20 Innovative and Surprising Ways to Use Apple AirTags
Apple AirTags are incredibly useful for finding your keys, backpack, and other frequently misplaced items. However, their functionality extends far beyond just tracking everyday objects. Let's explore some innovative ways to use these tiny trackers to make everyday life a bit easier.
How AirTag Works
An AirTag is not an iPhone, so it can’t directly communicate with the Find My app or network independently. Instead, it connects to other devices on the Find My network using Bluetooth. For the AirTag to update its location on Find My, a device within the Bluetooth range of the AirTag must be part of the Find My network.
What makes AirTags stand out is that they can communicate with any Apple device running iOS 14.5, iPadOS 14.5, or macOS Big Sur 11.1 and later. The vast network of Apple devices can anonymously update the location of the AirTag, enhancing its tracking capability.
Privacy is key for Apple, and all communications are encrypted. The Bluetooth signal identifiers change frequently, reducing the risk of malicious tracking. Alerts are even sent to a nearby iPhone or Android device if an AirTag seems to be following them unknowingly, reducing the risk of misuse.
Expose Government Secrets
In January 2022, security researcher Lilith Wittmann used an AirTag to uncover a front organization for a German intelligence agency. She discovered Germany’s Federal Telecommunications Service (BST) as a camouflage authority for the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), a domestic intelligence service, by tracking the AirTag she mailed to the BST's address, which led to the BfV’s address.
Although using an AirTag for such investigations can be risky with legal implications, it showcases the innovative use of this device's tracking abilities. Just be aware that those along the AirTag’s travel path might get alerts, but it usually doesn't matter until reaching the final destination.
Detect Trespassers
Placing an AirTag in a specific location can alert you of nearby devices crossing its path. For example, to monitor an abandoned property, hide an AirTag there. It can connect with strangers’ Apple devices via Bluetooth, updating its location whenever these devices next connect to the internet.
There is a caveat: iPhone and Android users might receive unwanted tracking alerts, which can lead them to your hidden AirTag. Still, this method offers a discreet way to monitor unauthorized access or movement within a specified area.
Monitor Important Equipment
Hide an AirTag inside important equipment you don't want anyone to tamper with, like skydiving rigs. If Find My updates the timestamp without any of your Apple devices nearby, it might indicate someone has been near the equipment, prompting you to check it for tampering.
Find Your Medication
A misplaced EpiPen or any life-saving medication can be perilous. Attach an AirTag to these items to instantly locate them using Find My. Share AirTag access with family or friends, allowing them to help find the medication in an emergency, minimizing frantic searching.
Sharing capabilities make it easy for multiple people to help locate critical items swiftly, ensuring that life-saving medications are always within reach.
Track Your Pets
AirTags are perfect for attaching to pet collars due to their IP67 water resistance and lightweight design. Whether it’s for dogs or cats, AirTags help locate pets that wander off from home. If microchipping isn't an option, AirTags offer an easy, non-invasive alternative.
Specialized AirTag collars or attaching cases are available to ensure the device stays securely with your pet. This not only helps track lost pets but also reveals their secret hangout spots.
Track Your Children
For kids not old enough to carry smartphones, an AirTag can be an excellent tool for keeping tabs on them. Attach the AirTag to their backpack or clothes using various cases to ensure it stays with them. This offers parents peace of mind, knowing they can easily locate their children.
Anti-stalking features won’t be an issue for children without smartphones. Just make sure to inform your kids about the AirTag and its purpose.
Track Yourself
If personal safety is a concern, carry an AirTag to keep yourself on others’ radar. This can be beneficial in dangerous situations where conventional methods like Emergency SOS might not be accessible. The covert nature of AirTags ensures that even attackers won't easily discover them.
Share your AirTag with trusted individuals. This method adds an extra layer of personal security, making it easier for others to find you if needed.
Track People with Dementia
AirTags can be helpful for tracking individuals with dementia who might wander off. Attaching an AirTag to their clothing or belongings ensures they can be quickly located if they lose their way. Inform them about the AirTag to alleviate any privacy concerns.
Use different attachment options like wristbands or wallet inserts. These options make it convenient to keep the AirTag secure and reduce the risk of it being misplaced or discarded.
Track Your Stuff
AirTags were designed primarily to track everyday items like keys, wallets, and bags. However, their scope extends to any personal belongings you want to keep tabs on. From remote controls to student IDs, the possibilities are endless.
Just attach an AirTag to any items prone to misplacing. Custom air-tight cases and holders are available to ensure the AirTag stays put and functions correctly.
Create High-Tech Scavenger Hunt Clues
Turn a scavenger hunt into a high-tech adventure by using AirTags as clues. Participants can use their iPhones, especially those with the U1 chip, to locate AirTags, making the game more challenging and fun. Name each AirTag appropriately to avoid confusion.
This idea blends technology and fun, making it an exciting activity for gatherings and events.
Make Beacons for the Visually Impaired
The Find My app integrates well with accessibility features on the iPhone. Using VoiceOver, visually impaired users can receive step-by-step auditory directions to their AirTag, making it easier to find misplaced items.
This technology enhances the independence of visually impaired individuals, helping them reclaim lost items swiftly.
Locate Items Underwater
With an IP67 rating, AirTags can function in water up to one meter deep for 30 minutes. Attach an AirTag to items prone to water exposure, like boats or swimming gear. This ensures that misplaced items are retrievable even in shallow water.
For extra protection, waterproof cases can further extend the AirTag’s durability in aquatic environments.
Find Your Luggage (When the Airline Loses It)
If an airline loses your luggage, the AirTag inside it can help locate it. Use the Find My app to track your AirTag and find the luggage within the airline's storage areas. This saves time and stress by providing precise locations.
Find Your Luggage (On the Carousel)
Eliminate the guessing game at airport carousels by placing an AirTag in your luggage. Use your U1-equipped iPhone for Precision Finding to locate your bag immediately when it appears on the carousel.
Keep Tabs on Traveling Pets
Combining pet tracking and airport luggage tips, put an AirTag on your pet's collar when traveling. This ensures quick location of your pet, even if they're in the cargo area of an aircraft.
Locate Your Children’s Toys
Prevent endless searches for lost toys by securing an AirTag to your child’s favorite items. Hide the AirTag within the toy to reduce risks and ensure quick recovery when the toy goes missing.
Track Down Your Stolen Bike
Hide an AirTag on your bicycle to help locate it if stolen. Various mounting cases, adhesive backs, and discreet placements can keep the AirTag hidden from thieves, making it easier to track the bike afterward.
Track Down Your Stolen Car
AirTags also work as anti-theft devices for vehicles. Hide them in inconspicuous areas like the glove box, under seats, or in the trunk to track your car if it's stolen. Even without a subscription service, this method provides a low-cost tracking solution.
Locate Your Parked Car
An AirTag can help avoid forgetting where you parked. Place an AirTag in your car, and use Precision Finding on a U1-equipped iPhone to locate it, removing the hassle of remembering parking spots.
Keep Tabs on Your Non-Apple Electronics
Use AirTags for tracking non-Apple electronics such as Windows PCs or Chromebooks. Adhesive AirTag holders or discrete placements inside devices enable tracking through the Find My network, offering additional security.
What Kind of Batteries Do AirTags Take?
The user-replaceable batteries in AirTags last about a year and run on CR2032 coin cell batteries, which are inexpensive and widely available. Purchase a pack to ensure you’re prepared for timely replacements.