AirTag stalking: What it is and how to protect yourself against it

What is AirTag stalking?

AirTag stalking refers to the misuse of Apple AirTags to track people without their consent. A common AirTag stalking scenario is a jealous ex planting an AirTag in a former partner’s bag or on their car. Criminals also use this tracking device to attempt to steal cars by keeping track of owners’ movements.

AirTag stalking has been an issue since the product’s release in 2021. In the UK, ITV News found that the use of GPS trackers reported in “coercive control and stalking cases” rose by 317%. And in Australia, according to a NSW Crime Commission study, one in four customers buying a tracking device had a history of domestic violence.

How does AirTag stalking work?

By secretly placing an AirTag on someone’s belongings, a stalker can track their movements. These small devices use Bluetooth to communicate with nearby iPhones within the Find My network, providing a range of about 30-100 feet (9-30 meters). This feature allows for relatively accurate tracking because any nearby iPhone can detect the AirTag's signal and relay its location.

AirTags don’t store location history, meaning a stalker can’t review a history of where you've been. However, they can see the last known location and timestamp, offering a snapshot of your movements. While effective for finding lost items, this same technology opens the door for privacy invasion, allowing individuals to track you without your knowledge.

How to tell if someone is stalking you with an AirTag

With phone notifications and audio alerts, you can locate an unknown AirTag that is with you. You can also manually scan with your smartphone and do a physical search. Let’s take a look at more details on how to detect AirTags and how to know if an AirTag is tracking you.

Phone notifications

Your iPhone automatically scans for unknown AirTags. If an AirTag is detected out of range of its owner and also appears to be traveling with you, you’ll receive an “AirTag detected near you" notification. It can serve as an Apple AirTag stalking alert, especially if you don’t have an AirTag.

To manually enable tracking notifications, turn on a few settings:

• Go to your Settings app > “Privacy & security” > “Location services” > “System services,” and then turn on “Find my iPhone.”
• Go to your Settings app > “Privacy & security” > “Location services” > “System services,” and then turn on the “Significant locations” option.
• Go to your Settings app > Click on “Bluetooth” and turn it on.
• Open the Find My app > tap “Me” > “Customize tracking notifications” > turn on “Allow notifications.”

AirTag audio alert

If you receive an alert that an AirTag is traveling with you, check on the Find My app if you’re able to play a sound on the AirTag. To do so, tap the alert on your phone and select “Continue,” then tap “Play sound.” You can play a sound as many times as you want as you try to locate the source.

Manual scan with your smartphone

You can also perform a manual search for AirTag misuse with your smartphone. Both iOS and Android devices can search for and detect AirTags within a Bluetooth range of about 50 feet (15 meters).

With Apple devices, open the Find My app and select the “Items” tab. Look for messages like “Items detected with you” or "Items that can track me." Tap on it and follow the instructions to locate the AirTag.

On an Android device, open the Settings app, go to “Safety and emergency,” then “Unknown tracker alerts.” Tap “Scan now.” If a tracker is detected, follow the instructions to determine its location.

Physical search

If you believe you might be a victim of AirTag stalking and have exhausted other options, remember that you can always physically check for an AirTag. Go through your clothes and coats, especially pockets. Search through your purse, bag, or car. You may find an AirTag attached to the underside of your vehicle or at the bottom of your purse.

What to do if you find a suspicious AirTag

If you suspect someone is using an AirTag to track you, it’s important to act quickly. First thing, take a screenshot of the AirTag and the device’s serial number for your records. To see the serial number, just hold the top of your phone near the white side of the AirTag until you see a message, which you can tap to pull up a URL with the AirTag’s serial number. Next, disable the device. You can remove the battery by pushing down on the back of the AirTag and twisting counterclockwise.

Before the next step, make sure you definitely have reason to believe you are being stalked without consent. Sometimes, cases like this are just lost AirTags. If you feel your safety is at risk, it’s time to contact local law enforcement to report the crime. 

How to protect yourself from AirTag stalking

If you believe you are being tracked or just want to stay safe, follow these tips:

• Regularly check your belongings for AirTags or AirTag alternatives. These devices are tiny and easy to miss.
• When traveling, use a luggage lock. Thoroughly check your bag and its contents when you leave and arrive.
• Keep a close eye on your mail. Unknown boxes or envelopes can contain Bluetooth trackers.
• If you have an iPhone or iPad running iOS 14.5 or later, you can also use Apple's tracking notification features. For Android users, you can use the Tracker Detect app.

AirTag stalking cases and statistics

Since Apple introduced the AirTag in 2021 to help people find lost keys and other items, multiple incidents of AirTag-related stalking have been reported. In 2021, an East Coast woman was in her car when she started receiving alerts that said an AirTag was moving with her. An AirTag was found attached to the wheel well of the car, likely put there by a criminal who wanted to steal the victim’s vehicle.

In 2022, a British woman was in her car when a message popped up on her phone saying that an Apple AirTag had been detected nearby. After a search, she found the AirTag under the carpet in the back — put there by her ex-partner when he transferred their child’s car seat from his car to her backseat. Also in 2022, an Indianapolis woman used an AirTag to track and kill her ex-boyfriend.

In 2022, dozens of plaintiffs sued Apple, claiming that they were stalked by AirTag users and that Apple didn’t take sufficient steps to stop it from happening. Apple tried to dismiss the litigation in a filing in 2023, but that motion was dismissed in March 2024.

In 2023, a Texas man used an AirTag to find his stolen truck and kill the suspected thief. Also in 2023, a Chicago woman was fatally attacked after removing a tracking device from her car, which had been placed there by her former boyfriend.

How Apple is addressing AirTag stalking

As Apple has become aware of these incidents of stalking, it has built safety features into the AirTag that are geared toward preventing illegal tracking. As mentioned, your phone will scan for unknown AirTags automatically. If an AirTag that isn’t connected to your Apple ID is detected traveling with you and is also owned by someone out of range, you’ll receive visual feedback in the form of an “AirTag detected near you” notification on your phone. 

The prospect of AirTag stalking is a highly unsettling one. Through the examples of AirTag stalking shown here, you can see the terrible results that can arise from this device. But by using the safety features available on your iPhone and the other safety tips included in this article as well as involving law enforcement when necessary, you can help to protect yourself from becoming a victim.