Item trackers like Apple AirTag, Tile, and Samsung SmartTag do not use GPS directly. Instead they piggyback on nearby phones running the same network.
Set it up
- Attach the tracker to the item and pair it with the maker's app (Find My for AirTag, the Tile app, or SmartThings Find for Samsung).
- Give the item a name so it is easy to identify in the app.
- Enable notifications for when the item is left behind.
Finding it
Open the app and select the item. If it is nearby, you will get a precision-finding view with distance and direction. If it is far away, the last known location comes from any other user's phone that passed near it — not from the tracker itself, so location updates can lag.
Unwanted tracker alerts
All major item trackers now warn phones nearby if an unknown tracker appears to be travelling with them, to guard against being tracked without consent. If you get this alert and do not recognise the tracker, the app will show you how to locate and disable it.
