AirTag by Apple is a small but very useful device. It has been soaring in popularity since its launch due to the countless use cases. Many users wonder if they can share an AirTag’s location or track it using a family member’s iPhone. If you’re one of them, we’ll help you figure out if it’s possible, and if yes, then how.
There can be various uses of Apple’s AirTags, like tracking your accessories, vehicle, pets, and even your children. They’d become more useful if you could share their location with others if you can’t track them using your device or Apple ID. However, Apple doesn’t provide built-in functionality for that.
If you’d like to share an AirTag’s location with others or your family, this post will help you explore the truth. Just scroll down, keep reading, and you’ll know everything.
What Is An AirTag?
An AirTag is a tracking device by Apple. After years of speculation and rumors, it was launched on April 20, 2021. They are Bluetooth-based tracking devices aimed at helping you keep tabs on valuables or frequently lost items such as your bag, car keys, pets, and others.
AirTags uses the internet to send locations to the associated iCloud account, which can be easily tracked using an iPhone. Users can also play a sound upon reaching the location to find the AirTag. Many users also try silencing these devices to track people silently. This turned into a major controversy last year.
Despite the controversies, there is a wide range of good use cases for AirTags. That’s why they were among the highest-selling devices by Apple last year.
How Does An Apple AirTag Work?
An AirTag utilizes Bluetooth technology to communicate with nearby Apple devices like iPhones and iPads. When an AirTag is within the range of an iDevice, it sends a signal which is then captured by the device. This allows it to track the AirTag’s location using the Find My app.
AirTag also has a built-in speaker that can play a sound to help you locate it accurately when you are nearby. This will help you keep track of things that can be lost easily. So, you need to link an AirTag with your Apple Id and then stick it to things like your car keys, remotes, etc.
Can You Share An AirTag’s Location With Others?
Unfortunately, no. You can’t share an AirTag’s location with others as Apple has designed the device to be used only one person at a time. If you want to track your child or pet, you have to stick an AirTag to them, and then you can track wherever they move. However, you can’t share that location with anyone else.
Apple doesn’t allow sharing the location of an AirTag with other users. You can only track it using the Apple ID that the AirTag is linked with. This is because Apple wants to protect the privacy and safety of AirTag owners. They don’t want hackers and other nuisances to access and track the location of your valuables.
Still, sharing an AirTag’s location with others appears promising and can have several good uses. Users have been calling for it ever since the AirTags were introduced. It’ll be interesting to see if Apple listens to the users and finds a way to implement the feature in future updates.
Can You Share An AirTag’s Location With A Family Member’s iPhone?
You can’t share your AirTag’s location with your family member’s devices either. Apple doesn’t allow that. If you have given an AirTag to your child, you can only track him or her using the Apple ID the device is linked to. There is no built-in functionality to share the AirTag’s location with a family member or friend.
However, a quick workaround is to use the AirTag with a common Apple ID. For instance, you can share and give access to the Apple ID linked to the AirTag you’ve given your child to other members of your family. You can also use this trick for your pets and other shared items.
Sharing the linked Apple ID is currently the only way you can share the location of an AirTag with others. It’s unknown if Apple will ever provide a feature to share the location within the device.
Can Others Track Your AirTag In Any Way?
No, other people can’t track your AirTag through any means. There is no way to intercept and track its location. Only the owner of an AirTag can track its location through the Find My app and its linked iCloud account. However, if your Apple ID is hacked, the hackers can also track your AirTag’s location.
Besides, there is no need to worry if someone can track your AirTag’s location. Still, if you suspect someone is tracking you or your vehicle, you should thoroughly check if they have secretly placed their AirTag on the vehicle or your items.
Is It Possible To Transfer Your AirTag To Others?
Yes, it is possible to transfer your AirTag to others. However, you can’t do it until you de-link or remove your Apple ID from it and then reset it. You can do this when you have a spare AirTag that you don’t use anymore and want to give or sell to someone.
To remove an AirTag from your Apple ID, launch the Find My app and tap on the AirTag you want to remove. Next, find and tap on “Remove Item.” This will remove the AirTag from your Apple account. Remember that you can’t track the AirTag anymore after removing it.
The next step is to reset the AirTag, which will be like a new device coming out of the box. Anyone will be able to use it then. We have explained the procedure below.
How To Reset An Apple AirTag?
Here’s the process to reset an Apple AirTag:
- Pick up the AirTag and remove the battery cover by turning it counterclockwise.
- Now remove the battery.
- Next, replace the battery and press down on it until you hear a sound.
- Repeat this process four more times.
- The fifth sound will differ, indicating that your AirTag is ready to pair.
- Next, attach the cover back by aligning the tabs with the slots of AirTag.
- Finally, press down on the cover and keep rotating it clockwise.
The LED lights will start flashing white, and the information will be erased. This way, you have restored it to factory settings. You can pair the AirTag with any Apple ID and start using it.
Frequently Asked Questions:
A: No, someone else can’t track your AirTag’s location until they have hacked into your Apple ID. Only you can track the AirTag’s location on your iPhone or iPad through the Find My app.
A: No, sharing your AirTag location with others is impossible. Apple doesn’t provide this functionality as the device is designed to be used by only one person at a time. If you’d like someone else to track the location of the AirTag that you use, you can share your Apple ID and iCloud access with them.
A: Yes, it’s possible to track an AirTag by two or more phones by signing in to the same Apple ID/ iCloud account that is linked to the AirTag on all of them. A single AirTag can only be tracked using a single Apple ID that it is paired with.
A: No, you can’t share an AirTag’s location with your family members, as it’s developed to be used by exclusive users. However, you can share the paired Apple ID with your trusted people to share the AirTag’s location.
A: It is impossible to hack an AirTag’s location as Apple hasn’t added the sharing functionality to the device. However, if you can hack into the paired Apple ID, then you can track the location of the AirTag as well. That isn’t child’s play, though.
Final Words:
Apple AirTags are incredibly useful for keeping track of your easily lost items. You have to stick an AirTag on them, and then you can track their location through the Find My app on your iPhone/ iPad. However, you can’t share your AirTag location with others, even if they are your family members. Only you can track its location.
This is because Apple doesn’t want others to know the whereabouts of your AirTags for privacy and safety purposes. If you still want to share the location of your AirTag, you’ll have to share the access of the paired Apple ID. This is the only working workaround right now.
That’s all for this post. Feel free to use the comment box if you have any queries about anything shared above. We’ll be glad to help you more.
This is Saquib, a technology and social media expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. With a passion for staying up-to-date on the latest developments and trends in the tech and social media world and as a writer, I have been creating informative and engaging content that is easy for readers to understand and enjoy, also published in several leading tech and social media publications and is a regular speaker at industry events. In addition to my writing and speaking engagements, I also work as a consultant, helping businesses grow with the ever-changing tech and social media niche.
