Apple's AirTags: A Revolutionary Item Tracking Device

If you're familiar with item trackers, you may not understand the point of Apple's $29 AirTags, which recently made their debut as a new product. However, for those who aren't aware of what these tiny tracking devices do, let's dive into what they are and how they work.

An AirTag is just a tiny tracking device that can be placed in various items such as book bags, purses, or even keys. This allows you to easily track down misplaced items using the Find My app on your iPhone. But what exactly is the AirTag device itself? It's a 1.2 inch plastic puck with a stainless steel back, and that back piece can actually be removed by applying pressure and rotating left. Inside, you'll find a replaceable coin-cell battery like those found in watches that will keep AirTag powered for over a year. Once it dies, just replace it with a fresh battery - no charging required.

There's also technology inside AirTag that you can't see, such as a speaker, Bluetooth, and Apple's U1 chip. Unboxing AirTag is the first step to connecting it to your iPhone 6s or later. To do this, simply hold it nearby, then tap the connect button. The same way you tap the like button under every Apple Explained video... Finally, name your AirTag so you'll know which item it's attached to.

Unfortunately, AirTags can't be paired with Android smartphones, but they can help out iPhone users if they find a lost AirTag. Now, if you're lucky, you'll never have to use AirTag at all. But if something is lost or left behind, you'll navigate to the Find My app on your iPhone, and tap the items tab. Here, you'll see all your connected AirTags. If the item you're looking for is nearby, such as keys that are somewhere in the house, you can ping its AirTag by tapping "Play sound." This will send out an auditory noise that will give you a good idea of its location and you can simply follow the sound to find the item.

But there's a more intuitive method to locating nearby items that'll only work for users with an iPhone 11 or 12. It's called Precision Finding. Just tap the Find button under your item, and your iPhone will begin searching for the AirTag's signal. This can take about 30 seconds, and may require you to move around the area if the signal is weak. But once you're within 30 to 40 feet of the AirTag and it locks-on, your iPhone will literally point you in the right direction. Green means go, while black means you aren't quite on the right path. It'll even notify you if the AirTag is on a different floor. As you move closer, you'll see the distance shrink.

Once the iPhone is about four inches away, likely close enough to find your item, the word "here" will appear on the iPhone. Let's say the item you're trying to locate isn't nearby - for example, what if you left your bag somewhere after a busy day running errands? Well, this is where the Apple magic comes in. AirTags can actually post their location to your Find My app through nearby iPhones. It sends out a Bluetooth signal that's captured by a stranger's iOS device that just happens to be with range, and then reported straight to you. All without that person even knowing it happened - completely secure, anonymous, and encrypted.

This means the dreaded "offline" message that plagues most lost devices won't be an issue with AirTag. So, you'll be able to locate your item on a map and track it down. But if, for some reason, the location of your AirTag hasn't been updated yet, you can put it into Lost Mode. Which will send you a notification once it's been located by a nearby iOS device. You can even set up AirTags to give someone your contact information if they scan it. iPhone users can do this by using the Find My app, tapping items, and then identifying found item.

Meanwhile, Android users can also help out by keeping an eye out for suspicious-looking Apple users - that is how Apple's AirTags work, don't forget to tap that like button on the way out, and I'll see you in the next video.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enApple recently introduced AirTags, and ifyou aren’t familiar with item trackers,you may not understand the point of this $29white plastic puck.So what exactly are AirTags?And more importantly, how do they work ifyou decide to buy one?Well, that’s exactly what I, Greg from AppleExplained, will be explaining right now.So an AirTag is just a tiny tracking device.You can put it in a book bag, in your purse,or on your keys.That way, the next time you inevitably misplaceany of those items, you can easily track themdown.But what exactly is the AirTag device itself?Well, it’s a 1.2 inch plastic puck witha stainless steel back.And that back piece can actually be removedby applying pressure and rotating left.Inside, you’ll find a replaceable coin-cellbattery like those found in watches that’llkeep AirTag powered for over a year.Once it dies, just replace it with a freshbattery.No charging required.There’s also technology inside AirTag thatyou can’t see, like a speaker, bluetoothand Apple’s U1 chip.After unboxing AirTag, the first thing you’lldo is connect it to your iPhone 6s or later,by holding it nearby, then tapping the connectbutton.The same way you tap the like button underevery Apple Explained video…Finally, name your AirTag so you’ll knowwhich item it’s attached to.And that’s it.Unfortunately AirTags can not be paired withAndroid smartphones, but they can help outan iPhone user if they find a lost AirTagwhich I’ll explain later.Now if you’re lucky, you’ll never haveto use AirTag at all.But if something is lost or left behind, you’llnavigate to the Find My app on your iPhone,and tap the items tab.Here, you’ll see all your connected AirTags.If the item you’re looking for is nearby,for example keys that are somewhere in thehouse, you can ping its AirTag by tapping“Play sound.”This’ll sent out an auditory noise that’llgive you a good idea of its location and youcan simply follow the sound to find the item.But there’s a more intuitive method to locatingnearby items that’ll only work for userswith an iPhone 11 or 12.And it’s called Precision Finding.Just tap the find button under your item,and your iPhone will begin searching for theAirTag’s signal.This can take about 30 seconds, and may requireyou to move around the area if the signalis weak, but once you’re within 30 to 40feet of the AirTag and it locks-on, your iPhonewill literally point you in the right direction.Green means go.While black means you aren’t quite on theright path.It’ll even notify you if the AirTag is ona different floor.As you move closer, you’ll see the distanceshrink.Once the iPhone is about four inches away,likely close enough to find your item, theword “here” will appear on the iPhone.But let’s say the item you’re trying tolocate isn’t nearby.For example, what if you left your bag somewhereafter a busy day running errands?Well, this is where the Apple magic comesin.AirTags can actually post their location toyour Find My app through nearby iPhones.It sends out a bluetooth signal that’s capturedby a stranger’s iOS device that happensto be with range, and then reported straightto you.All without that person even knowing it happened.It’s completely secure, anonymous, and encrypted.And it’s efficient so it doesn’t effectthat person’s battery life or data usage.That means the dreaded “offline” messagethat plagues most lost devices won’t bean issue with AirTag.So you’ll be able to locate your item ona map and track it down.But if, for some reason, the location of yourAirTag hasn’t been updated yet, you canput it into Lost Mode.Which’ll send you a notification once it’sbeen located by a nearby iOS device.You can even set up AirTags to give someoneyour contact information if they scan it.iPhone users can do this by using the FindMy app, tapping items, and then identify founditem.While Android users can also help out by simplytapping their NFC-enabled phone to the AirTag,which’ll open a website link giving theminformation to contact the owner.And if your AirTag happens to get splashed,rained on or left in a puddle, you don’thave to worry since it’s water resistantup to 1 meter.Apple also prevented AirTags from being usedmaliciously.For example, secretly being dropped in a bagor purse to try and track someone.They do this by tracking how long an AirTaghas been traveling close to someone afterleaving its owner.Eventually, that person’s iPhone will receivea notification saying an AirTag is nearby.If they can’t find it, it’ll begin playinga sound.And if you’re wondering how this works ifyou’re an Android user being tracked bysomeone else’s AirTag, it doesn’t work.So you’ll just have to keep an eye out forsuspicious-looking Apple users.So that is how Apple’s AirTags work, don’tforget to tap that like button on the wayout, and I’ll see you in the next video.\n"