How to use Apple AirTag on Android

Want to use AirTag with your Android phone? Apple designed AirTag for use with iPhones, so users cannot use it with Android devices. However, it supports basic tracking on Android to prevent unauthorized tracking. Here's everything about how to use AirTag on Android.

AirTag cannot be set up with Android phones

Like many other Apple products, AirTag is not compatible with Android. Therefore, it is not possible to set up an AirTag using an Android device; An iPhone connected to Apple's Find My network is required to do this. Additionally, AirTag is not compatible with Google's Find My Device network, meaning an Android phone cannot be used to track an AirTag set up with an iPhone.

AirTags rely on Apple's Find My network to relay their location. They periodically send Bluetooth LE pings that other Apple devices on the Find My network can receive. This data is then transmitted to Apple's servers, allowing the original AirTag owner to see its location.

For safety reasons, the Bluetooth signal identifiers transmitted by AirTag are periodically randomized, so that malicious actors cannot monitor and track them.

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While AirTags need Apple's Find My network, Android phones can identify unwanted AirTags around you, helping to prevent any possible stalking attempts.

You can also scan an AirTag with an Android device with NFC to find more information about its owner. So, if you find something tagged as a lost AirTag, touch the back of your Android phone to the tracking device. A page will open with detailed information about AirTag and its owner. You can use this to contact the owner.

If you're looking for a Bluetooth tracker as an Android user, Tile is a great AirTag alternative. Starting in 2024, Google will roll out the Find My Device network for item and accessory tracking devices. Once available worldwide, you'll be able to purchase a third-party item tracker for Android that offers similar functionality to AirTag.

How to scan unwanted AirTags on Android

While AirTags are useful for tracking items that you frequently misplace, they can also be exploited by people with malicious intentions. Thankfully, for the safety of users and to ensure they are not being tracked by unwanted AirTags, Apple and Google have worked together to bring unknown tracking warnings to Android 6.0+ devices.

Initially, Apple provided the Tracker Detect application to detect unknown AirTags. However, this app requires manual scanning for unwanted tracking devices in the background, which significantly limits its usefulness. Finally, Google has brought warnings about unknown tracking devices directly into Android and rolled out the feature to all Android 6.0+ devices.

Just like the iPhone, if your Android phone detects an unwanted tracking device moving with you, an alert will appear on the phone. You can then use the Play sound option to make the tracker ring and find its exact location. The owner will not be informed about this. Once you've found the tracker, touch it to the back of your phone to find more information about the owner.

There is also a manual scan option in Settings > Safety & emergency > Unknown tracker alerts > Scan Now .

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If the app detects an unknown AirTag around you, you can use the Play Sound option to ensure the device is not being used to track you. The tracker will beep for 10 minutes after selecting this option.

Limitations of using AirTag with Android devices

Even after using an iPhone to set up AirTag, you can't use it with an Android phone for location tracking. You can't even use iCloud.com from your Android phone's web browser to track your AirTag. That's because AirTag can only be tracked using the Find My app on iPhone, iPad or Mac. This app is not available for Android devices.

Scanning for unknown AirTags in the surrounding area is quite limited. You can use this feature to avoid being tracked or return a lost AirTag to its original owner.

With the above limitations, purchasing an AirTag for Android devices is pointless. Instead, it's a good idea to wait for Find My Device-compatible trackers from Tile and Chipolo to hit the market. However, if you have a Samsung phone, you can buy the Galaxy SmartTag 2, which works with Samsung's SmartThings Find network.

David Pac

Update 15 May 2024