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The Apple AirTag is a beloved Hail Mary for folks who spend way too much time looking for their wallets, house keys, or earbuds. This small device helps iPhone users everywhere keep track of their belongings easily,
When you lose something and the panic sets in, the first question you ask yourself is, where was the last time you used it? Maybe you last used your wallet at the bar last night, or last used your earbuds at the library the last time you studied with your friends?
But just how far can you track an AirTag? This question is essential for understanding the full capabilities of your AirTag and its range compared to GPS trackers and other Bluetooth devices.
In this Mysterium VPN blog, we'll examine the range of an AirTag, how it works over long distances, and the technologies behind it, like Bluetooth Low Energy and Ultra Wideband technology. Let's help you find your long-lost earbuds, shall we?
What is an AirTag?
You've definitely seen the Apple AirTag before. It's a compact coin-shaped tracking device that easily connects to your other Apple devices to help you find the things you've misplaced.
The magic behind it is pretty simple. The AirTag works with the help of Find My network, a connection of Apple devices nearby that can anonymously detect and report your AirTag’s Bluetooth signal.
The AirTag relies on several technologies, including Bluetooth and Ultra Wideband, offering you both short and long-range tracking of your hopefully-not-lost items.
How Do AirTags Work?
Before we can reveal to you how far you can track the AirTag you hid in your wallet, we first must explain to you the technological background of how that AirTag works.
Your AirTag communicates through Bluetooth Low Energy with your iPhone or any Apple device nearby.
This Bluetooth connection has only a limited range. Nonetheless, it still enables the AirTag’s location to be found when it’s close to your Apple device. When the AirTag is out of Bluetooth's range, it uses the next best thing — the Find My network — to continue tracking the location of the magical tracking coin.
The Find My network connects hundreds of millions of Apple devices worldwide, all of which can detect an AirTag’s Bluetooth signal and reveal its location information to the Find My app.
Bluetooth Range: The First Step of Tracking
The simplest way to track an AirTag is through Bluetooth. The Bluetooth range of an AirTag commonly extends up to 30 feet indoors and around 100 feet in open spaces.
This specific range depends on physical obstacles like the walls of buildings or interference from other Bluetooth devices.
In the best-case scenario, if your AirTag is still within Bluetooth range, you can use your iPhone to track the item directly and even use Precision Finding if your phone supports Ultra Wideband technology.
However, even the magical Bluetooth has its limitations. In a busy area, which is filled with electronic devices, or a remote area where the signal may face interference, the actual range may be smaller.
However, despite this, Bluetooth Low Energy provides your AirTag with a solid first layer of tracking capability.
Ultra Wideband Technology: Precision Finding
The second layer, Ultra Wideband technology, significantly boosts the accuracy of tracking your lost items.
Available on iPhone 11 and more recent releases, the Ultra Wideband enables Precision Finding, which allows iPhone users to read the real location of the AirTag, even in tight, cluttered spaces.
This feature provides you with real-time, directional feedback on the AirTag’s whereabouts, down to the last few feet.
For example, if your keys are lost under a couch cushion (which happens to the best of us, right?), Precision Finding will take you directly to them.
How to Use AirTag on iPhone
- Open the app Find My;
- Tap on Items;
- Choose your AirTag.
If it’s within Bluetooth range, use Precision Finding to pinpoint its exact location. If not, then the Find My network will tell you the AirTag's last available location.
The Find My Network: A Vast Network for Tracking Long Distances
Your AirTag’s location will update consistently as long as it comes near any iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, which is part of the Find My network.
The reach of the Find My network is essentially unlimited. What this means is that if your AirTag is near another Apple device, you’ll continue to receive location updates.
In a busy area, like an office building or a busy restaurant, your lost AirTag might be detected by one of the very many Apple devices within minutes. In a remote area, on the other hand, updates will likely be less frequent, depending on the density of Apple devices nearby.
How to Track an AirTag on iPhone Over Long Distances
To track your AirTag over longer distances, follow these steps:
- Open the Find My app on your iPhone.
- Tap the Items tab.
- Select your AirTag from the list.
- The app will show the AirTag's last known location if it’s outside the Bluetooth range. As quickly as another Apple device identifies it, you'll receive a push notification with its current location.
This integration of Bluetooth Low Energy and Apple's Find My network allows for tracking over vast distances, answering the question of how far an AirTag can track.
