# TrackerSonar — full website text > Complete text of https://trackersonar.com/ in one file for AI assistants and search engines. Publisher: Metko Labs. Last updated: 2026-10-20. Please cite the page URL given above each section. ## Summary (from /llms.txt) > TrackerSonar is a tracker detector app for iPhone, iPad and Android, made by Metko Labs. It scans for AirTags, Tile, Samsung SmartTag, Chipolo and other Bluetooth trackers that may be following you, flags unknown ones and helps you find them. This website also publishes carefully sourced guides about unwanted Bluetooth trackers and stalking safety. Key facts (quotable): - Name: TrackerSonar. App Store title: "Tracker Detect - TrackerSonar". Google Play title: "Tracker Detect". - Developer and publisher: Metko Labs (https://www.metkolabs.com, info@metkolabs.com). - Platforms: iPhone and iPad (iOS/iPadOS 17 or later); Android via Google Play. Detailed feature descriptions on this site refer to the iPhone and iPad app; Android features and pricing may differ. - Price model: free download. On iPhone and iPad the free version includes 5 scans of 10 seconds each and shows ads; the optional TrackerSonar Premium subscription (weekly, monthly or yearly) adds unlimited 30-second scans, Live Locate, play sound, sightings map and timeline, background alerts, widget and Live Activity, scan settings and complete scan history, with no ads. - Detects: Apple AirTag and other Find My network accessories, Tile, Samsung Galaxy SmartTag, Chipolo, Pebblebee, Google Find Hub tags and trackers that follow the Apple–Google "Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers" specification; also lists other Bluetooth devices such as AirPods. - Badges: SUSPICIOUS = tags that can be used to track people and are not marked as known; TRACKED = a device seen in the user's scans at places more than 50 m apart. - Privacy: no account; scan results, sighting locations, favorites and known devices stay on the device. - Limits: cannot identify a tracker's owner, cannot disable a tracker, cannot detect trackers that are off, out of range or don't use Bluetooth; iOS limits background scanning. - Safety: if you feel in danger, contact local emergency services. Document a tracker before disabling it; it can be evidence. - Download: App Store https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6753645096?pt=125741936&ct=tsweb&mt=8 · Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.metko.trackerfinder&referrer=utm_source%3Dtsweb%26utm_medium%3Dwebsite - How to cite: "TrackerSonar – tracker detector app for iPhone, iPad and Android by Metko Labs. https://trackersonar.com/" ## App - [Home](https://trackersonar.com/): What TrackerSonar is, how it works in three steps, screenshots, Free vs Premium and a short FAQ. - [Features](https://trackersonar.com/features/): Every feature of the iPhone and iPad app explained, with Free/Premium tier and honest limits. - [Fact sheet](https://trackersonar.com/press/): Key facts, boilerplate, citation format, logo and screenshots. ## Guides - [How to tell if someone is tracking you with an AirTag](https://trackersonar.com/guides/is-someone-tracking-me-with-an-airtag/): Warning signs, how iPhone and Android unknown-tracker alerts work, and a 10-minute self-check. - [How to find a hidden AirTag or Bluetooth tracker](https://trackersonar.com/guides/find-hidden-airtag-or-bluetooth-tracker/): Play a sound, follow the Bluetooth signal and search a car, bag or clothes. - [What to do if you find a tracker following you](https://trackersonar.com/guides/what-to-do-if-you-find-a-tracker/): Safety, documenting evidence, identifying an AirTag, whether to disable it, police and support organizations. - [AirTag vs Tile vs SmartTag vs Chipolo: how each can be detected](https://trackersonar.com/guides/airtag-vs-tile-vs-smarttag-vs-chipolo-detection/): Finding networks, which phones warn about which trackers, and how a scanner sees them. - [Built-in iPhone and Android tracker alerts vs a scanner app](https://trackersonar.com/guides/built-in-tracker-alerts-vs-scanner-app/): Honest comparison of built-in alerts and a dedicated tracker detector. - [All guides](https://trackersonar.com/guides/): Index of guides. ## Reference - [FAQ](https://trackersonar.com/faq/): 26 short, self-contained answers about TrackerSonar and unwanted trackers. - [About and editorial policy](https://trackersonar.com/about/): Metko Labs, mission, how guides are sourced and checked, contact. - [Privacy policy](https://trackersonar.com/privacy/): Privacy policy of the app and of this website. ## Optional - [Full text of this website](https://trackersonar.com/llms-full.txt): All pages as plain text/Markdown in one file. - [Sitemap](https://trackersonar.com/sitemap.xml): All page URLs. --- ## Page: TrackerSonar – Find Hidden AirTags & Bluetooth Trackers Near You URL: https://trackersonar.com/ Title: TrackerSonar – Find Hidden AirTags & Bluetooth Trackers Near You Description: TrackerSonar scans for hidden AirTags, Tile, Samsung SmartTag, Chipolo and other Bluetooth trackers that may be following you, and helps you find them. For iPhone, iPad and Android. Last updated: 2026-10-20 Tracker detector for iPhone, iPad & Android ## Find hidden AirTags and Bluetooth trackers near you **TrackerSonar** is an iPhone, iPad and Android app that scans for AirTags, Tile, Samsung SmartTag, Chipolo and other Bluetooth trackers that may be following you, and shows you which devices need your attention. On iPhone and iPad, Live Locate then leads you to a hidden tag with a warmer/colder signal meter. ### What is TrackerSonar? TrackerSonar is a Bluetooth tracker detector made by Metko Labs. It listens for the Bluetooth signals that item trackers send out and recognizes many common types — Apple AirTag and other Find My accessories, Tile, Samsung Galaxy SmartTag, Chipolo, Pebblebee and Google Find Hub tags — so you can check your bag, your car or a hotel room for a hidden tracker in seconds. It helps when you suspect that someone is tracking your location without your consent, after your phone has shown an unknown-tracker alert, or when you simply want to know which Bluetooth tags are around you. Each scan ends with a clear verdict — “No trackers found” or “1 possible tracker nearby” — and lists possible trackers first. The same finder also helps you locate your own earbuds or headphones nearby. ### How it works Three steps, about a minute. 1. **Scan**: Tap **Scan for Trackers**. A live radar fills as nearby Bluetooth devices are found. Free scans run for 10 seconds, Premium scans for 30 seconds. Walk slowly through the space you want to check. 2. **Review**: Possible trackers are listed first, followed by other Bluetooth devices such as AirPods. SUSPICIOUS marks tags that can be used to track people; TRACKED marks devices seen at several places you scanned. 3. **Find**: Open a device to see what it is and how strong its signal is. With Premium, Live Locate guides you warmer or colder, points you toward the strongest direction and can play a sound on supported tags. ### Features Everything you need to check for hidden trackers and find them. [See all features in detail](https://trackersonar.com/features/). - [Scan for hidden trackers](https://trackersonar.com/features/#scan): Check your bag, your car or a hotel room in seconds and get a clear answer: “No trackers found” or “1 possible tracker nearby”. - [See what needs attention](https://trackersonar.com/features/#badges): SUSPICIOUS marks tags that can be used to track people. TRACKED marks devices seen at several places you scanned. - [Find it with Live Locate Premium](https://trackersonar.com/features/#live-locate): A warmer/colder signal meter, haptic ticks and a direction sweep lead you to a tag hidden in a bag, coat or car. - [Is it following me? Premium](https://trackersonar.com/features/#sightings): Every scan remembers where devices were seen. The sightings map and timeline show whether a device moves with you. - [Alerts in the background Premium](https://trackersonar.com/features/#background-alerts): Turn on continuous scan and get a notification when a tracker shows up near you. Widget and Live Activity included. - [Known devices and history](https://trackersonar.com/features/#known-devices): Mark your own tags as known so they stop showing as suspicious, keep favorites and review your past scans. ### Screenshots TrackerSonar on iPhone. It is designed for iPad too, in portrait and landscape, light and dark mode. ### Doesn’t my phone already warn me about AirTags? Often, yes — and you should keep those alerts turned on. An iPhone with iOS 14.5 or later alerts you when an AirTag or Find My accessory that is separated from its owner is seen moving with you over time, and since iOS 17.5 it also covers compatible trackers from other brands. Android 6.0 and later has unknown tracker alerts and a manual scan. Built-in alerts are designed to appear after a tracker has travelled with you for a while. TrackerSonar adds an on-demand scan on iPhone and iPad, a list of the trackers around you right now — including types your phone may not alert you about — and tools to physically find them. Read the honest comparison: [built-in tracker alerts vs a scanner app](https://trackersonar.com/guides/built-in-tracker-alerts-vs-scanner-app/). ### Free vs Premium TrackerSonar Free vs Premium on iPhone and iPad | Feature | Free | Premium | |---|---|---| | Tracker scans | 5 free scans, 10 seconds each | Unlimited scans, 30 seconds each | | Verdict and lists of possible trackers and other Bluetooth devices | Yes (device names partly hidden) | Yes, with full device names | | SUSPICIOUS and TRACKED badges | Yes | Yes, plus the SAFE badge | | Mark your own devices as known | Yes | Yes | | Favorites | Unlimited | Unlimited | | Scan history | Your 10 most recent scans | Complete history | | Live Locate hot/cold finder with direction sweep | Not included | Yes | | Play a sound on supported tags | Not included | Yes | | Sightings map and “Is it following me?” timeline | Not included | Yes | | Background scan with tracker alerts | Not included | Yes | | Protection status widget and Live Activity | Not included | Yes | | Adjustable scan settings (indoor/outdoor, range) | Not included | Yes | | Ads | Yes | No ads | Premium is an optional auto-renewable subscription (weekly, monthly or yearly) billed through your App Store account; current prices are shown in the app and on the App Store. You can restore purchases at any time in Settings. TrackerSonar is also available on Android, where features and pricing may differ. ### Guides about unwanted trackers Clear, carefully checked answers to the questions people ask when they fear a tracker is following them. - [How to tell if someone is tracking you with an AirTag](https://trackersonar.com/guides/is-someone-tracking-me-with-an-airtag/): The four warning signs, how iPhone and Android alerts work, and a 10-minute self-check. - [How to find a hidden AirTag or Bluetooth tracker](https://trackersonar.com/guides/find-hidden-airtag-or-bluetooth-tracker/): Play a sound, follow the signal, and search a car, bag or clothes step by step. - [What to do if you find a tracker following you](https://trackersonar.com/guides/what-to-do-if-you-find-a-tracker/): Safety first, document the evidence, identify the tag, decide about disabling it and contact the police. - [AirTag vs Tile vs SmartTag vs Chipolo: how each can be detected](https://trackersonar.com/guides/airtag-vs-tile-vs-smarttag-vs-chipolo-detection/): Which networks they use, which phones warn you about them and how a scanner sees them. - [Built-in iPhone and Android tracker alerts vs a scanner app](https://trackersonar.com/guides/built-in-tracker-alerts-vs-scanner-app/): An honest comparison: when built-in alerts are enough and what a dedicated app adds. ### Frequently asked questions #### Q: #### What is TrackerSonar? TrackerSonar is a tracker detector app for iPhone, iPad and Android, made by Metko Labs. It scans for AirTags, Tile, Samsung SmartTag, Chipolo and other Bluetooth trackers that may be following you, flags the unknown ones and helps you find them. #### Q: #### Is TrackerSonar free? TrackerSonar is a free download. On iPhone and iPad the free version includes 5 tracker scans of 10 seconds each, full scan verdicts, SUSPICIOUS and TRACKED badges, known devices and favorites, and shows ads. [TrackerSonar Premium](#free-vs-premium) is an optional subscription that adds unlimited 30-second scans, Live Locate, the sightings map, background alerts and more, with no ads. #### Q: #### Which trackers can TrackerSonar detect? TrackerSonar recognizes Apple AirTags and other Find My network accessories, Tile, Samsung Galaxy SmartTag, Chipolo, Pebblebee, Google Find Hub tags and trackers that follow the Apple–Google unwanted-tracking specification. It also lists other nearby Bluetooth devices such as AirPods. No app can guarantee to detect every tracker, especially ones that are switched off or don't use Bluetooth. #### Q: #### Does TrackerSonar work on Android? Yes. TrackerSonar is also available on Android through [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.metko.trackerfinder&referrer=utm_source%3Dtsweb%26utm_medium%3Dwebsite), where it is listed as “Tracker Detect”. This website describes the iPhone and iPad app in detail; features and pricing on Android may differ. #### Q: #### Can TrackerSonar tell me who owns a tracker? No. A Bluetooth scan cannot reveal who owns a tracker. For an AirTag, holding it near an iPhone or NFC-capable Android phone shows its serial number and the last four digits of the owner's phone number, and police can request owner information from Apple. See [what to do if you find a tracker](https://trackersonar.com/guides/what-to-do-if-you-find-a-tracker/). #### Q: #### Does TrackerSonar upload my location? No. Scan results, the places where