Apple’s AirPods have introduced a nifty tracking feature using the ‘Find My’ network, providing a practical solution to the perpetual problem of losing those tiny earbuds. However, the convenience of pinpointing your AirPods’ location on a map, even from a distance, comes with its set of privacy concerns.

To address these apprehensions, How to Disable AirPod Tracking. This function notifies you when your AirPods are being tracked, offering transparency and control over the potential intrusion into your privacy. In this article, we’ll delve into why these alerts occur and guide you on effectively managing them.

How to Disable Airpod Tracking

If you wish to deactivate the location tracking feature for your AirPods Pro.

Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.

Navigate to the Privacy section.

Select Location Services.

Scroll through the list and find AirPods Pro.

Tap on AirPods Pro.

Choose the “Never” option.

By completing these steps, you effectively disable the location tracking for your AirPods Pro, ensuring they won’t be able to trace your whereabouts.

Are AirPods Tracking You? ‘AirPods Detected Near You’ Alert, Explained

If you’re part of the Apple ecosystem, chances are you’re acquainted with the Find My app. This application offers the convenience of tracking not only your Apple devices but also accessories and items to which you’ve attached an AirTag.

However, the tracking capabilities of the Find My network have sparked privacy concerns. Instances of individuals exploiting AirPods and AirTags for potentially malicious tracking have raised alarms.

In response to these concerns, Apple has implemented safeguards to thwart unwarranted tracking. Notably, if your AirPods are separated from you and appear to be in motion with someone else, you’ll receive a notification on your Apple device.

AirPods detected near you: The Find My app recognizes an unknown pair of AirPods in close proximity for an extended period.

AirPods found moving with you: The app observes unknown AirPods following a similar path and location as you over a considerable duration.

These measures underscore Apple’s commitment to user privacy and security in the face of evolving technological challenges.

What to Do When an Unknown AirPod Is Tracking You

Receiving an alert that AirPods are supposedly moving with you, especially if you don’t own a pair, can be a cause for concern. However, it’s essential to note that this alert doesn’t automatically indicate someone is tracking you; it could simply be detecting AirPods in close proximity, such as those belonging to your roommate, family member, or friend.

Find the AirPods:

If you’re up for a bit of detective work, you can attempt to locate the AirPods triggering the alert by playing a sound:

Tap on the notification you received.

Tap Continue.

Select Play Sound.

Move around and follow the sound to pinpoint the location of the AirPods. Keep playing the sound until you locate them.

Identify the owner of the AirPods:

Once you’ve found the AirPods, identify their owner. It might be a roommate, family member, or friend who is innocently nearby.

Disable the AirPods:

If you determine that the detected AirPods belong to someone you know, you can disable the alert by informing them to turn off their AirPods or by simply moving away from their vicinity.

By taking these steps, you can alleviate any potential panic and ensure that the situation is resolved accurately and with minimal disruption.

How to Turn Off ‘AirPods Detected’ Alerts From Your Own AirPods

Interestingly, you might find yourself receiving ‘AirPods detected’ notifications even when they belong to you or a close family member. While you can temporarily halt these notifications by tapping the alert and selecting “Pause Safety Alerts,” if this becomes a recurring issue, exploring more permanent solutions is advisable.

Reset and reconnect your AirPods:

Resetting your AirPods can often resolve firmware and connectivity issues, including the persistent ‘AirPods detected’ notifications. To reset your AirPods:

Place your AirPods in their case.

Close the lid and wait for about 30 seconds.

Open the lid and press and hold the button on the back of the case until the LED light on the front flashes white.

Reconnect your AirPods to your device.

Disable Location Sharing:

If you’re experiencing frequent notifications, you can consider turning off Location Sharing for your AirPods:

Go to Settings on your device.

Tap on your Apple ID.

Select Find My.

Toggle off Share My Location.

Disable the ‘Notify When Left Behind’ feature:

Another option is to turn off the ‘Notify When Left Behind’ feature:

Open the Find My app.

Tap on the Devices tab.

Select your AirPods.

Toggle off the ‘Notify When Left Behind’ option.

Enable Family Sharing:

If you’re part of a Family Sharing group, enabling this feature can also help manage notifications:

Go to Settings on your device.

Tap on your Apple ID.

Select Family Sharing.

