How Far Can You Track an Apple Air Tag?

Apple Air Tags provide you with a reliable way to track the items that are important to you. Heading out the door and unable to find your car keys? Using the technology between the Air Tag and your smartphone, you will locate your items in no time. However, as with any technology, there is a limit to the distance you will be able to track.

An Apple Air Tag requires Bluetooth to connect to your smartphone; to complete a connection and track the connected item, you will need to be in an approximate range of thirty feet or less to locate the Air Tag successfully.

Using Bluetooth as a proximity detector, along with a specialty U1 chip that gives a precise location for the item you seek, the Apple Air Tag keeps an exceptionally accurate track of what is important to you. Keep reading to learn how the Air Tag tracking works and how to use it to ensure it is connected, and always keeping a digital eye on your items.

Is There a Limit to How Far Apple Air Tags Can Track?

The Apple Air Tag provides you with a secure way to keep an eye on your most important items, but since it relies on a Bluetooth connection, there are limits to the distance in which it can alert you. While thirty feet is the accepted norm for tracking distance, barriers such as walls, doors, and other location levels can shorten the distance.

Below are a few of the factors that can inhibit the Apple Air Tag’s tracking ability:

Limited Bluetooth Availability

Since Apple Air Tags rely on Bluetooth to locate a device, you will not locate your item if you are in an area where there are no devices capable of picking up the signal. Apple has not released sufficient data about its tracking technology to allow for further investigation of its capabilities. Apple relies on many other Apple devices enabled for tracking to help find Air Tags in their proximity.

Tracking Only Works with U1-Capable Devices

The type of technology used for the device is Bluetooth Low Energy. In addition, there is also a proprietary U1 chip that provides precision tracking that can pinpoint the device’s location to just a few centimeters. However, a U1 capable device must also be used to take advantage of this tracking type. If you do not have the U1 capable device, precision tracking will not be available.

NFC Chip Limitations

There is an NFC chip included in the Air Tag, which contains information to help verify ownership. While this does not specifically add to the tracking, it is a vital component of the tracking process. It does store information about the owner of the device, including contact information. This information being available to anyone who can find your device has brought up security concerns with data privacy with the ability for others to track your Apple Air Tag.

The enhanced tracking distance capabilities, known as NFC, are available on certain iOS devices and allows the user to take advantage of locating your device within just a few centimeters. Next is a list of the devices you can use this feature with.

• iPhone 11
• iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro Max
• iPhone 12 Mini
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 12 Pro
• iPhone 12 Pro Max

If you own an older iPhone model, you will still be able to track your Air Tag, but without the capability of the U1 chip and Precision Tracking. An older device will use the Find My feature, ping the Air Tag, and only providing a general location to help locate the lost item.

Other Concerns with the Apple Air Tag’s Tracking Distance

With emerging technology, there will be concerns with privacy, data storage, and safeguarding personal information. However, Apple has been working to keep the software updated and allowing for excellent distance tracking while keeping personal data safe. Newer updates have alleviated some concerns for multi-day tracking of devices to keep owners safe by shortening the time devices can be tracked.

Apple has developed and released an app for Android users to download to track unwanted Air Tags on their person or in their vicinity. In contrast to the fully functional Apple app, the Android app provides non-iOS users the ability to locate Air Tags around them. With the entire Apple network relying on other devices to help track Air Tags, regular updates must occur to keep this technology safe and used for its intended purposes.

Conclusion

Apple Air Tags provide superior tracking technology and distance to help you locate any item you have it attached to within an acceptable distance. With regular updates that protect user privacy and improve enhanced features, the Air Tag is a precise and convenient way to help you locate an item you do not want to lose.