Apple’s new iOS 15.2 beta gives iPhone and iPad users the option to scan for nearby AirTags and Find My devices that may be tracking their movements.
The beta adds a new “Items That Can Track Me” button to the Find My app. Tapping it will display a list of “Unknown Items” — if there are any nearby. The app then provide users with instructions on how to disable anything that shows up.
iOS 15.2 makes it easier to stop AirTag tracking
Apple’s strict stance on protecting user privacy means that when it releases a product like AirTag trackers, it must ensure that they can’t be used to monitor a user’s location without their knowledge.
If you stumble upon an AirTag you don’t recognize, Apple already makes it easy to disable the tracking tag until you can return it to its owner. But finding a hidden AirTag in the first place is half the battle. That’s why Apple is making it super-simple in its next iOS update.
iOS 15.2 brings a new feature to the Find My app on iPhone and iPad that lets you find “Items That Can Track Me.” It scans for nearby AirTags and other devices that can use the Find My network to report your location.
If you find a device that appears to be tracking you, the Find My app provides simple instructions on how to disable it.
Help return lost items
iOS 15.2 also adds a new “Help Return Lost Items” option to the Find My app. It’s similar in that it first scans for nearby devices. If it finds any, the app provides instructions — which differ depending on the type of item found — on how to contact the device’s owner.
Unfortunately, these features remain available only on Apple devices for now. So if you use an Android smartphone, it’s more difficult to find out if you’re being tracked. However, Apple promised to deliver an Android app for detecting AirTags.
