When Apple introduced the AirTag – a small, circular device that helps keep track of personal belongings, it revolutionized the way we locate our misplaced or lost items. However, a frequently asked question that arises in the mind of prospective and current users is whether an AirTag can be tracked by multiple people. This blog post aims to address this query in detail and explore the intricacies of AirTag’s sharing capabilities.
Currently, AirTags can only be tracked by one person at a time. The reason being, when you set up an AirTag, it gets linked to your unique Apple ID. This means you alone can see the AirTag’s location in the Find My app. Nevertheless, it’s important to delve deeper into the facets of this subject and learn about possible workarounds and future updates from Apple.
Understanding AirTag Tracking
The design principle of AirTag restricts its tracking ability to the Apple ID it’s initially set up with. This ensures only you can monitor its location using the Find My app. Sharing the AirTag’s tracking with someone else necessitates removing it from your Apple ID, thus allowing the other person to add it to theirs.
Sharing an AirTag
While the sharing process isn’t particularly complex, it limits the AirTag’s tracking to one user at a time. Let’s go through the sharing process:
- Open the Find My app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on the AirTag you wish to share.
- Tap on the ••• icon in the top right corner and select Share Item.
- Enter the email address or phone number of the person you want to share the AirTag with and tap on Send.
The recipient will receive a link through the provided email or phone number, leading them to the Find My app, where they can add the shared AirTag to their Apple ID.
Removing an AirTag from your Apple ID
To share the AirTag with someone else, you must first remove it from your Apple ID. Here are the steps:
- Open the Find My app.
- Select the AirTag to be removed.
- Tap on the ••• icon in the top right corner.
- Select Remove Item.
Tracking AirTag with Multiple People – Current Scenario and Future Possibilities
At present, to track an AirTag with multiple people, each individual would need a separate AirTag. However, Apple is expected to change this with the upcoming iOS 17 update. This update is expected to allow users to share AirTags with up to five other people, making it simpler to track shared items like luggage or keys within a family or a group of friends.
Using Third-Party Apps for AirTag Sharing
Before the official update rolls out, users can explore third-party apps to share the location of an AirTag with multiple people. While these apps aren’t officially supported by Apple and might not be as reliable as the Find My app, they provide temporary solutions for users in need. Some popular options include:
- AirTag Buddy
- AirTags Share
- AirTag Location
These apps offer several unique features, including alerts when the AirTag leaves a specific location, and share the AirTag’s location via email, text message, and even social media.
Conclusion
While the current design of AirTags allows only one user to track its location, the scenario is set to change with Apple’s future updates. Meanwhile, third-party apps can serve as a temporary solution for those wanting to share an AirTag’s location with multiple people. Understanding these capabilities and knowing how to manipulate them will enable you to utilize AirTags to their fullest potential, making your life simpler and less stressful.
