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cameronjpu

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 24, 2007
1,379
88
This is weird - I also have Tiles and when I tell them to beep, they BEEP, loudly and until I find the device. The Airtag beeps pretty quietly, and only for about 5 seconds. Is this behavior that can be changed? When I'm looking for my lost keys, I don't usually find them inside of 5 seconds.
 
This is weird - I also have Tiles and when I tell them to beep, they BEEP, loudly and until I find the device. The Airtag beeps pretty quietly, and only for about 5 seconds. Is this behavior that can be changed? When I'm looking for my lost keys, I don't usually find them inside of 5 seconds.
I have not found any way to change volume or duration. Each device has its on strengths and weaknesses. The AirTag has a huge audience to help you find the item through it huge crowd sourced base (essentially all iPhone owners.) But it has very low volume and sound duration. I do not support any type of stalking but the device's anti-stalking features basically make them useless for finding stolen goods as they report very quickly to a "thief" that a tag is following with them.

The Tile has a very narrow audience made up of phone owners that ALSO are running the TILE app. You will get some alerts but not near the frequency of the AirTag system. But the TILE does store all of the pings if you buy the enhanced package. So that is an advantage of being able to see an approximate path of travel. Each ping on the AirTag is lost when a new ping has arrived. The TILE also does not alert a non-owner so they are a better choice for tracking stolen items.
 
Got it. Good to know. Funny, you'd think the length of the sound alert should be customizable. Maybe someday.
 
if you've got a newer phone (11 and up), and use the precise location feature, then 5 seconds of beep should be the most you ever need. Precision should get you within a couple feet, and you should be able to see the tag, If it's under something, then you might need the beep.

They probably designed it with newer phones in mind.


I just wish the sound wasn't so unfocused, sometimes it's hard to make out which direction it's coming from.
 
Haha should be the most I'll ever need huh?

"I just wish the sound wasn't so unfocused, sometimes it's hard to make out which direction it's coming from." Well gee, maybe if the sound didn't stop, the amazing biology of the human ear could help quickly, mayhaps?

So I was doing something wrong, when I was looking for my keys in my house, and I had to kit the "make sound" button about 8 times as I went from room to room trying to figure out where they were? Cmon, don't do that thing where you excuse the company by telling someone their need is not a real need ;)

I have a 13 Pro.
 
Why do you need it to make more noise if your phone is going to essentially take you to the tag?
That’s the beauty of the AirTag you shouldn’t need to go hunting around the room/house following a sound when your phone you should do the hard work for you.
I don’t know your use case but I’m genuinely curious why you’re so insistent this is a need that’s required.
 
Why do you need it to make more noise if your phone is going to essentially take you to the tag?
That’s the beauty of the AirTag you shouldn’t need to go hunting around the room/house following a sound when your phone you should do the hard work for you.
I don’t know your use case but I’m genuinely curious why you’re so insistent this is a need that’s required.
I need all I can get when my kids have hidden one of the Apple TV remotes in an obscure place. I use the combination of the sound and the directions on my phone.
 
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