devices were seen, favorites and known devices are stored only on your device; TrackerSonar has no accounts and no server of its own. The free version uses Google AdMob for ads and the app uses Firebase for usage statistics and crash reports, as described in the [privacy policy](https://trackersonar.com/privacy/). [See all questions and answers](https://trackersonar.com/faq/) **If you feel you are in danger:** go to a safe, public place and contact local emergency services (for example 911 in the US, 112 in the EU, 999 in the UK or 000 in Australia). Think before you disable or throw away a tracker: it can be evidence, and once it is disabled its owner stops getting location updates, which they may notice. --- ## Page: TrackerSonar Features – Tracker Scan, Live Locate, Alerts & More URL: https://trackersonar.com/features/ Title: TrackerSonar Features – Tracker Scan, Live Locate, Alerts & More Description: What TrackerSonar does on iPhone and iPad: Bluetooth tracker scan, SUSPICIOUS and TRACKED badges, Live Locate hot/cold finder, play sound, sightings map, background alerts and more. Last updated: 2026-10-20 ## TrackerSonar features An honest overview of what the TrackerSonar app for iPhone and iPad does, how each feature works and whether it is free or part of Premium. This page describes the iPhone and iPad app (iOS and iPadOS 17 or later). TrackerSonar is also available on Android, listed as “Tracker Detect” on [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.metko.trackerfinder&referrer=utm_source%3Dtsweb%26utm_medium%3Dwebsite); its features and pricing may differ. ### Scan for hidden trackers Free: 5 scans Tap **Scan for Trackers** and TrackerSonar listens for every Bluetooth device advertising nearby. A live radar places a dot for each device by its estimated distance, and the scan ends with a clear verdict: **“No trackers found”** or **“1 possible tracker nearby”**. - Possible trackers are listed first, followed by “Other Bluetooth devices” such as AirPods and other Apple devices. Filter chips narrow the list by type. - Free scans run for 10 seconds; the free version includes 5 scans in total. Premium scans run for 30 seconds, as often as you like, with *Scan again*. - Stop a scan at any time to see what has been found so far. - Tip: walk slowly through the room, car or area you want to check while the scan runs. ### Which trackers TrackerSonar recognizes Free TrackerSonar recognizes trackers by the Bluetooth signals they broadcast. It identifies: - Apple **AirTag** and other accessories in Apple’s **Find My** network - **Tile** trackers - **Samsung Galaxy SmartTag** tags - **Chipolo** and **Pebblebee** trackers - Tags in **Google’s Find Hub** network (formerly Find My Device) - Trackers that announce themselves using the Apple–Google industry specification for detecting unwanted location trackers It also lists non-tracker devices such as AirPods, other Apple devices and general Bluetooth devices, so you can see everything around you. For some devices that broadcast very little information, TrackerSonar briefly connects to check whether the device is an AirTag or a Find My accessory and to read its name. **Honest limits:** no app can promise to find every tracker. A tracker that is switched off, out of Bluetooth range or does not transmit Bluetooth signals at all cannot be found by a Bluetooth scan. Trackers also change their Bluetooth address regularly, so the same tag can appear as a new device later. Learn more in [how each tracker brand can be detected](https://trackersonar.com/guides/airtag-vs-tile-vs-smarttag-vs-chipolo-detection/). ### SUSPICIOUS, TRACKED and SAFE badges Free Badges tell you which devices deserve a closer look. - SUSPICIOUS marks tags that can be used to track people — for example devices in Apple’s Find My or Google’s Find Hub network — that you have not marked as your own. - TRACKED marks a device your scans found at places more than 50 m apart. If you don’t recognize it, it may be travelling with you. This needs location access while you scan. - SAFE marks devices that are not classified as trackers (Premium). Each device’s detail page explains what the device is, why it is flagged and what you can do next. ### Mark your own devices as known Free Your own AirTag, your earbuds or a family member’s tag shouldn’t raise an alarm every time. Tap **I know this device** on its detail page (with Undo) and it no longer shows as suspicious. Known devices are listed in the Devices tab, where you can remove them with a swipe, and they are ignored by background alerts. ### Live Locate: warmer or colder Premium Live Locate follows one device’s Bluetooth signal in real time and turns it into a calm “getting warmer / getting colder” guide, so you can walk straight to a tag tucked into a bag, a coat or a car. - **Trend first:** a large *Warmer*, *Colder* or *Steady* label, with a confidence indicator (High, Medium, Low), a signal gauge with a “best so far” marker and the signal strength in dBm. - **Find direction:** hold your phone in front of your chest and turn slowly on the spot (about 20–30 seconds for a full circle). Your body blocks signals coming from behind you, so the strongest heading points toward the tag. It uses the phone’s motion sensors — no compass and no extra permission. - **Haptic ticks** speed up as you get closer; optional sound ticks follow the same rhythm. - **“You’re very close”** panel with hand-search tips and, on supported tags, Play sound. - Trackers such as AirTags may only send a signal every couple of seconds and change their address. Live Locate tells you when the signal is gone and offers to scan again instead of showing a frozen screen. Live Locate also helps you find your own earbuds or headphones nearby. ### Play a sound on supported tags Premium On AirTags and on tags that support the Apple–Google unwanted-tracking specification, TrackerSonar can ask the tag to play a sound so you can hear where it is. It connects briefly over Bluetooth and disconnects afterwards; the button only appears for devices that support it. A tag may refuse the request while it is near its owner — the app tells you when that happens. ### Is it following me? Sightings map and timeline Premium When location access is allowed, every scan remembers where each device was seen. The sightings map and the “Is it following me?” timeline show when and where a device turned up near you, so you can tell whether something really moves with you. - A summary such as “3 places · 3 hr, 57 min”, counting places more than 50 m apart. - Each sighting with its time, place and distance from the previous one; tap a row to highlight it on the map. - Sightings are stored only on your device and never deleted automatically. You can clear them in Settings. Recording sightings is free; viewing the map and timeline is part of Premium. ### Background alerts (continuous scan) Premium Turn on **Background Alerts** and TrackerSonar keeps scanning while it runs in the background and sends a notification when a tracker shows up near you. - Choose what to watch for: trackers or AirPods. - Devices you marked as known never trigger an alert. A device that disappears and comes back after a few minutes can alert again. - Bluetooth and notifications are required. “Always” location access is optional and helps iOS restart background scanning when you move. - A list of recent alerts lets you open each device. **Honest limits:** iOS restricts what apps can scan in the background. Tracker alerts are designed for this; AirPods alerts work best while the app is open. ### Widget and Live Activity Premium Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets show your protection status at a glance — on or off, what is being watched and the time of the last alert. While background scanning is on, a Live Activity shows the status on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island. Tapping opens the app on Scan or on your alerts. ### Scan settings for indoor or outdoor use Premium Choose **Indoor** or **Outdoor** and a search range from **Nearby** to **Extended** or **Maximum**. A shorter range ignores weak, distant signals so you can focus on what is close to you; a longer range shows more of your surroundings. Free users can see all options; changing them is part of Premium. ### Scan history and favorites Free **Scan history** lists your past scans by day with date, time, duration and the number of devices found. The free version shows your 10 most recent scans; Premium shows the complete history. **Favorites** keep devices you want to keep an eye on — unlimited, for everyone. ### Private by design TrackerSonar has no accounts and no server of its own. Scan results, the places where devices were seen, favorites, known devices and scan history stay on your device. The free version shows ads from Google AdMob and asks for your permission before ads may use your advertising identifier; Premium has no ads. The app uses Firebase for usage statistics and crash reports without device names, identifiers of found trackers or locations. Details: [privacy policy](https://trackersonar.com/privacy/). ### Designed for iPhone and iPad On iPad, TrackerSonar uses a sidebar with lists and device details side by side, in portrait and landscape, Split View and Slide Over. Light and dark mode, VoiceOver labels, Dynamic Type and Reduce Motion are supported. The app is available in English, German, Spanish (Spain and Mexico), French, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Dutch, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese and Swedish. It requires iOS or iPadOS 17 or later. ### Free vs Premium TrackerSonar Free vs Premium on iPhone and iPad | Feature | Free | Premium | |---|---|---| | Tracker scans | 5 free scans, 10 seconds each | Unlimited scans, 30 seconds each | | Verdict and lists of possible trackers and other Bluetooth devices | Yes (device names partly hidden) | Yes, with full device names | | SUSPICIOUS and TRACKED badges | Yes | Yes, plus the SAFE badge | | Mark your own devices as known | Yes | Yes | | Favorites | Unlimited | Unlimited | | Scan history | Your 10 most recent scans | Complete history | | Live Locate hot/cold finder with direction sweep | Not included | Yes | | Play a sound on supported tags | Not included | Yes | | Sightings map and “Is it following me?” timeline | Not included | Yes | | Background scan with tracker alerts | Not included | Yes | | Protection status widget and Live Activity | Not included | Yes | | Adjustable scan settings (indoor/outdoor, range) | Not included | Yes | | Ads | Yes | No ads | Premium is an optional auto-renewable subscription (weekly, monthly or yearly) billed through your App Store account; current prices are shown in the app and on the App Store. You can restore purchases at any time in Settings. TrackerSonar is also available on Android, where features and pricing may differ. **If you feel you are in danger:** go to a safe, public place and contact local emergency services (for example 911 in the US, 112 in the EU, 999 in the UK or 000 in Australia). Think before you disable or throw away a tracker: it can be evidence, and once it is disabled its owner stops getting location updates, which they may notice. --- ## Page: Tracker Safety Guides – AirTag Stalking, Hidden Trackers & What to Do | TrackerSonar URL: https://trackersonar.com/guides/ Title: Tracker Safety Guides – AirTag Stalking, Hidden Trackers & What to Do | TrackerSonar Description: Practical, carefully checked guides about unwanted Bluetooth trackers: how to tell if an AirTag is tracking you, how to find a hidden tracker and what to do if you find one. Last updated: 2026-10-20 ## Guides about unwanted trackers Clear answers for anyone who worries that an AirTag or another Bluetooth tracker is following them. Each guide is based on Apple’s and Google’s official documentation and is reviewed by [Metko Labs](https://trackersonar.com/about/). Last updated October 20, 2026 · [How we check our guides](https://trackersonar.com/about/#editorial-policy) - [How to tell if someone is tracking you with an AirTag](https://trackersonar.com/guides/is-someone-tracking-me-with-an-airtag/) The four warning signs, how iPhone and Android alerts work, and a 10-minute self-check. - [How to find a hidden AirTag or Bluetooth tracker](https://trackersonar.com/guides/find-hidden-airtag-or-bluetooth-tracker/) Play a sound, follow the signal, and search a car, bag or clothes step by step. - [What to do if you find a tracker following you](https://trackersonar.com/guides/what-to-do-if-you-find-a-tracker/) Safety first, document the evidence, identify the tag, decide about disabling it and contact the police. - [AirTag vs Tile vs SmartTag vs Chipolo: how each can be detected](https://trackersonar.com/guides/airtag-vs-tile-vs-smarttag-vs-chipolo-detection/) Which networks they use, which phones warn you about them and how a scanner sees them. - [Built-in iPhone and Android tracker alerts vs a scanner app](https://trackersonar.com/guides/built-in-tracker-alerts-vs-scanner-app/) An honest comparison: when built-in alerts are enough and what a dedicated app adds. **If you feel you are in danger:** go to a safe, public place and contact local emergency services (for example 911 in the US, 112 in the EU, 999 in the UK or 000 in Australia). Think before you disable or throw away a tracker: it can be evidence, and once it is disabled its owner stops getting location updates, which they may notice. Looking for quick answers? See the [FAQ](https://trackersonar.com/faq/). Want to check for trackers right now? [Scan with TrackerSonar](https://trackersonar.com/features/#scan). --- ## Page: How to Tell if Someone Is Tracking You With an AirTag | TrackerSonar URL: https://trackersonar.com/guides/is-someone-tracking-me-with-an-airtag/ Title: How to Tell if Someone Is Tracking You With an AirTag | TrackerSonar