Make sure that Share My Location is turned on for family members.

If you’re facing issues with your AirPods and want to reset and reconnect them to your iOS device.

Place your AirPods in the case:

Put your AirPods into their charging case.

Close the lid and wait for at least 30 seconds:

Ensure that the lid of the charging case is closed and give it at least 30 seconds.

Go to Settings and tap Bluetooth:

Open the Settings app on your iOS device and navigate to the Bluetooth section.

Tap the “i” icon next to your AirPods:

Find your AirPods in the list of available devices and tap the small “i” icon next to their name.

Select Forget This Device:

On the AirPods details screen, choose the “Forget This Device” option. Confirm your choice if prompted.

Open the charging case lid and long-press the setup button:

Open the lid of the charging case and locate the setup button on the back. Press and hold this button until the status light on the case changes from amber to white.

Enable Bluetooth on your iOS device:

Turn on Bluetooth on your iOS device.

Open your AirPods case near the device:

Open the AirPods case near your iOS device, and follow any on-screen instructions that appear to complete the reconnection process.

By following these steps, you effectively reset and reconnect your AirPods, addressing any potential firmware or connectivity issues you might be experiencing.

How to know if AirPods are being tracked

If your iPhone or iPad detects unknown AirPods in close proximity for an extended period, you’ll receive an AirPods tracking notification that says, “AirPods Found Moving With You.” In case you’re concerned about missing the alert, you can check the “Items Detected With You” section in the Find My app.

The Find My app not only notifies you but also provides a map displaying the route where the unknown AirPods followed you. If you suspect they might be hidden nearby, you can send a sound to the earbuds to make them easier to locate. This feature becomes crucial if you’re cautious about potential eavesdropping through the Live Listen feature.

Staying vigilant and regularly checking the Find My app can help you stay on top of any unexpected AirPods tracking notifications, ensuring your privacy and security in various scenarios.

How Far Can AirPods be Tracked?

Due to the absence of built-in Wi-Fi or GPS connectivity in AirPods, tracking them over long distances is not possible. When connected to another Apple device via Bluetooth, you can only see their location from a relatively short range, typically around 40 feet (10 meters).

In practical terms, if you happen to leave your AirPods in a location like a park and someone else picks them up, you’ll be able to view the last location where they were connected to your iPhone. However, unlike tracking an iPhone’s location in real-time, you cannot actively follow the movement of your AirPods once they are out of Bluetooth range.

This limitation underscores the importance of being vigilant about your AirPods and minimizing the chances of misplacement or loss, given the relatively short-range tracking capability provided by Bluetooth connectivity.

Can AirPods be Tracked if They Are Turned off?

That’s correct. If your AirPods are turned off, it is not possible to track them actively. In the Find My app, they will appear as “Offline,” and you will only be able to view their last known location, which is when they were last connected to another Apple device. The inability to actively track turned-off AirPods highlights the importance of keeping them charged and powered on for the Find My feature to be effective in locating them.

How to Prevent AirPods From Being Tracked

Precisely, tracking AirPods is limited to devices connected to the same iCloud account. This ensures that you can only see the location of your own headphones and not those owned by someone else. The security measures in place mean that nobody can track your AirPods unless they have access to one of your Apple devices.

If you suspect that someone else has access to one of your devices and you want to prevent them from tracking your AirPods, you have several options. You can remove the headphones from your iCloud account using the Find My app, iCloud.com, or by performing a factory reset. Additionally, if there are concerns about your phone being tracked, you can take steps to secure it and maintain your privacy. These measures underscore the importance of safeguarding access to your Apple devices to ensure the security of your AirPods tracking functionality.

Conclusion

Indeed, concerns about AirPods tracking your location are typically unwarranted. The only scenario in which someone could potentially track you via AirPods is if they have access to another device connected to your iCloud account. It is not possible for someone to track you using their own AirPods.

If privacy and cybersecurity are top priorities, there are simple steps you can take to block AirPods from being tracked if it’s a concern. Additionally, to enhance overall cybersecurity on all your devices, using tools like Clario AntiSpy can be beneficial. Such software is designed to detect and block hidden spyware, protecting your privacy and helping you manage settings related to app tracking and ad tracking. Taking these measures ensures a more secure and private digital experience across all your devices.