How to Find AirTags and Other Bluetooth Tracking Devices Using Your Android Phone

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Bluetooth trackers like Apple AirTag are designed to make your life easier by helping you find items like keys, bags, and luggage through crowdsourcing locator networks. However, their small size can cause them to get lost or even be misused by unauthorized people for tracking. Google and Apple have collaborated to offer features that help detect fake AirTags, and third-party apps are available to help detect other Bluetooth tracking devices. This guide will walk you through the process of finding Bluetooth trackers on your Android phone, whether it’s a budget model or a high-end device.

Understanding How Bluetooth Tracking Devices Work

Bluetooth trackers serve as tools to help you keep track of your belongings. There are plenty of options, from Apple AirTags to products from manufacturers like Samsung, Chipolo, and Tile. These tracking devices typically consist of an internal power supply (usually a battery), a chip, and an antenna. Some trackers are equipped with a built-in speaker for easy location determination. Additionally, every Bluetooth tracker is accompanied by a mobile app that allows you to track the location of the item to which it is attached.

Most Bluetooth trackers work on a similar principle. They use Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth LE) to connect with your smartphone. Every Bluetooth tracking device has a Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) to ensure only its owner can track it. However, owners have the option to share their tracker’s location with friends and family to track it from their own phones.

These tracking devices also connect to other people’s devices while maintaining the user’s anonymity. For example, AirTags use Bluetooth signals to connect to nearby devices on Apple’s Find My network without revealing the owner’s identity. The location of the AirTag is determined by measuring the strength of Bluetooth signals from other devices. Tile has its own network, the Tile Network, where phones with the Tile app silently scan for Bluetooth trackers and share their last known location in the cloud using GPS.

Using Tracker Detection to Find AirTags and Other Bluetooth Trackers

Apple’s AirTags are designed for iPhones, but Android users can detect unexpected AirTags in their surroundings using the free Tracker Detect app. This app is compatible with all item trackers that support Apple’s Find My network, including AirTags and devices from other manufacturers such as Chipolo and Pebblebee. Here’s how to find Bluetooth trackers using Apple’s Tracker Detect app:

Stalker Detection searches for objects that are away from their owners and compatible with Apple’s Find My network. These objects include AirTags and other compatible devices. If you think someone is using an AirTag or other object to track your location, you can find it by scanning it.

  1. Tracker Detect Download the app: Go to Play Store and download the Tracker Detect app.
  2. Open the App: Launch the app and accept its terms and conditions.
  3. Start Scanning: Tap the blue “Scan” button to search for nearby items. If you are using the app for the first time, you need to grant Bluetooth access permission.
  4. View Results: Once the scan is complete, the app will display nearby AirTags and other Bluetooth tracking devices in the results. If nothing is found, try the scan again later, as the tracker must be separated from its owner for more than 15 minutes to appear.
  5. Choose a Tracker: Tap any AirTag or Bluetooth tracker the app detects.
  6. Activate Sound: You can use the “Play Sound” option to have the tracker play a sound that will help you locate it. Your phone must be within Bluetooth range for 10 minutes or more for the tracker to emit sound.

Using Android’s Unknown Tracker Alerts

Google introduced Unknown Tracker Alerts for Android users and began a wider rollout of the feature in August 2023. With Unknown Follower Alerts, you will receive a notification if someone else’s follower is detected to be traveling with you but is out of Bluetooth range of the owner. Here’s how to use this feature:

  1. Get Alert: When you receive an unknown tracker alert on your Android device, tap on it to open the map.
  2. Locate the Viewer: Identify the location on the map where the tracker was spotted traveling with you.
  3. Activate Sound: Tap “Play Sound” to locate the tracker and follow the sound it makes.

You can also scan for trackers manually using your Android device:

  1. Access Settings: Open your phone’s settings.
  2. Security and Emergency: Scroll down and select “Security and Emergency”.
  3. Unknown Tracker Warnings: Tap “Unknown Viewer Alerts.”
  4. Start Scan: Tap “Scan Now” to manually check for Bluetooth trackers near you. Note that this feature is only compatible with AirTags, so you won’t be able to detect trackers from other manufacturers.
  5. Locate the Viewer: If the scan finds nearby trackers, tap the unknown tracker in the list and use “Play Audio” to locate it.

Using Third-Party Apps to Find Bluetooth Tracking Devices

Various third-party applications can help you find Bluetooth trackers. In this tutorial, we will use LightBlue, a free app available on the Play Store that can detect trackers from any manufacturer. LightBlue displays all Bluetooth devices within range, including smartwatches, headphones, and keyboards. To find your Bluetooth tracker, make sure you move away from other devices. Here’s how to use LightBlue:

LightBlue® can connect you to any device that uses Bluetooth Low Energy (also known as Bluetooth Smart or Bluetooth Light). With LightBlue® you can scan, connect and browse any nearby BLE device.

  1. Download LightBlue: Get the LightBlue app from Play Store.
  2. Open the App: Launch the app and tap the “Scan” button at the bottom to search for nearby trackers.
  3. View Results: After the scanning is completed, you will see a list of nearby Bluetooth devices. AirTags or other Bluetooth trackers may appear as “Anonymous.”
  4. Find the Audience: To find a Bluetooth tracker near you, pay attention to the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) value (measured in dBm) and signal strength bars next to the tracker in the list. The closer you get to the viewer, the less negative the RSSI value becomes, and the more signal bars turn blue when you’re in a certain range.

What to Do When You Find a Bluetooth Tracker

Once you locate a tracking device, you have options for using it:

  • You can tap the Bluetooth tracker with an NFC-compatible Android phone to retrieve information such as the serial number or the last four digits of the owner’s phone number.
  • If you feel unsafe or find a tracking device that does not belong to you, consider contacting local law enforcement for guidance.
  • To disable an AirTag, Apple recommends removing the battery by pushing down on the back of the tracker and turning it counterclockwise to remove the cover. Note that these instructions may not apply to all Bluetooth tracking devices, but removing the battery should disable location tracking on most.

Protecting Your Privacy

While Bluetooth trackers are valuable for finding lost items, they can also pose privacy risks. Google tracks various aspects of your digital life on your Android phone. To increase your digital privacy, consider taking steps to protect your online activities.

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