Description: The warning signs that an AirTag or other Bluetooth tracker is following you, how iPhone and Android tracker alerts work, and a step-by-step 10-minute self-check. Last updated: 2026-10-20 ## How to tell if someone is tracking you with an AirTag The warning signs, how the built-in alerts on iPhone and Android work, and a 10-minute self-check you can do today. By [Metko Labs](https://trackersonar.com/about/), publisher of TrackerSonar · Last updated October 20, 2026 · [How we check our guides](https://trackersonar.com/about/#editorial-policy) ### Key takeaways - An iPhone shows **“AirTag Found Moving With You”** when an AirTag that is separated from its owner is seen moving with you over time. Since iOS 17.5, iPhones also warn about compatible trackers from other brands. - Android phones with Android 6.0 or later have **unknown tracker alerts** and a **manual scan** under Settings › Safety & emergency › Unknown tracker alerts (menu names can vary by manufacturer). - An AirTag that has been away from its owner for a while **plays a sound when it is moved** — but silence does not prove there is no tracker. - A strong sign is the **same unknown device turning up at different places** you go. A scanner app such as [TrackerSonar](https://trackersonar.com/) can check on demand and mark such devices as TRACKED. - Turning off Bluetooth or Location on your phone does **not** stop a tracker; it only stops the warnings. **If you feel you are in danger:** go to a safe, public place and contact local emergency services (for example 911 in the US, 112 in the EU, 999 in the UK or 000 in Australia). Think before you disable or throw away a tracker: it can be evidence, and once it is disabled its owner stops getting location updates, which they may notice. ### How AirTag anti-stalking protection works AirTags and other Find My accessories are designed to help people find their own belongings. To discourage misuse, a tracker that is **separated from its owner** and seen **moving with you over time** triggers a notification on a nearby iPhone or Android phone, or makes the tracker itself play a sound. These trackers use Bluetooth identifiers that change frequently, which protects their owner’s privacy but also means a phone needs some time to be sure the same tracker is travelling with you. Apple does not publish exactly how long that takes. In 2024, Apple and Google added cross-platform alerts based on a shared industry specification, *Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers*, so phones can warn about compatible trackers regardless of which platform they belong to. ### Sign 1: your iPhone shows “AirTag Found Moving With You” On an iPhone or iPad, the alert reads “AirTag Found Moving With You”, or “*[Product name]* Found Moving With You” for other Find My accessories and compatible trackers. Tapping it opens Find My with a map of where the item was detected with you. - The red dots on the map show where the unknown item was detected near your iPhone — they do **not** show when its owner looked at it. - Tap **Continue** and then **Play Sound** to make the item beep. - For an AirTag, iPhones with Ultra Wideband can use **Find Nearby** (Precision Finding) to show the distance and direction. - Variants such as “AirPods Detected” mean someone else’s AirPods are moving with you; “Unknown Accessory Detected” appears when Find My cannot connect to the item. Apple lists these conditions for receiving tracking notifications: iOS or iPadOS 17.5 or later (14.5 for AirTag and Find My items), Location Services on, Significant Locations on, Bluetooth on, Tracking Notifications allowed, and Airplane Mode off. ### Sign 2: your Android phone shows an unknown tracker alert Android 6.0 and later can notify you when someone else’s tracker that is separated from its owner is moving with you. Google says the alerts work with Find Hub network compatible tags, headphones and Apple AirTags. - Tap the notification to see a map of where the tracker was detected with you, then tap **Play sound**. Google says playing the sound does not notify the owner. - For Find Hub compatible trackers, **Find nearby** guides you as you get closer. - Run a manual scan at any time: **Settings › Safety & emergency › Unknown tracker alerts › Scan now**. It takes about 10 seconds. - Past alerts are listed in the same place; Google notes that they are deleted after 48 hours, so take screenshots. ### Sign 3: you hear an unexplained chirp An AirTag — and other Find My accessories or compatible trackers — that has been separated from its owner for a period of time plays a sound when it is moved. If you hear an unfamiliar chirp from your bag, coat or car, look for a tracker. Don’t rely on the sound alone. It only starts after a while, it is easy to miss inside a car or a bag, and there have been reports of AirTags modified so that they make no sound. A silent tracker can still be found by alerts and by a Bluetooth scan. ### Sign 4: the same unknown device keeps turning up The clearest sign that a tracker is following you is that the **same unknown device appears at different places you go**. A dedicated scanner lets you check this yourself instead of waiting for an alert. In [TrackerSonar](https://trackersonar.com/features/), each scan lists possible trackers first. SUSPICIOUS marks tags that can be used to track people and that you haven’t marked as your own, and TRACKED marks a device your scans found at places more than 50 m apart (this needs location access). With Premium, the sightings map and “Is it following me?” timeline show when and where the device turned up. Keep in mind that trackers change their Bluetooth address from time to time, so after a change the same tag can appear as a new device. ### Step by step: check yourself for a hidden AirTag in about 10 minutes 1. **Make sure your phone’s tracker alerts are on.** On iPhone: update iOS, then check Location Services, Significant Locations (Settings › Privacy & Security › Location Services › System Services), Bluetooth and Settings › Notifications › Tracking Notifications. On Android: open Settings › Safety & emergency › Unknown tracker alerts and make sure alerts are allowed. 2. **Look at alerts you may have missed.** On iPhone, open Find My, tap Items and scroll to *Unknown Items Detected with You*. On Android, open the Unknown tracker alerts screen. 3. **Scan for trackers near you now.** On Android, tap *Scan now*. On iPhone, iPad or Android, you can also scan with a tracker detector such as TrackerSonar, which lists AirTags, Tile, SmartTag, Chipolo and other tags around you and flags unknown ones. 4. **Check your belongings and car.** Bags (including linings and outer pockets), coat pockets, your car’s interior and boot. See [how to find a hidden tracker](https://trackersonar.com/guides/find-hidden-airtag-or-bluetooth-tracker/) for a full checklist. 5. **Scan again somewhere else.** Go to a different place — ideally more than a few hundred metres away — and scan again. A tag that turns up in both places is more likely to be travelling with you; one that only appears at home may simply belong to a neighbour. 6. **Decide what to do next.** If you find a tracker, read [what to do if you find a tracker](https://trackersonar.com/guides/what-to-do-if-you-find-a-tracker/) before you disable it. ### Innocent explanations to rule out - You borrowed something with a tracker attached, such as keys, a bag or a car. - You are travelling with someone who carries an AirTag, for example in their luggage. - You are using someone else’s AirPods. - A family member’s tag: if they are in your Family Sharing group, you can turn off alerts for their item for a day or indefinitely. Ruling these out takes a few minutes and avoids unnecessary worry — but if you can’t explain a tracker, take it seriously. ### Frequently asked questions #### Q: #### How long does it take for an iPhone to warn me about an AirTag? Apple does not publish an exact time. The alert appears when an AirTag that is separated from its owner is seen moving with you over time, so it can take a while, and short trips may not trigger it. An on-demand scan, for example with TrackerSonar, lets you check right away. #### Q: #### Can I check for AirTags on an iPhone without waiting for an alert? iOS alerts you automatically but does not offer a manual scan button for unknown trackers. To check on demand, you can use a tracker detector app such as TrackerSonar, which scans for AirTags and other Bluetooth trackers nearby in 10 to 30 seconds. #### Q: #### Does turning off Bluetooth or Location stop an AirTag from tracking me? No. Apple and Google both state that turning off Bluetooth or Location Services, or using Airplane Mode, on your own phone does not stop the owner from seeing the tracker’s location. It only stops your phone from warning you. To stop a tracker, you have to find and disable it. #### Q: #### Can an AirTag alert be a false alarm? Yes. You may get an alert if you borrow an item with an AirTag, travel with someone who carries one, or use someone else’s AirPods. If the item belongs to a member of your Family Sharing group, you can turn off alerts for it. #### Q: #### If I don’t hear an AirTag beep, am I safe? Not necessarily. An AirTag separated from its owner plays a sound when moved only after a period of time, the sound is quiet in a bag or car, and there have been reports of AirTags modified to be silent. Use alerts and a scan rather than relying on hearing it. ### Sources - [Apple Support: What to do if you get an alert that an AirTag, set of AirPods, Find My network accessory, or compatible Bluetooth location-tracking device is with you](https://support.apple.com/en-us/119874) - [Android Help: Find unknown trackers](https://support.google.com/android/answer/13658562) - [Apple Newsroom (May 2024): Apple and Google deliver support for unwanted tracking alerts in iOS and Android](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/05/apple-and-google-deliver-support-for-unwanted-tracking-alerts-in-ios-and-android/) - [IETF: Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers (DULT) working group](https://datatracker.ietf.org/wg/dult/about/) ### Related guides - [How to find a hidden AirTag or Bluetooth tracker](https://trackersonar.com/guides/find-hidden-airtag-or-bluetooth-tracker/) Play a sound, follow the signal, and search a car, bag or clothes step by step. - [What to do if you find a tracker following you](https://trackersonar.com/guides/what-to-do-if-you-find-a-tracker/) Safety first, document the evidence, identify the tag, decide about disabling it and contact the police. - [AirTag vs Tile vs SmartTag vs Chipolo: how each can be detected](https://trackersonar.com/guides/airtag-vs-tile-vs-smarttag-vs-chipolo-detection/) Which networks they use, which phones warn you about them and how a scanner sees them. - [Built-in iPhone and Android tracker alerts vs a scanner app](https://trackersonar.com/guides/built-in-tracker-alerts-vs-scanner-app/) An honest comparison: when built-in alerts are enough and what a dedicated app adds. --- ## Page: How to Find a Hidden AirTag or Bluetooth Tracker (Car, Bag, Clothes) | TrackerSonar URL: https://trackersonar.com/guides/find-hidden-airtag-or-bluetooth-tracker/ Title: How to Find a Hidden AirTag or Bluetooth Tracker (Car, Bag, Clothes) | TrackerSonar Description: Step by step: make a hidden tracker play a sound, follow its Bluetooth signal and search your car, bag and clothes for an AirTag, Tile, SmartTag or other tracker. Last updated: 2026-10-20 ## How to find a hidden AirTag or Bluetooth tracker Your phone says a tracker is with you, or a scan shows an unknown tag — now you need to find the physical device. Here is how to do it in your car, bag or clothes. By [Metko Labs](https://trackersonar.com/about/), publisher of TrackerSonar · Last updated October 20, 2026 · [How we check our guides](https://trackersonar.com/about/#editorial-policy) ### Key takeaways - Start with **sound**: tap *Play Sound* in the iPhone or Android alert, or use Play sound in TrackerSonar on supported tags. - Then follow the **Bluetooth signal**: stronger means closer. Move slowly, because trackers may only send a signal every couple of seconds. - Trackers are **small**: an AirTag is a disc roughly 3 cm across; others are small squares, stickers or credit-card-sized cards. - Search **systematically** with a flashlight: bag linings and pockets, coat linings, car seats, the boot, wheel arches and bumpers. - **Photograph it where you find it** before you move or disable it — it may be evidence. **If you feel you are in danger:** go to a safe, public place and contact local emergency services (for example 911 in the US, 112 in the EU, 999 in the UK or 000 in Australia). Think before you disable or throw away a tracker: it can be evidence, and once it is disabled its owner stops getting location updates, which they may notice. ### Before you start Searching is safe for most people, but if you suspect a partner, ex-partner or someone close to you, think about what happens if they notice that the tracker has been found or has stopped working. Google’s own guidance notes that, depending on your situation, you may prefer to keep a tracker switched on if turning it off could be unsafe. A domestic-violence advocate or the police can help you plan. Know what you are looking for. An **AirTag** is a small round disc roughly 3 cm across (about the size of a large coin) with a white front and a polished metal back. **Tile**, **Samsung Galaxy SmartTag**, **Chipolo** and **Pebblebee** trackers come as small squares, rounded tags with a keyring hole, stickers or thin cards the size of a credit card. Read [how each brand can be detected](https://trackersonar.com/guides/airtag-vs-tile-vs-smarttag-vs-chipolo-detection/). ### Method 1: make the tracker play a sound The fastest way to find a tracker is to make it