Apple’s AirTag is a handy device for tracking your belongings. With iOS 17, you can nowshare your AirTag with family members.You can share an AirTag or other item with up to five borrowers using the Find My app.
This new feature lets you and your loved ones keep tabs on shared items like house keys or a family pet’s collar. It’s easy to set up and manage. You simply invite people to share the AirTag through the Find My app on your iPhone.
Sharing AirTags brings peace of mind when lending items to family or friends. You’ll all be able to locate the shared item if it gets misplaced. The table below shows key benefits of AirTag sharing:
Sharing AirTags with Family
AirTags are a great way to keep track of your belongings, and they can be especially useful for families. Here’s how to share AirTags with your family:
Family Sharing
Benefits of Sharing
Things to Keep in Mind
Alternatives to Sharing
Sharing AirTags with family can be a convenient way to keep track of shared items and help each other find misplaced belongings.
Setting Up AirTag Sharing Features
AirTag sharing enables you to let family members track your items. This feature integrates with Find My and Family Sharing for seamless item location sharing.
Adding Your AirTag to Find My
To share an AirTag, you first need to add it to Find My. Open the Find My app on your iPhone and tap the Items tab. Tap “Add New Item” and select “AirTag” from the list. Follow the on-screen instructions to pair your AirTag with your iPhone.
Once paired, your AirTag will appear in the Items list. you’re able to customize its name and emoji for easy identification. Make sure your AirTag is up to date with the latest firmware for optimal performance and compatibility with sharing features.
you may share your AirTag with up to five people. Each person must have an Apple ID and be signed in to iCloud. They also need to have two-factor authentication enabled for their Apple ID.
Inviting Family Members to Track Your AirTag
To invite family members, tap their name in your contacts list or enter their Apple ID email. You can add multiple people at once. After selecting the recipients, tap “Share” to send the invitation.
The invited family members will receive a notification to accept the shared AirTag. Once accepted, they can view its location in their Find My app under the Items tab. They can also play a sound on the AirTag to locate it if needed.
Remember to only share AirTags with trusted family members to protect your privacy and security.
Managing Access and Permissions
AirTag sharing settings allow you to control who can see andtrack your items. you may add or remove people, adjust permissions, and enhance security through two-factor authentication.
Editing AirTag Sharing Settings
you may change permissions for each person you’ve shared with. Options include:
To modify these settings, tap the person’s name and adjust the toggles as needed.
Removing Access for Individuals
If you need to stop sharing your AirTag with someone, the process is straightforward. Open the Find My app and select the shared AirTag. Scroll to the person you want to remove and swipe left on their name. Tap “Remove” to confirm.
Alternatively, you can tap the person’s name and select “Stop Sharing” at the bottom of the screen. This action is immediate and the person will lose access to your AirTag’s location.
Remember that removing someone’s access doesn’t notify them. If needed, you might want to inform them separately.
Two-Factor Authentication for Security
Two-factor authenticationis crucial for securing your Apple ID and AirTag sharing. It adds an extra layer of protection to your account.
To enable two-factor authentication:
Once activated, you’ll need to enter a code sent to your trusted devices when signing in or making changes to your account. This helps prevent unauthorized access to your AirTags and other shared items.
For shared AirTags, two-factor authentication ensures that only verified users can access your item’s location. It’s a simple yet effective way to boost your privacy and security.
Safety, Privacy, and Anti-Stalking Measures
AirTag sharing with family offers convenience but requires careful consideration of privacy and safety. Apple has implemented features to protect users and prevent misuse.
Understanding Tracking Notifications
AirTags are designed to alert users when anunknown tagis moving with them. This feature helpsprevent unwanted tracking.Notifications appearon your iPhone if an AirTag not linked to your Apple ID is detected nearby for an extended period.
You’ll receive these alerts even if the AirTag belongs to a family member you’re not sharing with. This ensures you’re always aware of potential tracking attempts.
To distinguish between shared and unknown AirTags, familiarize yourself with the tags you’ve agreed to share. Keep a list of shared AirTags to avoid unnecessary concern when notifications appear.
Avoiding Misuse of AirTag Sharing
When sharing AirTags with family, it’s crucial to establish clear boundaries and usage guidelines. Discuss the purpose of shared tags and agree onhow they’ll be used.
Never use AirTags to track family members without their knowledge or consent. This violates privacy and can damage trust within relationships.
Regularly review shared AirTags and remove access for those who no longer need it. This helps maintain control over your privacy and prevents potential misuse.
Anti-Stalking Features and Personal Safety
Apple has implemented severalanti-stalking measuresto enhance personal safety when using AirTags. These features work even with shared tags to ensure protection for all users.
If an unknown AirTag moves with you, it will make a sound after a certain period. This audible alert helps you locate the tag if it’s hidden.
You can use the Find My app to scan for nearby AirTags. This allows you to detect any tags in your vicinity, whether they’re shared or unknown.
If you find an unknown AirTag, you can tap it with your NFC-capable device to view its serial number and disable it. This information can be useful if you need to report misuse to authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
AirTag sharing allows multiple people to track the same item. This feature enables families to keep tabs on shared belongings and helps friends locate borrowed items easily.
How can I share an AirTag with members of my family on iPhone?
Choose the family member from your contacts list. They’ll receive an invite to accept the shared AirTag.
What should I do if AirTag sharing is not working?
If AirTag sharing isn’t working, first ensure both devices are running the latest iOS version. Check that Find My and Bluetooth are enabled on both devices.
Restart your iPhone and the AirTag by removing and reinserting its battery. If issues persist, sign out of iCloud and sign back in on both devices.
How do you add an AirTag to a second phone?
To add an AirTag to a second phone, the original owner must share it through the Find My app. The second user can’t directly add the AirTag to their device.
The owner sends an invite, and the recipient accepts it in their Find My app. This processlinks the AirTag to both phones.
Why is the option to share an AirTag not appearing?
If the share option isn’t visible, verify that your iPhone runs iOS 16.5 or later. Ensure the AirTag’s firmware is up to date.
Check that you’re signed into iCloud and have Find My enabled. If problems continue, reset the AirTag and set it up again.
Is it possible to share an AirTag with a child account?
Yes, you may share an AirTag with a child account if it’s part of yourFamily Sharing group. The process is the same as sharing with any other family member.
Invite the child account through the Find My app. The child or parent managing the account can then accept the invitation.
Can an AirTag be recognized by multiple iPhones?
Yes, an AirTag can berecognized by up to five iPhones. This limit ensures security while allowing families to track shared items.
Each iPhone user receives updates on the AirTag’s location. All shared users can play a sound to locate the item when nearby.
