AirTag setup oddity

[nicho]

My airtag (1 to try… will order a couple more now) arrived this morning. The delivery driver refused to put it in a delivery box and had to give it to me in person - yet my iPhone 12 Pro was allowed to go in one…

anyway during setup and registering it to my iCloud account it showed my email address and my wife’s phone number. This is odd. Her phone number is a trusted number on my iCloud account… could that be the reason?

 

[dallardice]

I had exactly the same issue - showed the phone number of the other person on my Family Account, who is a trusted recovery phone number for iCloud. Not sure if it has any particular significance to see it at that stage, i.e. whether that phone number is ever used for anything critical.

 

[nicho]

I had exactly the same issue - showed the phone number of the other person on my Family Account, who is a trusted recovery phone number for iCloud. Not sure if it has any particular significance to see it at that stage, i.e. whether that phone number is ever used for anything critical.

I guess I could put my airtag in lost mode tomorrow and see what happens! I'd prefer my own phone number to show to the finder, obviously. Don't want my wife thinking having more evidence I'm an idiot for having lost something.

 

[edk99]

I guess I could put my airtag in lost mode tomorrow and see what happens! I'd prefer my own phone number to show to the finder, obviously. Don't want my wife thinking having more evidence I'm an idiot for having lost something.

What shows up to the "finder" of the airbag when it is in lost mode is what you type into the screen when putting it in lost mode. So you can put an email a phone number or whatever text you want.

 

[nicho]

What shows up to the "finder" of the airbag when it is in lost mode is what you type into the screen when putting it in lost mode. So you can put an email a phone number or whatever text you want.

Oh awesome! So the email address and phone number at the "pairing" stage are just extra info to confirm it's the right account?

 

[iLoveDeveloping]

Oh awesome! So the email address and phone number at the "pairing" stage are just extra info to confirm it's the right account?

Yes just noticed that too! Actually if you tap on it with your iPhone it just gives the serial number and instructions on how to shut it off! Very interesting, also a warning that you can go to the police if tracked!

 

[edk99]

Oh awesome! So the email address and phone number at the "pairing" stage are just extra info to confirm it's the right account?

I guess. There is a ton of info out there on Apple's support site.

Mark an AirTag or other item as lost in Find My on iPhone

In Find My on iPhone, mark an item as lost so that others can return it to you.

support.apple.com

Turn on Lost Mode for an item​

To mark an item as lost, you need to turn on Lost Mode.

1. Tap Items, then tap the name of the lost item.
2. Under Lost Mode, tap Enable.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions to enter a phone number where you can be reached. You can also receive a notification when an updated location for the item is viewable in Find My.
4. Tap Activate.

Change the phone number in the Lost Mode message​

1. Tap Items, then tap the name of the lost item.
2. Under Lost Mode, tap Enabled.
3. Edit the phone number, then tap Save.

 

[Bronken]

Same here. Airtag shows my wifes phone nr during setup.
Apple support wasnt aware of this issue. Guy was very friendly but just as clueless as I was.

 

[zea]

Having this issue as well! Not sure why it’s not pulling the default.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Oh awesome! So the email address and phone number at the "pairing" stage are just extra info to confirm it's the right account?

Correct.

 

[Peepo]

I had same issue so I cancelled then removed my wife’s number and tried again. In hindsight it doesn’t matter since in lost mode you enter phone number that you want used.

 

[ToasterZapper]

AirTags registered fine on my phone, but on my wife’s it used my number. Spent a few minutes trying to figure out why it chose my number over hers but couldn’t figure it. I’ve just accepted it now

 

[Peepo]

Thinking maybe airtags have husband tracking ability LOL.