beep and follow the sound. - **iPhone:** tap the “Found Moving With You” alert, tap *Continue*, then *Play Sound*. You can repeat it. - **Android:** tap the unknown tracker notification, then *Play sound*. Google says this does not notify the owner. - **TrackerSonar (Premium):** open the device from your scan results and tap *Play sound*. It works on AirTags and on tags that support the Apple–Google unwanted-tracking specification; the button only appears for devices that support it. If no sound plays, the tracker may be near its owner, out of range, may have changed its Bluetooth identifier, or may not support the request. Some trackers have also been modified to be silent. Move on to the signal. ### Method 2: follow the Bluetooth signal Every tracker broadcasts a Bluetooth signal. The closer you are, the stronger it gets, so you can play “warmer or colder” until you are within reach. - **Precision Finding (iPhone, AirTag only):** on iPhones with Ultra Wideband, tap *Find Nearby* in the alert to see the distance and direction to an unknown AirTag. - **Find nearby (Android, Find Hub trackers):** from the notification, tap *Next steps › Find nearby*; a shape fills as you get closer. - **Live Locate in TrackerSonar (Premium):** works for any device your scan found — AirTag, Tile, SmartTag, Chipolo and others. It shows *Warmer*, *Colder* or *Steady*, a gauge with your best signal so far, and haptic ticks that speed up as you get closer. Its *Find direction* sweep helps you choose which way to go: hold the phone in front of your chest and turn slowly; your body blocks the signal from behind, so the strongest heading points toward the tag. **Tips for reading the signal:** move slowly and pause for a few seconds at each spot — a separated AirTag may only send a signal every couple of seconds. Hold the phone the same way all the time. Walls, car bodies, bags and your own body weaken the signal, so a sudden drop can simply mean something is in the way. ### Narrow it down to one item or area If the signal is strong but you can’t see anything, move suspected items one at a time. Carry a bag or coat to another room and check whether the signal goes with it. In a car, compare the signal at the front seats, back seats, the boot and next to each wheel. ### Where trackers are hidden: a checklist #### In a car - Under and between the seats, along the seat rails, and in seat-back and door pockets - Glove box, centre console, sun visors and cup holders - Under floor mats and in the boot, including the spare-wheel well and side compartments - Outside: wheel arches, behind bumpers, under the car and behind the number plate — often in a small magnetic or waterproof case. Use a flashlight; a mechanic can help with places you can’t reach. #### In a bag, backpack or purse - Inner and outer pockets, zip compartments and the base panel - The lining and seams — feel for a hard, coin-shaped lump - Small items inside: wallets, make-up bags, glasses cases, pencil cases #### In clothes and other belongings - Coat and jacket pockets, hoods and linings - Wallets and phone cases (card-shaped trackers are thin) - Gifts, children’s bags and toys, bikes, strollers and wheelchairs ### Step by step 1. **Make the tracker play a sound.** Use the alert on your iPhone or Android phone, or Play sound in TrackerSonar Premium on supported tags. Stay quiet and listen. 2. **Follow the Bluetooth signal.** Use Precision Finding, Find nearby or TrackerSonar’s Live Locate, moving slowly. 3. **Narrow it down.** Move suspected items away and see whether the signal follows them; in a car, compare each area. 4. **Search by hand.** Use the checklist above and a flashlight. 5. **Confirm and document.** Scan again to confirm it is the device you were following, then photograph it where it was before you move or disable it. Then read [what to do if you find a tracker](https://trackersonar.com/guides/what-to-do-if-you-find-a-tracker/). ### If you can’t find it Scan again in a different place to see whether the device is still with you. If an alert keeps coming back but you can’t find the tracker, a mechanic can check the outside and underside of a car, and the police can advise you — especially if you feel unsafe. Apple advises going to a safe public location and contacting law enforcement if you can’t find the device and feel your safety is at risk. ### Frequently asked questions #### Q: #### Where do people usually hide AirTags in a car? Common places are under or between the seats, in seat-back and door pockets, the glove box and centre console, under floor mats, in the boot and spare-wheel well, and on the outside in wheel arches, behind bumpers or under the car, often in a small case. Search the inside first, then the outside with a flashlight. #### Q: #### How big is an AirTag? An AirTag is a small round disc roughly 3 cm across, about the size of a large coin, with a white front and a polished metal back. Other trackers come as small squares, rounded tags, stickers or thin cards the size of a credit card. #### Q: #### How close do I need to be to detect a Bluetooth tracker? It varies. Bluetooth tags can often be picked up from several metres away, sometimes more in open space, but walls, car bodies, bags and human bodies weaken the signal. Walk slowly through the area you are checking while you scan. #### Q: #### Can a tracker be hidden inside clothing? Yes. Check coat and jacket pockets, hoods, linings and seams, and feel for a hard, coin-shaped lump. Thin card-shaped trackers can also be slipped into a wallet or a phone case. #### Q: #### Why can’t I make the tracker play a sound? A tracker may refuse a sound request while it is near its owner, may be out of range, may have changed its Bluetooth identifier, or may not support the request. Some trackers have also been modified to be silent. Use the signal strength and a hand search instead. ### Sources - [Apple Support: What to do if you get an alert that an AirTag, set of AirPods, Find My network accessory, or compatible Bluetooth location-tracking device is with you](https://support.apple.com/en-us/119874) - [Android Help: Find unknown trackers](https://support.google.com/android/answer/13658562) - [Apple Personal Safety User Guide](https://support.apple.com/guide/personal-safety/welcome/web) ### Related guides - [How to tell if someone is tracking you with an AirTag](https://trackersonar.com/guides/is-someone-tracking-me-with-an-airtag/) The four warning signs, how iPhone and Android alerts work, and a 10-minute self-check. - [What to do if you find a tracker following you](https://trackersonar.com/guides/what-to-do-if-you-find-a-tracker/) Safety first, document the evidence, identify the tag, decide about disabling it and contact the police. - [AirTag vs Tile vs SmartTag vs Chipolo: how each can be detected](https://trackersonar.com/guides/airtag-vs-tile-vs-smarttag-vs-chipolo-detection/) Which networks they use, which phones warn you about them and how a scanner sees them. - [Built-in iPhone and Android tracker alerts vs a scanner app](https://trackersonar.com/guides/built-in-tracker-alerts-vs-scanner-app/) An honest comparison: when built-in alerts are enough and what a dedicated app adds. --- ## Page: What to Do if You Find an AirTag or Tracker Following You | TrackerSonar URL: https://trackersonar.com/guides/what-to-do-if-you-find-a-tracker/ Title: What to Do if You Find an AirTag or Tracker Following You | TrackerSonar Description: Found an AirTag or another tracker on you, in your bag or car? Put your safety first, document it, identify it, decide whether to disable it and contact the police. Step by step. Last updated: 2026-10-20 ## What to do if you find a tracker following you Finding an AirTag or another tracker that isn’t yours is frightening. These seven steps help you stay safe, keep the evidence and get help. By [Metko Labs](https://trackersonar.com/about/), publisher of TrackerSonar · Last updated October 20, 2026 · [How we check our guides](https://trackersonar.com/about/#editorial-policy) ### Key takeaways - **Safety first:** if you feel in danger, go to a safe public place and call your local emergency number. - **Document before you disable:** photos, screenshots of alerts and maps, dates, times and places. - **Identify it:** an AirTag shows its serial number and the last four digits of the owner’s phone number when you hold it near an NFC-capable phone. - **Disabling is a choice:** it stops new location updates but may be noticed, and some trackers lose the link to their owner when reset. Ask the police or an advocate if unsure. - **Report it:** police can request owner information from Apple and other manufacturers. **If you feel you are in danger:** go to a safe, public place and contact local emergency services (for example 911 in the US, 112 in the EU, 999 in the UK or 000 in Australia). Think before you disable or throw away a tracker: it can be evidence, and once it is disabled its owner stops getting location updates, which they may notice. ### Seven steps after finding a tracker 1. **Get safe.** If you think someone is following you, avoid leading them home. Go to a busy public place — a police station, shop or café — and call your local emergency number if you feel in danger. 2. **Rule out innocent explanations.** Did you borrow the bag, keys or car? Is a family member’s tag or someone else’s luggage travelling with you? On iPhone, items from your Family Sharing group can be silenced from the alert. 3. **Document everything.** Photograph the tracker where you found it. Take screenshots of the alert and its map (on Android, Google notes that past alerts are deleted after 48 hours), of scan results, and of TrackerSonar’s sightings timeline if you use it. Write down dates, times and places. 4. **Identify the tracker.** See [how to identify an AirTag and other trackers](#identify) below. Take a screenshot of the serial number and any owner information shown. 5. **Decide whether to disable it.** Read [the pros and cons of disabling](#disable) first. 6. **Report it to the police.** Bring the tracker, its serial number and your documentation. Apple says law enforcement can request available information about an item from Apple; Google says police may ask for the tracker and its identifier. 7. **Get support and keep checking.** Contact one of the [support organizations](#support) below, keep your phone’s tracker alerts on and check your belongings and car regularly — a scanner app such as TrackerSonar lets you check on demand, and its Premium background alerts warn you if a tracker shows up again. ### How to identify an AirTag and other trackers To identify an AirTag, hold the top of an iPhone or an NFC-capable Android phone near the white side of the AirTag until a notification appears, then tap it. A web page shows the AirTag’s serial number and the last four digits of the phone number of the person who registered it. If the owner marked it as lost, you may also see how to contact them. - On iPhone, Find My › Items › *Identify Found Item* gives more information about a found item. - On Android, tap the unknown tracker notification and then *Next steps* for identification instructions; for Find Hub compatible trackers Google says you can find the device identifier and a hidden email address of the owner. - Some trackers have a serial number printed on the device. Otherwise follow the manufacturer’s instructions. A Bluetooth scanner such as TrackerSonar can tell you *what type* of device it is and where you have seen it, but no scanner can reveal who owns a tracker. ### Should you disable the tracker? Disabling a tracker stops its owner from getting new location updates. That is often the right choice, but think it through first — especially if you know or suspect who placed it. - **It may be noticed.** The owner stops getting updates; Google notes they may still see the last location from before it was turned off. - **Evidence:** Google warns that some trackers are factory reset when turned off and are then no longer linked to their owner, so law enforcement can’t get owner information. Document and identify the tracker before you disable it, and consider asking the police first. - **Your situation:** Google’s guidance says that, depending on your situation, you can keep a tracker switched on if turning it off could be unsafe. An advocate can help you decide. **How to disable an AirTag:** press down on the polished stainless-steel battery cover, rotate it counterclockwise until it stops, and remove the cover and the battery. Your iPhone’s alert also offers *Instructions to Disable* for AirTags, AirPods, Find My accessories and compatible trackers. For other brands, Android’s *Next steps* screen links to manufacturer instructions. Turning off Bluetooth, Location Services or Find My on *your* phone does not stop the tracker; only disabling the tracker itself does. ### Contacting the police Apple states that using trackers to follow people without their consent is a crime in many countries and regions; laws vary, so the police can tell you what applies where you live. When you report it, bring: - the tracker itself (or photos if you left it in place), - its serial number and any owner information you saw, - screenshots of alerts, maps and scan results with dates and places, - a short written timeline of what happened. ### Where to get support Apple’s support article lists these organizations for people who feel their safety is at risk: - United States: [Safety Net Project](https://www.techsafety.org/resources-survivors) at the National Network to End Domestic Violence and the [National Center for Victims of Crime](https://victimsofcrime.org). The National Domestic Violence Hotline is reachable at 1-800-799-7233 ([thehotline.org](https://www.thehotline.org/)). - United Kingdom: [Refuge](https://refuge.org.uk/i-need-help-now/) - Australia: [WESNET Safety Net