Find unknown trackers

If you’re unable to play a sound or can’t hear the sound, try to move around and tap Play sound. It’s possible that the tracker is no longer in range or the device ID has changed.

If you can't play a sound but believe the tracker is near you, look through your belongings. Search yourself and your surroundings for anywhere the device may be hidden. This could be in places you don’t commonly look like in a pocket, your bag, or your car.

You can connect your Android device to the unknown tracker through Bluetooth to guide you to its location:

1. On your device, tap the tracker notification to open a map.
2. Tap Next steps Find nearby.
   • This is only available with Find My Device network compatible trackers.
   • The shape fills as you get closer to the tracker and also displays a text that describes the status of the connection.
   • To make the tracker play a sound again, tap Play sound.

If you can't find the device and feel your safety is at risk, go to a safe public location and contact law enforcement or a trusted contact.

You can take screenshots of the unknown tracker alert and the map of the tracker locations for later reference.

Once you find the tracker, you may want to save its information.

1. You may want to take a screenshot of the unknown tracker alert and map of the tracker locations.
2. For Airtags, to learn more information about the tracker, bring the tracker near the back side of your phone.
   • You may have to wait a moment for the tracker information to come up on your screen.
   • Some devices may share their serial number or additional information about the owner of the device. Other devices also have the serial number printed physically on the Bluetooth tracker.
   • You may want to take a screenshot of the serial number or owner information.
3. For Find My Device network compatible trackers, to learn more about the tracker, follow the on-screen instructions.
   • Once all the identification instructions are completed, you’ll be able to find the device identifier and hidden email address of the owner.
   • You may want to take a screenshot of the device identifier or owner information.
   • If you’re unable to find the instructions to reveal owner information, follow the identification instructions on the manufacturer's website.

Important:

• Some trackers, if disabled, may be factory reset and no longer linked to their original owner. Law enforcement may not be able to get additional information about these trackers, like who owns the tracker.
• Physically disabling the device will stop the owner from receiving future location updates from the tracker, but they may still be able to check the last location from when the tracker was still enabled.
  • Depending on your situation, you can disable the tracker to stop any tracking or keep it enabled if you are concerned that disabling it could be unsafe.
  • To disable the tracker, find the product manufacturer below for step-by-step instructions:

• You can pause location updates on your phone for up to 24 hours. This means location information from your phone won't be used to locate the tracker while paused. To temporarily pause location updates, tap I can’t find the tracker Temporarily pause.
  • This is only available with Find My Device network compatible trackers.
• You may be able to work with your local law enforcement to learn more about the tracker you've found. To support an investigation, law enforcement may ask you for the tracker, the device’s identifier, or other information.

If you can’t find the device, it may still be near you or on your belongings.

• If it’s safe to do so, retrace your steps and check belongings you had on the route shown on the alert, like in your car or backpack.
• Run a manual scan to find trackers nearby.
• If the tracker is still detected with you the next day, you may receive another alert.

If you want to see alerts that you’ve previously received:

1. On your device, tap Settings.
2. Tap Safety & Emergency Unknown tracker alerts.
3. In the middle of the screen, tap the tracker alerts button.

Tip: Alerts are deleted after 48 hours.

You can check for trackers that are separated from their owners and currently near you at any time.

1. On your device, tap Settings.
2. Tap Safety & Emergency Unknown tracker alerts Scan now.
   • Your device takes about 10 seconds to complete a manual scan.

Important: If you turn off unknown tracker alerts, previous alerts will be cleared and any information about other unknown trackers will be deleted. This data can’t be recovered.

If your Android device is Android 12 (S) and up:

1. On your device, tap Settings.
2. Tap Safety & emergency Unknown tracker alerts.
3. Turn Allow alerts off.

If your Android device is Android 11 (R) and lower:

1. On your device, tap Settings.
2. Tap Google Personal & device safety Unknown tracker alerts.
3. Turn off alerts.

To get automated alerts for unknown trackers traveling with you, you must have your Location turned on.

If you turn off your Location, to find trackers that are near you at the moment, you can still use the manual scanning feature.

• On Android 11 and up: Manual scanning doesn’t require the phone's Location setting to be on. Check and update your Android version.
• On Android 10 and lower: Manual scanning uses your phone’s Location setting and Bluetooth. There are several ways you can control which apps and services can access your location.

You may not be able to ring the tracker if:

• The tracker owner is nearby
• The tracker was very recently separated from its owner
• The tracker is out of your Android phone’s Bluetooth range or no longer with you
• The tracker device ID has changed