Factors That Affect AirTag Range
There are a number of things that can impact the range of your Apple AirTag, This, in turn, influences how well it can track your items.
Environmental conditions can play a significant role; your walls, floors, and other physical barriers, like big closets, can harm the Bluetooth signal, reducing your AirTag’s effective range.
Similarly, meddling from other Bluetooth devices in your immediate vicinity can disrupt the AirTag’s signal, making location tracking far less accurate.
The next key factor in determining range is the distance from the AirTag to the nearest Apple device. The further your AirTag is from any Apple device, the more fragile the Bluetooth signal becomes, which can affect the precision of location tracking.
Also, the number of Apple devices in your immediate area can really boost the AirTag’s performance. In densely populated areas with many Apple devices nearby, the AirTag is more likely to connect and update its location more frequently.
AirTag Location History
Now, when we talk about tracking the history of your AirTag’s movements, the Find My app does have some limitations. Sadly enough, it doesn't maintain the location history of your AirTag. This means you can see either only the current location or the last known location if the AirTag is out of range.
AirTag Sounds and Notifications
To help you locate it, your AirTag can send you notifications and sound alarms.
The Find My app allows you to play a sound on the AirTag, which is especially helpful when the AirTag is close by but hidden from view, such as when your wallet is in your coat pocket.
Notifications are also a super duper helpful feature. You'll get a notification on your phone or iPad if someone else moves your AirTag or if the battery is ready to run out.
How AirTags Compare to a GPS Tracker
GPS trackers get their real-time location information from satellites, so it doesn't matter if there are other devices close.
Apple AirTags work thanks to Bluetooth Low Energy and the Find My network. The range of an AirTag is determined by the density of Apple devices nearby.
In urban environments, your AirTag works similarly to a GPS tracker, but in rural ones, it is much less useful.
AirTags provide you with a more affordable option for tracking misplaced objects because they don't require a subscription as GPS trackers do.
How Far Can an AirTag Track a Car?
As long as your car is within Bluetooth range of your iPhone or another Apple device, the AirTag can and will give real-time updates on its location.
Even if it moves out of range, the Find My network will step in and continue to track your car as it passes by other Apple devices in the area.
Do Airtags Work With Android Devices?
No, AirTags don’t have full functionality with Android devices.
Nonetheless, Android users can still interact with an unknown AirTag by tapping it with an NFC-enabled phone to see the contact information of you, the AirTag owner. All in all, tracking lost items using an AirTag is best suited for iPhone users.
Battery Life and AirTag Durability
Under typical use, the replaceable CR2032 battery that comes with a new Apple AirTag should last you roughly a year.
To make certain that you never lose sight of something just because the AirTag dies on you, you will receive push notifications each time the battery is low.
Additionally, AirTags are made to last because of their robust design, which can tolerate normal wear and tear.
Are AirTags Waterproof?
Although your AirTag has an IP67 rating, that doesn't render it completely impervious to water damage. They can, in turn, withstand submersion in water up to one meter deep for 30 minutes.
So, basically, your AirTag will be fine, even if you drop it in a puddle—or, let's be honest, the toilet.
AirTag Security
Apple has numerous security features in place to help prevent your AirTags from being used and abused to track people without their expressed consent.
Additionally, Apple has also implemented really strict anti-stalking measures to prevent your precious AirTags from being used for malicious purposes, ensuring that your privacy is safe and sound.
Using AirTags with Multiple Devices
One of the coolest things about using an AirTag is the device's superpower to be used with many Apple devices, given that they all belong to the same Apple ID. This is a God-given solace to families in particular because you can share the location of a single AirTag with up to six people.
So now, if you lose your keys and your phone's dead, your mom and dad can tell you where it is! Not before giving you a lesson on responsibility, of course!
You can track your items from any device within your Apple ecosystem, too. This helps you maintain control of your belongings, no matter which Apple device you're currently using.
Conclusion: AirTag Range and Limitations
Welcome to the finish line! If you've read thus far, you now know that the average Bluetooth range of an AirTag is around 100 feet. However, the magic behind AirTags shines through the Find My app and its network, which enables you to track your prized possessions over much bigger distances.
Given that the AirTag can talk with other Apple devices around it, the AirTag's range is almost unlimited. Doesn't matter if you're tracking a car you loaned to someone, or have lost your wallet for the umpteenth time, an AirTag is your best friend to find them easily.