Australia](https://techsafety.org.au/resources/resources-women/) Elsewhere, local police, victim-support services and domestic-violence organizations can help. ### Frequently asked questions #### Q: #### Should I destroy or throw away a tracker I found? No. A tracker can be important evidence, and its serial number can help police identify the owner. Photograph it where you found it and keep it. If you want to stop it from sharing its location, disabling it, for example by removing the battery, keeps the device intact. #### Q: #### Can I find out who owns an AirTag? Partly. Holding the AirTag near an iPhone or NFC-capable Android phone opens a page with its serial number and the last four digits of the registered owner’s phone number. Apple says law enforcement can request further information from Apple. #### Q: #### Will the owner know if I disable the tracker? They stop getting new location updates, which they may notice. Google notes they may still see the last location from before it was turned off. If you are worried about how the person will react, talk to the police or an advocate before disabling it. #### Q: #### Is tracking someone with an AirTag illegal? Apple states that using its trackers to track people without their consent is a crime in many countries and regions. Laws differ from place to place, so ask your local police or a lawyer about your situation. #### Q: #### What if the police don’t take it seriously? Keep your documentation, write down the report number, and contact a victim-support or domestic-violence organization, which can help you approach the police again and make a safety plan. ### Sources - [Apple Support: What to do if you get an alert that an AirTag, set of AirPods, Find My network accessory, or compatible Bluetooth location-tracking device is with you](https://support.apple.com/en-us/119874) - [Android Help: Find unknown trackers](https://support.google.com/android/answer/13658562) - [Apple Support: How to reset your AirTag (battery cover instructions)](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102577) - [Apple Personal Safety User Guide](https://support.apple.com/guide/personal-safety/welcome/web) ### Related guides - [How to tell if someone is tracking you with an AirTag](https://trackersonar.com/guides/is-someone-tracking-me-with-an-airtag/) The four warning signs, how iPhone and Android alerts work, and a 10-minute self-check. - [How to find a hidden AirTag or Bluetooth tracker](https://trackersonar.com/guides/find-hidden-airtag-or-bluetooth-tracker/) Play a sound, follow the signal, and search a car, bag or clothes step by step. - [AirTag vs Tile vs SmartTag vs Chipolo: how each can be detected](https://trackersonar.com/guides/airtag-vs-tile-vs-smarttag-vs-chipolo-detection/) Which networks they use, which phones warn you about them and how a scanner sees them. - [Built-in iPhone and Android tracker alerts vs a scanner app](https://trackersonar.com/guides/built-in-tracker-alerts-vs-scanner-app/) An honest comparison: when built-in alerts are enough and what a dedicated app adds. --- ## Page: AirTag vs Tile vs SmartTag vs Chipolo: How Each Tracker Can Be Detected | TrackerSonar URL: https://trackersonar.com/guides/airtag-vs-tile-vs-smarttag-vs-chipolo-detection/ Title: AirTag vs Tile vs SmartTag vs Chipolo: How Each Tracker Can Be Detected | TrackerSonar Description: Which network each Bluetooth tracker uses, whether iPhone and Android warn you about it, which brand tools can scan for it, and how a scanner app like TrackerSonar sees it. Last updated: 2026-10-20 ## AirTag vs Tile vs SmartTag vs Chipolo: how each can be detected Not every tracker triggers the same warnings. Which network a tracker belongs to decides which phones alert you about it — and which tools can find it. By [Metko Labs](https://trackersonar.com/about/), publisher of TrackerSonar · Last updated October 20, 2026 · [How we check our guides](https://trackersonar.com/about/#editorial-policy) ### Key takeaways - Trackers work inside a **finding network**: Apple **Find My** (AirTag and Find My accessories), Google **Find Hub** (formerly Find My Device), Samsung **SmartThings Find** (Galaxy SmartTag) or **Tile**’s own network. Some brands, like Chipolo and Pebblebee, sell models for different networks. - **iPhones** warn about AirTags and Find My accessories, and since iOS 17.5 about compatible trackers from other brands. **Android** (6.0+) warns about AirTags and Find Hub compatible tags. - For other trackers, built-in warnings **depend on the model and firmware** supporting the Apple–Google specification. Don’t assume you will be warned. - A **Bluetooth scanner** such as TrackerSonar recognizes all of these brands by their signals, whichever phone they belong to. ### Why the network matters A Bluetooth tracker has no GPS of its own in most cases. It broadcasts a Bluetooth signal, and phones in its finding network that pass nearby report its location to the owner. The protections against unwanted tracking — alerts, sounds, identification — were first built separately by each network, which is why coverage differs between brands. In May 2023, Apple and Google proposed a shared industry specification, *Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers*, which Samsung, Tile, Chipolo, eufy Security and Pebblebee said they supported. In May 2024, Apple shipped support in iOS 17.5 and Google on Android 6.0 and later, so phones can warn about compatible trackers regardless of platform. Work on an official standard continues in an IETF working group. ### Comparison at a glance How common Bluetooth trackers can be detected (as of October 2026) | Tracker | Network | iPhone alerts | Android alerts | TrackerSonar scan | |---|---|---|---|---| | Apple AirTag | Apple Find My | Yes (iOS 14.5+) | Yes (Android 6.0+) | Yes, as “AirTag” | | Other Find My network accessories (e.g. Chipolo’s models for Apple Find My) | Apple Find My | Yes | If the model supports the shared specification | Yes, as a Find My accessory | | Google Find Hub tags (e.g. Find Hub versions of Chipolo ONE and CARD, Pebblebee Clip, Tag and Card, Motorola moto tag) | Google Find Hub | Yes on iOS 17.5+ for specification-compatible tags | Yes | Yes, as a Google Find Hub tag | | Samsung Galaxy SmartTag | Samsung SmartThings Find | Depends on model and specification support | Depends; Galaxy phones also offer SmartThings “Unknown Tag Search” | Yes, as “Samsung SmartTag” | | Tile | Tile (Life360) | Depends on model and specification support | Depends on model and specification support; the Tile app offers “Scan and Secure” | Yes, as “Tile” | | Chipolo (own app models) | Chipolo app | Depends on model | Depends on model | Yes, as “Chipolo” | Platform support changes with software updates. Check Apple’s and Google’s support pages linked under Sources for the current state. ### Apple AirTag and Find My accessories AirTags have the most complete built-in protection: iPhones show “AirTag Found Moving With You”, Android phones show unknown tracker alerts, a separated AirTag plays a sound when moved, and you can read its serial number over NFC. An AirTag is a small round disc roughly 3 cm across. Other Find My accessories, such as Chipolo’s models for Find My, trigger “*[Product name]* Found Moving With You” on iPhone. Find My devices use Bluetooth identifiers that change frequently, so a scanner can show the same AirTag as a new device after a change. TrackerSonar recognizes AirTags and Find My accessories from their Bluetooth signals; for devices that broadcast very little, it briefly connects to confirm the type. With Premium it can make AirTags play a sound. ### Google Find Hub tags Tags in Google’s Find Hub network (formerly Find My Device) — Google lists, for example, Chipolo ONE and CARD, Pebblebee Clip, Tag and Card, and Motorola moto tag — are covered by Android’s unknown tracker alerts, including Play sound and Find nearby. On iPhone, compatible tags can trigger alerts on iOS 17.5 and later through the shared specification. TrackerSonar labels them as Google Find Hub tags and marks them SUSPICIOUS until you mark them as known. ### Samsung Galaxy SmartTag Galaxy SmartTags work in Samsung’s SmartThings Find network. Samsung’s SmartThings app offers an “Unknown Tag Search” on Galaxy phones that looks for SmartTags moving with you. Whether iPhone or non-Samsung Android phones alert you about a SmartTag depends on the model and its support for the shared specification. TrackerSonar recognizes SmartTags by their Bluetooth signal on any phone it runs on. ### Tile Tile trackers, now part of Life360, use Tile’s own finding network. The Tile app has offered a “Scan and Secure” feature that lets anyone scan for nearby Tiles. Built-in iPhone and Android alerts only cover Tiles that support the shared specification, so coverage depends on the model and firmware. Tile tags come in several shapes, including square key fobs, thin cards and small stickers. TrackerSonar recognizes Tile tags and lists them among possible trackers. ### Chipolo and Pebblebee Chipolo sells trackers for different networks, so how a Chipolo is detected depends on the exact model: models for Apple Find My behave like Find My accessories, models for Google Find Hub like Find Hub tags. Pebblebee’s Clip, Tag and Card appear on Google’s list of Find Hub trackers; check the model’s packaging or the maker’s website for other variants. Chipolo’s own-app models rely on Chipolo’s protections. TrackerSonar recognizes Chipolo and Pebblebee trackers by their Bluetooth signals regardless of the network. ### What no Bluetooth scan can detect - Trackers that are switched off, have a flat battery or are out of Bluetooth range. - Trackers that don’t transmit Bluetooth at all — for example some GPS trackers that report their position over a mobile network. - Who owns a tracker. Use the identification steps in [what to do if you find a tracker](https://trackersonar.com/guides/what-to-do-if-you-find-a-tracker/#identify). ### Frequently asked questions #### Q: #### Will my iPhone warn me about a Tile or Samsung SmartTag? Only if that tracker supports the Apple–Google unwanted-tracking specification, which iPhones support from iOS 17.5. Support depends on the model and its firmware, so do not assume you will be warned. A Bluetooth scanner such as TrackerSonar recognizes Tile and SmartTag tags directly. #### Q: #### Will my Android phone warn me about an AirTag? Yes. Google says Android’s unknown tracker alerts, available on Android 6.0 and later, work with Apple AirTags as well as Find Hub network compatible tags and headphones. You can also run a manual scan in Settings under Safety & emergency › Unknown tracker alerts. #### Q: #### What is the Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers specification? It is an industry specification that Apple and Google proposed in May 2023 so that iPhones and Android phones can warn people about compatible Bluetooth trackers from any brand. Both platforms started supporting it in May 2024, and it is being standardized in an IETF working group. #### Q: #### Which tracker is hardest to detect? Any tracker that your phone does not alert you about is harder to notice, and that depends on its network, model and firmware. A tracker that does not use Bluetooth at all, such as some GPS trackers that report over a mobile network, cannot be found by a Bluetooth scan. #### Q: #### Can TrackerSonar detect all of these trackers? TrackerSonar recognizes AirTags and other Find My accessories, Tile, Samsung Galaxy SmartTag, Chipolo, Pebblebee, Google Find Hub tags and specification-compatible trackers by their Bluetooth signals, regardless of which phone platform they belong to. No app can guarantee to detect every model, or trackers that are switched off or out of range. ### Sources - [Apple Newsroom (May 2023): Apple, Google partner on an industry specification to address unwanted tracking](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/05/apple-google-partner-on-an-industry-specification-to-address-unwanted-tracking/) - [Apple Newsroom (May 2024): Apple and Google deliver support for unwanted tracking alerts in iOS and Android](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/05/apple-and-google-deliver-support-for-unwanted-tracking-alerts-in-ios-and-android/) - [Apple Support: What to do if you get an alert that an AirTag … is with you](https://support.apple.com/en-us/119874) - [Android Help: Find unknown trackers](https://support.google.com/android/answer/13658562) - [IETF: Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers (DULT) working group](https://datatracker.ietf.org/wg/dult/about/) ### Related guides - [How to tell if someone is tracking you with an AirTag](https://trackersonar.com/guides/is-someone-tracking-me-with-an-airtag/) The four warning signs, how iPhone and Android alerts work, and a 10-minute self-check. - [How to find a hidden AirTag or Bluetooth tracker](https://trackersonar.com/guides/find-hidden-airtag-or-bluetooth-tracker/) Play a sound, follow the signal, and search a car, bag or clothes step by step. - [What to do if you find a tracker following you](https://trackersonar.com/guides/what-to-do-if-you-find-a-tracker/) Safety first, document the evidence, identify the tag, decide about disabling it and contact the police. - [Built-in iPhone and Android tracker alerts vs a scanner app](https://trackersonar.com/guides/built-in-tracker-alerts-vs-scanner-app/) An honest comparison: when built-in alerts are enough and what a dedicated app adds. --- ## Page: Built-in iPhone & Android Tracker Alerts vs a Tracker Detector App | TrackerSonar URL: https://trackersonar.com/guides/built-in-tracker-alerts-vs-scanner-app/ Title: Built-in iPhone & Android Tracker Alerts vs a Tracker Detector App | TrackerSonar Description: An honest comparison of iPhone and Android unknown-tracker alerts and a dedicated tracker detector app: what each does, when built-in alerts are enough and what an app adds. Last updated: 2026-10-20 ## Built-in iPhone and Android tracker alerts vs a scanner app Your phone already has some protection against unwanted trackers. Here is what it does well, where it stops, and what a dedicated tracker detector such as TrackerSonar adds — written by the people who make TrackerSonar, so judge for yourself. By [Metko Labs](https://trackersonar.com/about/), publisher of TrackerSonar · Last updated October 20, 2026 · [How we check our guides](https://trackersonar.com/about/#editorial-policy) ### Key takeaways - **Keep the built-in alerts on.