your iPhone to try to identify and contact their owner. If someone has added their contact information to their AirTags as described in the previous tip, you can quickly find them using the Find Me app on your iPhone. Go to the Items tab and select Identify Found Item . Follow the on-screen instructions to identify your lost AirTag and possibly reunite it with its owner.
Turn off notifications about abandoned houses
If your home is incorrectly tagged in AirTags, you’ll get annoying “This item has been left behind” alerts every time you leave the house. I ordered AirTags right before a month-long stay with a friend, and his house was automatically tagged as my “home.” When I got home, three of my four AirTags continued to scare me, telling me that I had left my suitcase or other belongings behind. This can be fixed by going to Find My > Items > AirTags > Notify When You’re Left Behind . Click New Location and mark your home as an exception. This should take care of unwanted alerts.
Check your AirTag’s battery level
Your AirTag’s battery should last for a year, but there is no way to determine the current battery level. If the battery is truly low, your iPhone will send you a notification. You can also see your AirTag in the Find My app, which will display a low battery indicator if your AirTag needs a new battery.
Find your AirTag easily
This is the most popular use of AirTags. Go to the Find My app and open the Items tab. Tap your AirTag’s name and select Find . The iPhone will take a few minutes and direct you to the AirTag.
Find your AirTag serial number
You can also view your AirTag’s serial number and firmware version in the Find My app on your iPhone. To do this, go to the Items tab in the app, select your AirTag, and tap the AirTag name. Now you will see its serial number and firmware version. This information can be useful if your AirTags are under warranty and also to check if the latest software features are available for them.
Creative uses of AirTags
While you might think that AirTags are best for keeping track of luggage, keys, or other items that you’re more likely to lose than most other things, you can use AirTags for so much more. My personal favorite is pet tracking. If you have a cat that goes outside frequently, installing an AirTag on her cat’s harness can save you a lot of hassle if the cat ever goes missing. Likewise, people on Reddit have noted many creative uses for the product. This includes training your dog to come back to you when you play a sound on an AirTag attached to his collar, using it to track people with dementia (and often getting lost as a result), and even tracking a child’s backpack. AirTags should never be used to stalk people, but this product can help you keep tabs on loved ones who can’t protect themselves.