An “AirTag Found Moving With You” alert, or a small white disc taped inside a bumper, can be frightening. This guide walks through what Apple and Google say to do, and how to keep a record of what happened in case you need it later.
Step 1: Make Sure You Are Safe
Your safety comes before any evidence. Apple and Google both advise going to a safe public place and contacting law enforcement if you feel at risk. If you are in danger right now, call 911.
If the person you think is tracking you is a partner, former partner or family member, an advocate can help you plan next steps. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is free and available 24/7 at 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788.
Not every alert means someone is tracking you. Apple says you might get one if you are borrowing an item with an AirTag attached, or traveling with someone else’s AirPods.
Step 2: Use the Alert to Try to Find the Device
On an iPhone or iPad
- Tap the alert, then tap Continue.
- Tap Play Sound and listen. You can play it again.
- If your iPhone supports Precision Finding, tap Find to see the distance and direction to the unknown AirTag.
- If you cannot play a sound or find it, check places you don’t look often, such as a jacket pocket, an outer bag compartment or your car.
Apple says that if the sound option is missing, the AirTag may no longer be with you, may be near its owner, or may have changed its identifier overnight.
On an Android phone
Phones running Android 6.0 or later can send unknown tracker alerts. Tap the alert to open a map, then tap Play sound. Google says the owner is not notified when you play the sound. You can also run a manual scan any time: open Settings, then Safety & Emergency, then Unknown tracker alerts, then Scan now. A scan takes about ten seconds.
Step 3: Save the Evidence Before It Disappears
Some of what your phone shows you does not last. Google says previous Android tracker alerts are deleted after 48 hours, and that you will get only one alert per tracker each day. Take screenshots as soon as you can.
- The alert itself, with the date and time
- The map showing where the AirTag was seen with you. On iPhone, the red dots mark where it was detected near your device.
- Android scan results
- Photos of the AirTag and the exact spot where you found it
If you find the AirTag, hold the top of your iPhone or an NFC-capable phone near its white side. A web page opens with the AirTag’s serial number and the last four digits of the phone number of the person who registered it. Apple suggests taking a screenshot.
On iPhone, you can see AirTags you were alerted about in the Find My app: tap Items, then Unknown Items Detected with You.
Step 4: Decide When to Disable It
Disabling an AirTag stops the owner from getting location updates. Apple’s instructions appear when you tap Instructions to Disable. On Android, follow the tracker maker’s instructions.
Turning off Bluetooth or Location Services, or turning on Airplane Mode, does not stop the owner from seeing the AirTag’s location. Apple and Google both say the tracker itself must be disabled.
Before you disable it, think about timing. Apple says law enforcement can work with it to request information about an AirTag, and may need the device and its serial number. In one AirTag lawsuit, plaintiffs alleged that removing the battery alerts the owner. If it is safe, consider talking with police or an advocate first, and keep the AirTag once it is disabled.
Step 5: Report It
Make a police report, even if you do not know who placed the AirTag. Bring your screenshots and the serial number. Keep a copy of the report and the report number.
If a mechanic or auto shop helped you search your car, keep the receipt or invoice. In one case described in a federal court ruling, a woman could hear the AirTag under her car but could not find it, and a shop told her the car would have to be taken apart.
What If You Never Found It?
Sometimes the alerts continue but the device is never found, or the AirTag stops responding before you can reach it. Write down what you saw and when, and keep every screenshot. Alerts, scans and police records can still show that an AirTag was involved.
Could You Have a Legal Claim?
Federal lawsuits now gathered in MDL No. 3199 allege that Apple’s safety features did not do enough to protect people from AirTag stalking. Those claims have not been proven. We explain the case in AirTag Stalking Lawsuits Against Apple Centralized in New Federal MDL.
If an AirTag was used to track you without your consent and you were harmed, our Apple AirTag stalking lawsuit page explains who may have a claim. Request a free case review.
Submitting information does not create an attorney-client relationship. Each potential claim is evaluated individually, and no outcome can be promised.
This article is general information about how these cases work. It is not legal advice, it does not create an attorney-client relationship, and no two claims are alike. If something here sounds like your situation, the useful next step is a conversation about the facts.