** They are free, automatic and part of the operating system on iPhone (iOS 14.5+, other brands from iOS 17.5) and Android (6.0+). - Built-in alerts are designed to appear **after a tracker has moved with you for a while**. iPhone has **no manual scan**; Android has a 10-second manual scan. - A scanner app adds **on-demand scans on iPhone and iPad**, a list of **all trackers nearby** including brands your phone may not alert you about, a **signal meter** to find any of them, and your own history of where devices appeared. - Apps have limits: they can’t identify an owner, can’t disable a tracker, and iOS restricts background scanning. - Best practice: **use both**. ### What built-in alerts do well Built-in unknown-tracker alerts run automatically in the background, cost nothing and are deeply integrated into the phone: they can show a map of where the tracker travelled with you, play a sound, help you find it and show how to disable it. - **iPhone and iPad:** “AirTag Found Moving With You” and similar alerts for Find My accessories and AirPods; since iOS 17.5 also for compatible trackers from other brands. Precision Finding for AirTags on iPhones with Ultra Wideband. Serial number via NFC and disable instructions. - **Android:** unknown tracker alerts for Find Hub compatible tags, headphones and AirTags, a map, Play sound, Find nearby for Find Hub trackers and a *Scan now* button. ### Where built-in alerts stop - **They take time.** Alerts appear when a tracker is seen moving with you *over time*; Google notes you need to physically move with the tracker before an alert. Apple does not publish the exact timing. - **No manual scan on iPhone.** You can’t ask iOS to check a hotel room or a second-hand bag right now. - **Coverage depends on the tracker.** Trackers outside the Find My and Find Hub networks are only covered if their model supports the shared specification. - **Identifiers change.** When a tracker changes its Bluetooth identifier, your phone may treat it as a new tracker. - **Settings matter.** On iPhone, Location Services, Significant Locations, Bluetooth and Tracking Notifications must be on and Airplane Mode off. ### What a scanner app adds A dedicated tracker detector such as TrackerSonar listens to all Bluetooth signals around you on demand and shows you what it finds, in seconds. - **Check right now** — a hotel room, a rental car, a bag after a trip — on iPhone and iPad too. - **See every tracker nearby:** AirTag and Find My accessories, Tile, Samsung Galaxy SmartTag, Chipolo, Pebblebee and Google Find Hub tags, plus other Bluetooth devices. - **Find it physically:** TrackerSonar’s Live Locate (Premium) turns any detected device’s signal into a warmer/colder guide with a direction sweep. - **Your own evidence:** TRACKED badges and (Premium) a sightings map and timeline of where a device turned up in your scans. - **Background alerts** (Premium) as an extra layer while the app runs in the background. ### What a scanner app can’t do - It can’t tell you **who owns** a tracker or show an AirTag’s serial number; use the NFC steps in [what to do if you find a tracker](https://trackersonar.com/guides/what-to-do-if-you-find-a-tracker/#identify). - It can’t **disable** a tracker remotely. - It can’t find trackers that are **switched off, out of range or don’t use Bluetooth**. - On iPhone, **background scanning is limited** by iOS; scans while the app is open are the most complete. ### Side-by-side comparison Built-in alerts vs TrackerSonar on iPhone and iPad (as of October 2026) | Capability | iPhone built-in | Android built-in | TrackerSonar (iPhone, iPad) | |---|---|---|---| | Automatic alerts when a tracker moves with you | Yes | Yes | Yes, with background alerts (Premium) | | On-demand scan | No | Yes (about 10 s) | Yes (10 s free, 30 s Premium) | | Trackers covered | AirTag, Find My accessories, AirPods, specification-compatible trackers | AirTags, Find Hub compatible tags and headphones | AirTag, Find My accessories, Tile, SmartTag, Chipolo, Pebblebee, Find Hub tags, specification-compatible trackers; plus other Bluetooth devices | | Play a sound | Yes | Yes | AirTags and specification-compatible tags (Premium) | | Guidance to the tracker | Precision Finding (AirTag, UWB iPhones) | Find nearby (Find Hub trackers) | Live Locate for any detected device (Premium) | | Map of where it was with you | Yes | Yes | Sightings map and timeline from your scans (Premium) | | Owner info / serial number | Yes (NFC) | Yes (AirTag NFC; Find Hub identification) | No | | Disable instructions | Yes | Yes | No | | Cost | Free | Free | Free download with 5 scans; optional Premium subscription | ### When built-in alerts are enough — and when to add an app **Built-in alerts are usually enough** if you have no specific reason for concern, your phone is up to date with alerts switched on, and you mainly worry about AirTags. **Add a scanner app** if you want to check a place or a bag right now, you use an iPhone (no manual scan), you are worried about Tile, SmartTag or other brands, you received an alert but can’t find the tracker, or you want your own record of where a device turned up. TrackerSonar is one such app; Android users also have the free built-in manual scan. ### Frequently asked questions #### Q: #### Do I need a tracker detector app if my phone already has alerts? Not always. Keep the built-in alerts on in any case. An app helps when you want to check right now instead of waiting for an alert, when you use an iPhone, which has no manual scan, when you worry about tracker brands your phone may not alert you about, or when you need help physically finding a tag. #### Q: #### Can an app replace the iPhone’s AirTag alerts? No, and it shouldn’t. The iPhone’s alerts are built into the operating system, work automatically and can show an AirTag’s serial number and disable instructions. A scanner app is a complement: it adds on-demand scans and tools such as a signal meter. #### Q: #### Why does iOS limit tracker apps in the background? iOS restricts Bluetooth scanning by apps in the background to save battery and protect privacy. Apps can still be woken for certain Bluetooth signals, so background tracker alerts are possible but more limited than scanning while the app is open. #### Q: #### Is a free built-in manual scan available on iPhone? iOS alerts you automatically about unknown AirTags, Find My accessories and compatible trackers but does not offer a manual scan button. Android offers a free manual scan under Settings › Safety & emergency › Unknown tracker alerts › Scan now. ### Sources - [Apple Support: What to do if you get an alert that an AirTag … is with you](https://support.apple.com/en-us/119874) - [Android Help: Find unknown trackers](https://support.google.com/android/answer/13658562) - [Apple Newsroom (May 2024): Apple and Google deliver support for unwanted tracking alerts in iOS and Android](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/05/apple-and-google-deliver-support-for-unwanted-tracking-alerts-in-ios-and-android/) ### Related guides - [How to tell if someone is tracking you with an AirTag](https://trackersonar.com/guides/is-someone-tracking-me-with-an-airtag/) The four warning signs, how iPhone and Android alerts work, and a 10-minute self-check. - [How to find a hidden AirTag or Bluetooth tracker](https://trackersonar.com/guides/find-hidden-airtag-or-bluetooth-tracker/) Play a sound, follow the signal, and search a car, bag or clothes step by step. - [What to do if you find a tracker following you](https://trackersonar.com/guides/what-to-do-if-you-find-a-tracker/) Safety first, document the evidence, identify the tag, decide about disabling it and contact the police. - [AirTag vs Tile vs SmartTag vs Chipolo: how each can be detected](https://trackersonar.com/guides/airtag-vs-tile-vs-smarttag-vs-chipolo-detection/) Which networks they use, which phones warn you about them and how a scanner sees them. --- ## Page: TrackerSonar FAQ – AirTag & Bluetooth Tracker Detection Questions Answered URL: https://trackersonar.com/faq/ Title: TrackerSonar FAQ – AirTag & Bluetooth Tracker Detection Questions Answered Description: Answers to common questions about TrackerSonar and unwanted trackers: which trackers it detects, pricing, Live Locate, background alerts, iPhone and Android alerts, and what to do if you find one. Last updated: 2026-10-20 ## Frequently asked questions Short, self-contained answers about TrackerSonar and about unwanted Bluetooth trackers such as AirTags. For step-by-step help, see the [guides](https://trackersonar.com/guides/). By [Metko Labs](https://trackersonar.com/about/) · Last updated October 20, 2026 ### About TrackerSonar #### Q: #### What is TrackerSonar? TrackerSonar is a tracker detector app for iPhone, iPad and Android, made by Metko Labs. It scans for AirTags, Tile, Samsung SmartTag, Chipolo and other Bluetooth trackers that may be following you, flags the unknown ones and helps you find them with a warmer/colder signal meter. #### Q: #### Who makes TrackerSonar? TrackerSonar is developed and published by Metko Labs. You can reach the team at info@metkolabs.com or through www.metkolabs.com. TrackerSonar is an independent app and is not affiliated with Apple, Google, Samsung, Tile or Chipolo. #### Q: #### Which devices does TrackerSonar run on? TrackerSonar runs on iPhone and iPad with iOS or iPadOS 17 or later and is designed for both, in portrait and landscape. It is also available for Android on Google Play, where it is listed as “Tracker Detect”; features and pricing on Android may differ. #### Q: #### Is TrackerSonar free? TrackerSonar is a free download. On iPhone and iPad the free version includes 5 tracker scans of 10 seconds each, full scan verdicts with partly hidden device names, SUSPICIOUS and TRACKED badges, known devices, favorites and your 10 most recent scans, and it shows ads. Premium is an optional subscription. #### Q: #### What does TrackerSonar Premium include? Premium adds unlimited 30-second scans, full device names and the SAFE badge, Live Locate, Play sound on supported tags, the sightings map and “Is it following me?” timeline, background scanning with tracker alerts, the widget and Live Activity, adjustable scan settings and the complete scan history, with no ads. It is available as a weekly, monthly or yearly auto-renewable subscription. #### Q: #### Which languages is TrackerSonar available in? The iPhone and iPad app is available in English, German, Spanish (Spain and Mexico), French, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Dutch, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese and Swedish. It follows your device language and falls back to English. ### Detecting and finding trackers #### Q: #### Which trackers can TrackerSonar detect? TrackerSonar recognizes Apple AirTags and other Find My network accessories, Tile, Samsung Galaxy SmartTag, Chipolo, Pebblebee, Google Find Hub tags and trackers that follow the Apple–Google unwanted-tracking specification. It also lists other nearby Bluetooth devices such as AirPods. No app can guarantee to detect every tracker model. #### Q: #### How does TrackerSonar detect trackers? Trackers constantly broadcast short Bluetooth signals so that phones in their network can locate them. TrackerSonar listens to these signals and recognizes the patterns each tracker type uses. For some devices that broadcast very little, it briefly connects to confirm whether the device is an AirTag or a Find My accessory. #### Q: #### How long does a scan take? A free scan takes 10 seconds and a Premium scan 30 seconds; you can stop either early to see what was found so far. For the best result, walk slowly through the room, car or area you want to check while the scan runs. #### Q: #### What do SUSPICIOUS and TRACKED mean in TrackerSonar? SUSPICIOUS marks tags that can be used to track people, such as devices in Apple’s Find My or Google’s Find Hub network, that you have not marked as your own. TRACKED marks a device your scans found at places more than 50 m apart, which can mean it is travelling with you; this needs location access. #### Q: #### Why do my own AirTag or AirPods show up in the results? TrackerSonar lists every Bluetooth device it hears, including your own. Open your device and tap “I know this device”: it no longer shows as suspicious, and background alerts ignore it. You can undo this at any time in the Devices tab. #### Q: #### What is Live Locate? Live Locate is TrackerSonar’s Premium finder. It follows one device’s Bluetooth signal in real time and shows whether you are getting warmer or colder, with a confidence indicator, a best-so-far gauge, haptic ticks and a direction sweep that points toward the strongest signal. It works for any device a scan found. #### Q: #### Can TrackerSonar make a tracker play a sound? Yes, with Premium, on AirTags and on tags that support the Apple–Google unwanted-tracking specification. A tag may refuse the request while it is near its owner, and the button only appears for devices that support it. #### Q: #### Does TrackerSonar work in the background? Yes. With Premium, Background Alerts keep scanning while the app runs in the background and send a notification when a tracker shows up near you. iOS