AirTag also updates location when not in vicinity OR in lost mode

[107655]

So maybe I did not understand AirTags from the beginning, but my AirTag is also updating its location when I’m not around, even when lost mode is switched off.

For example: yesterday evening I parked my car in the garage below ground at 6pm, left my AirTag in the car and walked to my apartment which is 5 floors high. Even at 10pm my AirTag was still updating its location, stating “last seen at 10pm ….”.

It seems that the AirTag is updating its location with nearby iPhone users, since I wasn’t there and didn’t leave any Apple device in the car. I did not know this was standard behavior (but I do like it), I thought this would only work when activating lost mode.

 

[waw74]

that's the way it works,

AirTag

Attach AirTag to everyday items, like your keys or a backpack, to easily keep track of them in the Find My app.

www.apple.com

Get by with a little help from hundreds of millions of friends.​

When youʼve left something far behind, like at the beach or the gym, the Find My network — hundreds of millions of iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices around the world — helps track down your AirTag. And itʼs designed to protect your privacy every step of the way.

How does it work?​

Your AirTag sends out a secure Bluetooth signal that can be detected by nearby devices in the Find My network. These devices send the location of your AirTag to iCloud — then you can go to the Find My app and see it on a map. The whole process is anonymous and encrypted to protect your privacy. And itʼs efficient, so thereʼs no need to worry about battery life or data usage.

 

[107655]

Thanks @waw74 , I thought the find my network via other devices would only be activated when the airtag is set to lost mode.

 

[fischersd]

Thanks @waw74 , I thought the find my network via other devices would only be activated when the airtag is set to lost mode.

Lost mode allows you to set a message for the finder - including your phone number. (maybe you don't want that enabled all of the time) Android users will get a URL when they tap the AirTag, via NFC - the URL will relay your message (of course, any iPhone users will get the notification that there's a lost device when they come near to it).

It does make you wonder though - how would Android users know to tap it with their phones?

 

[Tumbleweed666]

Thanks @waw74 , I thought the find my network via other devices would only be activated when the airtag is set to lost mode.

No, that wouldn't work very well since if it was in an area with few iPhones it would take a long time to know to go into lost mode, maybe never because the passing iPhone would need to pick up the notification of the tags nearby existence, send that back to Apple hq, then be told to send a message back to the airtag to go into lost mode. By then the iPhone could easily be out of range.
Im pretty sure than all lost mode does is allow a message to be displayed. Nothing else.