limits background Bluetooth scanning, so scans while the app is open are the most complete, and AirPods alerts work best while the app is open. #### Q: #### Can TrackerSonar find GPS trackers? Only if they transmit Bluetooth signals. Some GPS trackers report their position over a mobile network without using Bluetooth, and no Bluetooth scanner can detect those. Trackers that are switched off or out of range cannot be detected either. #### Q: #### Can TrackerSonar tell me who owns a tracker? No. A Bluetooth scan cannot reveal who owns a tracker. For an AirTag, holding it near an iPhone or NFC-capable Android phone shows its serial number and the last four digits of the owner’s phone number, and police can request owner information from Apple. ### iPhone and Android tracker alerts #### Q: #### Does my iPhone warn me about AirTags automatically? Yes. Since iOS 14.5, an iPhone shows “AirTag Found Moving With You” when an AirTag that is separated from its owner is seen moving with you over time, and since iOS 17.5 it also warns about compatible trackers from other brands. Location Services, Significant Locations, Bluetooth and Tracking Notifications must be on. #### Q: #### Can Android phones detect AirTags? Yes. Android 6.0 and later has unknown tracker alerts that work with AirTags and Find Hub compatible tags, and a manual scan under Settings › Safety & emergency › Unknown tracker alerts › Scan now. Menu names can vary by phone maker. #### Q: #### Why didn’t I get an alert even though a tracker was with me? Built-in alerts only appear after a tracker has moved with you for a while, and they need the right settings. A tracker near its owner, one that changed its Bluetooth identifier, or a brand your phone does not support may not trigger an alert. An on-demand scan, for example with TrackerSonar, lets you check yourself. #### Q: #### Does turning off Bluetooth stop a tracker from tracking me? No. Turning off Bluetooth, Location Services or using Airplane Mode on your own phone does not stop a tracker from reporting its location through other people’s phones; it only stops your phone from warning you. To stop a tracker, you have to find and disable it. ### If you find a tracker #### Q: #### What should I do if I find a tracker? Put your safety first and call your local emergency number if you feel in danger. Then photograph the tracker where you found it, take screenshots of alerts and scans, identify it, decide whether to disable it and report it to the police. See the full guide: [what to do if you find a tracker](https://trackersonar.com/guides/what-to-do-if-you-find-a-tracker/). #### Q: #### Should I disable a tracker I found? Disabling stops the owner from getting new location updates, but they may notice, and some trackers lose the link to their owner when reset, which can make police work harder. Document and identify it first. If you know or suspect who placed it, talk to the police or an advocate before disabling it. #### Q: #### Where are trackers usually hidden? In bags (linings, outer pockets, small pouches), coat pockets and linings, wallets, and cars — under seats, in pockets and consoles, in the boot and spare-wheel well, or outside in wheel arches and behind bumpers. See [how to find a hidden tracker](https://trackersonar.com/guides/find-hidden-airtag-or-bluetooth-tracker/). ### Privacy, ads and subscriptions #### Q: #### Does TrackerSonar collect my location or scan results? No. Scan results, the places where devices were seen, favorites, known devices and scan history stay on your device; TrackerSonar has no accounts and no server of its own. The app uses Firebase for usage statistics and crash reports without device names, tracker identifiers or locations. Details are in the [privacy policy](https://trackersonar.com/privacy/). #### Q: #### Does TrackerSonar show ads? The free version shows occasional full-screen ads from Google AdMob when you return from a device’s details to the scan results — never during a scan or Live Locate. Premium removes all ads. Ads only use your advertising identifier if you allow tracking. #### Q: #### How do I cancel TrackerSonar Premium? Premium on iPhone and iPad is an App Store subscription, so you manage and cancel it in your Apple account’s subscription settings (Settings › your name › Subscriptions). To restore a purchase on a new device, use Restore Purchases in TrackerSonar’s Settings. **If you feel you are in danger:** go to a safe, public place and contact local emergency services (for example 911 in the US, 112 in the EU, 999 in the UK or 000 in Australia). Think before you disable or throw away a tracker: it can be evidence, and once it is disabled its owner stops getting location updates, which they may notice. --- ## Page: About TrackerSonar and Metko Labs – Mission, Editorial Policy & Contact URL: https://trackersonar.com/about/ Title: About TrackerSonar and Metko Labs – Mission, Editorial Policy & Contact Description: TrackerSonar is made by Metko Labs. Our mission, how we research and check our tracker safety guides, and how to contact us. Last updated: 2026-10-20 ## About TrackerSonar TrackerSonar is made by Metko Labs to help people find out, calmly and quickly, whether a hidden Bluetooth tracker is following them. ### Who we are **Metko Labs** is the developer and publisher of TrackerSonar, a tracker detector app for iPhone, iPad and Android. On the App Store the app is listed as “Tracker Detect - TrackerSonar”, and on Google Play as “Tracker Detect”. Learn more about the company at [www.metkolabs.com](https://www.metkolabs.com). ### Our mission Small Bluetooth trackers are great for finding keys and luggage, but they can also be misused to follow people. Our mission is to give anyone a simple, trustworthy way to check their surroundings, understand what they find and know what to do next — without fear-mongering and without collecting their data. That shapes how we build TrackerSonar: a clear verdict first (“No trackers found” or “1 possible tracker nearby”), calm language, tools to physically find a tag, and everything about the devices you scan kept on your device. We also publish free [guides](https://trackersonar.com/guides/) about unwanted trackers that are useful whether or not you use our app. ### Editorial policy: how we check our guides - **Primary sources first.** Statements about how iPhone, Android and tracker makers handle unwanted tracking are based on official documentation — mainly Apple Support, Android Help, Apple Newsroom and the IETF working group on Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers. Each guide lists its sources. - **No invented numbers.** We don’t publish statistics, timings or quotes we can’t trace to a reliable source. Where behaviour varies by device, model, software version or country, we say so. - **Honest about our own app.** Descriptions of TrackerSonar match what the app actually does, including its limits, and we say clearly which features are part of Premium. Where built-in phone features are enough, we say that too. - **Safety over sales.** Every guide puts personal safety first and points to emergency services and support organizations. - **Kept up to date.** Each guide shows a “last updated” date. We review the guides when Apple, Google or tracker makers change their protections. - **Corrections.** If you spot an error, write to info@metkolabs.com. We correct mistakes promptly and update the date. Our guides are general information, not legal advice. Laws about tracking people differ between countries; your local police or a lawyer can tell you what applies to you. ### Independence TrackerSonar is an independent app. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Apple, Google, Samsung, Tile/Life360, Chipolo or Pebblebee. Product names are used only to describe which trackers the app can recognize. ### Contact Metko Labs · info@metkolabs.com · [www.metkolabs.com](https://www.metkolabs.com) Journalists, researchers and AI assistants: see the [fact sheet](https://trackersonar.com/press/) for key facts and how to cite TrackerSonar. Privacy questions: see the [privacy policy](https://trackersonar.com/privacy/). --- ## Page: TrackerSonar Fact Sheet & Press Kit – Key Facts and How to Cite URL: https://trackersonar.com/press/ Title: TrackerSonar Fact Sheet & Press Kit – Key Facts and How to Cite Description: Key facts about TrackerSonar, the tracker detector app by Metko Labs: platforms, price model, what it detects, links, logo, screenshots and how to cite it. Last updated: 2026-10-20 ## TrackerSonar fact sheet Key facts for journalists, researchers and AI assistants. You may quote anything on this page. Last updated October 20, 2026 ### In one sentence TrackerSonar is a tracker detector app for iPhone, iPad and Android, made by Metko Labs, that scans for AirTags, Tile, Samsung SmartTag, Chipolo and other Bluetooth trackers that may be following you, flags unknown ones and helps you find them. ### Key facts - **Name**: TrackerSonar (App Store title: “Tracker Detect - TrackerSonar”; Google Play title: “Tracker Detect”) - **Developer and publisher**: Metko Labs — [www.metkolabs.com](https://www.metkolabs.com) - **Category**: Utilities; Bluetooth tracker detector / anti-stalking tool - **Platforms**: iPhone and iPad (iOS / iPadOS 17 or later); Android (Google Play) - **Price model**: Free download. The iPhone and iPad app includes 5 free scans (10 seconds each) and shows ads; the optional TrackerSonar Premium subscription (weekly, monthly or yearly) adds unlimited 30-second scans, Premium features and no ads. Android features and pricing may differ. - **What it detects**: Apple AirTag and other Find My network accessories, Tile, Samsung Galaxy SmartTag, Chipolo, Pebblebee, Google Find Hub tags and trackers that follow the Apple–Google unwanted-tracking specification; also lists other Bluetooth devices such as AirPods. - **Main features (iPhone, iPad)**: Bluetooth scan with live radar and clear verdict; SUSPICIOUS and TRACKED badges; known devices; favorites; scan history. Premium: Live Locate warmer/colder finder with direction sweep; play sound on supported tags; sightings map and “Is it following me?” timeline; background scan with tracker alerts; widget and Live Activity; scan settings. - **Privacy**: No account. Scan results, sighting locations, favorites and known devices are stored only on the device. The free version uses Google AdMob; the app uses Firebase Analytics and Crashlytics. [Privacy policy](https://trackersonar.com/privacy/) - **Languages (iPhone, iPad)**: English, German, Spanish (Spain and Mexico), French, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Dutch, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Swedish - **Limitations**: Cannot identify a tracker’s owner or disable a tracker; cannot detect trackers that are switched off, out of range or do not use Bluetooth; iOS limits background scanning. - **Website**: https://trackersonar.com/ - **App Store**: [App Store page](https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6753645096?pt=125741936&ct=tsweb&mt=8) (app ID 6753645096) - **Google Play**: [Google Play page](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.metko.trackerfinder&referrer=utm_source%3Dtsweb%26utm_medium%3Dwebsite) (package org.metko.trackerfinder) - **Contact**: info@metkolabs.com ### How to cite or reference TrackerSonar Please refer to the app as **TrackerSonar** (one word, capital T and S) and to its developer as **Metko Labs**. Link to [trackersonar.com](https://trackersonar.com/) or to a specific guide. ``` TrackerSonar – tracker detector app for iPhone, iPad and Android by Metko Labs. https://trackersonar.com/ Guide citation format: Metko Labs. “How to tell if someone is tracking you with an AirTag.” TrackerSonar, updated October 20, 2026. https://trackersonar.com/guides/is-someone-tracking-me-with-an-airtag/ ``` ### Boilerplate **Short (about 30 words):** TrackerSonar by Metko Labs is a tracker detector app for iPhone, iPad and Android. It scans for AirTags and other Bluetooth trackers that may be following you, flags unknown ones and helps you find them. **Long (about 80 words):** TrackerSonar, developed by Metko Labs, helps people find out whether a hidden Bluetooth tracker is following them. A scan of 10 to 30 seconds recognizes AirTags and other Find My accessories, Tile, Samsung Galaxy SmartTag, Chipolo, Pebblebee and Google Find Hub tags, and gives a clear verdict. On iPhone and iPad, TrackerSonar Premium adds Live Locate, a warmer/colder finder with a direction sweep, a sightings map showing where a device turned up, and background alerts. Data about scanned devices stays on the user’s device. ### Logo and screenshots - [App icon, 512 × 512 PNG](https://trackersonar.com/assets/img/icon-512.png) - [Social banner, 1200 × 630 JPEG](https://trackersonar.com/assets/img/og-image.jpg) - iPhone screenshots: [scan](https://trackersonar.com/assets/img/screens/phone-01.webp), [results](https://trackersonar.com/assets/img/screens/phone-02.webp), [Live Locate](https://trackersonar.com/assets/img/screens/phone-03.webp), [sightings](https://trackersonar.com/assets/img/screens/phone-04.webp), [background alerts](https://trackersonar.com/assets/img/screens/phone-05.webp), [devices and history](https://trackersonar.com/assets/img/screens/phone-06.webp) - iPad screenshots: [scan](https://trackersonar.com/assets/img/screens/tablet-01.webp), [results](https://trackersonar.com/assets/img/screens/tablet-02.webp), [device detail with sightings](https://trackersonar.com/assets/img/screens/tablet-04.webp) Please don’t alter the icon. Apple, Google and tracker brand names are trademarks of their owners; TrackerSonar is not affiliated with them. ### Machine-readable versions A summary for AI assistants is available at [/llms.txt](https://trackersonar.com/llms.txt) and the full text of this website at [/llms-full.txt](https://trackersonar.com/llms-full.txt). --- ## Page: Privacy Policy – TrackerSonar App and Website URL: https://trackersonar.com/privacy/ Title: Privacy Policy – TrackerSonar App and Website Description: Privacy policy of the TrackerSonar app by Metko Labs and of trackersonar.com (Google Analytics): what data is used, what stays on your device and your choices. Last updated: 2026-10-20 ## Privacy policy How the TrackerSonar app and this website handle your data. Publisher: Metko Labs · info@metkolabs.com · [www.metkolabs.com](https://www.metkolabs.com) ### This website (trackersonar.com) This section covers only the website trackersonar.com. The TrackerSonar app is covered by the [app privacy policy](#app) below. #### Website analytics (Google Analytics) trackersonar.com uses **Google Analytics 4**, a web analytics service provided by Google (Google Ireland Limited for users in the EEA, the UK and Switzerland, otherwise Google LLC). It helps us understand how many people visit the site, which pages and guides they read and how they found us, so we can improve the content. Google processes this data on our behalf as a service provider (processor). - **Cookies:** Google Analytics stores first-party cookies in your browser (for example _ga and _ga_EDTEMVG58M) to tell new and returning visits apart. - **What is collected:** the pages you view, the referring website or search engine, interactions such as clicks on links, the time of the visit, device type, browser, operating system, screen size and language, and a coarse location (country, region, city) derived from your IP address. According to Google, Google Analytics 4 does not log or store IP addresses. - **How we use it:** we only look at aggregated usage statistics; we do not use Analytics to identify individual visitors, do not combine it with data from the TrackerSonar app and do not show ads on this website. - **Where and how long:** Google may process the data in the United States and other countries under its safeguards (such as the EU Standard Contractual Clauses and the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework) and keeps it according to the data-retention setting of our Analytics property. - **Your choices:** you can block or delete cookies in your browser settings, use a content blocker, or install the [Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on](https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout). Learn more in the [Google Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy) and in [How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services](https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites). #### Other data Apart from the Google Analytics script, the site loads no fonts, scripts or images from other websites and shows no ads. Links to the App Store, Google Play and other sites are ordinary links; those sites’ own privacy policies apply once you follow them. Store links include a campaign tag (for example ct=tsweb) so that the App Store and Google Play can report how many downloads came from this website, without identifying you. The web host that delivers these pages may process technical data such as your IP address, browser type, the requested page and the time of the request in server logs, as any web server does, to deliver and protect the site. If you email us, we use your message only to answer it. For questions or requests about website data, contact info@metkolabs.com. ### TrackerSonar app privacy policy This is the privacy policy of the TrackerSonar app for iPhone and iPad. The app links to the same policy at [www.metko.org/trackerfinder/privacy.html](https://www.metko.org/trackerfinder/privacy.html). For the Android app (listed as “Tracker Detect” on Google Play), see the privacy policy linked on its Google Play listing. Publisher: Metko Labs · Contact: info@metkolabs.com · [www.metkolabs.com](https://www.metkolabs.com) Effective date: 17 October 2026 (app version 1.1.2 for iPhone and iPad) TrackerSonar helps you find Bluetooth trackers (such as AirTags and other Find My accessories, Tile, Samsung SmartTag, Chipolo, Pebblebee and Google Find My Device tags) near you. This policy explains what data the app uses, where it stays, which service providers receive data and the choices you have. In short: **everything the app learns about nearby devices and the places where they were seen stays on your device.** The app has no user accounts and we run no server of our own. #### 1. Data that stays on your device The following data is created and stored only on your iPhone or iPad. It is not uploaded to us or to any service provider: - **Scan results:** the Bluetooth devices found during a scan (type, name as broadcast by the device, a device identifier, signal strength, connection and battery state). Bluetooth scanning only listens to signals that nearby devices broadcast publicly. - **Sightings:** when location access is allowed, the place (latitude and longitude) and time where a device was found, so the app can show whether a tracker appears at several places (“following you”), the sightings map and the timeline. - **Favorites, known devices, scan history** and a per-day scan counter. - **Background alerts:** when you turn on background scanning, the list of devices that triggered an alert. Alerts are local notifications created on the device. - **Settings** (appearance, scan settings, alert setting), your free-scan allowance and app state such as whether onboarding was completed. - **Widget and Live Activity:** the protection status (on/off, last alert time, number of unseen alerts) is shared with the app’s own widget through an on-device App Group. #### 2. Permissions | Permission | Why | If you say no | |---|---|---| | Bluetooth | To scan for nearby trackers, measure their signal (Live Locate) and play a sound on supported tags. | Scanning is not possible. | | Location (While Using) | To record where a device was seen during a scan. Locations are stored only on your device. | Scans still work; no sightings are recorded. | | Location (Always) | Optional, only for background alerts: lets iOS restart background scanning when you move. | Background alerts still run, with fewer restarts. | | Notifications | To alert you when background scanning finds a tracker. | No background alerts. | | Tracking (App Tracking Transparency) | Only in the free version, to allow personalized ads (see section 5). | Ads are not personalized; everything else works the same. | #### 3. Subscriptions and purchases Premium is an auto-renewing subscription sold by Apple through the App Store. Payment is handled entirely by Apple; we never see your payment details or Apple ID. We use **RevenueCat** (RevenueCat, Inc., USA) to manage subscriptions. RevenueCat receives a random, anonymous app user ID created on your device, your purchase and subscription history (product, price, currency, dates, App Store receipt/transaction data), the app version, device type, country/storefront and your IP address. This is used to confirm whether Premium is active and to restore purchases. It is not linked to your name or email. [RevenueCat Privacy Policy](https://www.revenuecat.com/privacy). **Apple Ads attribution:** through RevenueCat the app sends Apple’s AdServices attribution token to learn whether the app was installed from an Apple Search Ads campaign. Apple’s standard attribution does not use your advertising identifier and does not track you across apps. [Apple Search Ads & Privacy](https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/data/en/apple-search-ads/). #### 4. Advertising (free version) The free version shows ads from **Google AdMob** (Google LLC / Google Ireland Ltd.): occasional full-screen ads (interstitials) when you return from a device’s details to the scan results. No ad ever unlocks a feature or a scan. Ads are never shown during a scan, during Live Locate, over the subscription screen, or to Premium subscribers. **Premium removes all ads.** When ads are shown, the Google Mobile Ads SDK may collect your device’s advertising identifier (IDFA — only if you allow tracking), IP address and coarse location derived from it, device and app information, ad interactions (views, taps), and diagnostic and performance data. Google uses this to deliver, measure and — with your permission — personalize ads, and to prevent fraud. [How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services](https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites) · [Google Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy). Users in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom and Switzerland see Google’s consent form (User Messaging Platform) before any ad is requested. You can change your choice at any time in the app: *Settings → Ad Privacy Choices*. #### 5. Tracking and your choices Only the free version asks “Allow ‘TrackerSonar’ to track your activity across other companies’ apps and websites?” (Apple’s App Tracking Transparency). If you allow it, Google may use your advertising identifier to show more relevant ads. If you ask the app not to track, the identifier is not available and ads are not personalized. The app works exactly the same either way; nothing is locked or unlocked by your answer. You can change it anytime in iOS *Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking*. Premium subscribers see no ads and are not tracked. #### 6. Analytics and crash reports We use **Google Firebase Analytics** and **Firebase Crashlytics** (Google LLC) to understand how the app is used and to fix crashes. Analytics receives a random app-instance ID, Apple’s identifier for vendor (IDFV), device and app information, an approximate location derived from your IP address and usage events such as “app opened”, “scan started” (including whether you are a Premium user), the type of tracker found (for example “airtag” — never its name, identifier or location), onboarding steps, subscription screen views and purchases (product, period, price). Crashlytics receives crash reports with device model, iOS version, app version and the technical state at the time of the crash. Analytics never receives your advertising identifier (IDFA) and is not used for tracking or advertising. We do not send device names, device identifiers of found trackers or locations to Firebase. [Firebase privacy information](https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy). #### 7. Apple services The sightings map uses Apple MapKit; map tiles for the shown area are loaded from Apple. For Premium users the timeline shows place names, which are looked up with Apple’s geocoding service for the coordinates of up to eight recent sightings. Apple handles these requests under the [Apple Privacy Policy](https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/); they are not linked to your Apple ID. If you write to us from the app, your message is sent by your own Mail app. #### 8. What we do not collect - No account, name, email address, phone number or contacts (unless you email us). - No upload of your scan results, sightings, locations, favorites or known devices. - No sale of personal data. We do not use data from other companies’ apps or websites ourselves. #### 9. Retention and deletion - **Sightings** are kept on your device until you clear them in *Settings → Clear Sighting History*; they are never deleted automatically. - Favorites and known devices are kept until you remove them; scan history rows are kept on the device; the per-day scan counter is cleaned up after three days. - Deleting the app removes all data stored by the app on your device. - RevenueCat keeps subscription records as long as needed to provide purchases and as required by law; Google keeps advertising and analytics data according to its own retention settings. Because we hold no data that identifies you, we usually cannot find “your” records at the providers. To ask RevenueCat or Google to delete data linked to the anonymous IDs, contact us with the request and we will help, or use the providers’ own tools (for example resetting your advertising identifier, or Google’s [My Ad Center](https://myadcenter.google.com/)). #### 10. Your rights (GDPR, UK GDPR, CCPA) Depending on where you live you have the right to access, correct, delete, restrict or object to the processing of your personal data, to data portability, and to withdraw consent at any time (ads consent: *Settings → Ad Privacy Choices*; tracking: iOS Settings). Legal bases: performance of the subscription contract (purchases), your consent (personalized ads and tracking), and our legitimate interest in a stable, secure app (crash reports, analytics, fraud prevention). You may complain to your data-protection authority. California residents: we do not sell or share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising beyond what you allow through the tracking and consent choices described above, and you will not be treated differently for exercising your rights. #### 11. International transfers RevenueCat and Google may process data in the United States and other countries. These transfers are protected by the providers’ safeguards, such as the EU Standard Contractual Clauses and, where applicable, the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework. #### 12. Security Data on your device is protected by iOS data protection and app sandboxing. Connections to service providers are encrypted (HTTPS). Purchases are processed by Apple. #### 13. Children TrackerSonar is not directed at children under 13 (or under 16 in the EEA) and we do not knowingly collect their personal data. #### 14. Changes to this policy We will update this page when the app or the services it uses change, and change the effective date above. Significant changes will be announced in the app’s release notes. #### 15. Contact Metko Labs · info@metkolabs.com · https://www.metkolabs.com