How do this airtags work with roommates?

[anticipate]

This is an interesting conundrum. What happens if you have a bunch of items that have airtags such as your camera or your backpack. And you live with a roommate. And then you leave… For a few hours… Or maybe for a few days on vacation. Does that mean your roommate is going to start to get pinged saying that an unknown AirTag is hanging around them if you don't arrive back in range of the airtags within a few hours? Is it smart enough to realize the tags are "home" or at "work" since the phone knows that info?

THAT should get interesting.

 

[jclardy]

I don't think it will be a problem, the "following" ping will only happen if your roommate moves one of your Airtags. Otherwise Airtags wouldn't work in an office (Like if you left your backpack at work over the weekend...)

Basically, it has to be "moving" with your roommate. If your airtag is not physically moving then there will be no notification sent out.

 

[KeithJenner]

Yes, it won't be a problem unless:

They take the item out of the house with them, in which case they will get the privacy alerts at some point as it is moving with them whilst you are not there.

They move the item after it has been left for 3 days. The item has to move in this situation.

As long as nobody moves the item there is no problem.

 

[anticipate]

This is great thank you. I didn't realize it was based on movement as well as time. Brilliant!

 

[lordhamster]

My roommate (aka wife) DID already get a notification that my keys were following her. Because apparently my keys in my pocket opposite my phone have been in close proximity to her everywhere we went together this weekend.

 

[iLoveDeveloping]

My roommate (aka wife) DID already get a notification that my keys were following her. Because apparently my keys in my pocket opposite my phone have been in close proximity to her everywhere we went together this weekend.

What? I thought that shouldn’t happen if you have your device with you? Did you leave your iPhone at home and go out with her?

 

[lordhamster]

What? I thought that shouldn’t happen if you have your device with you? Did you leave your iPhone at home and go out with her?

I ALWAYS have my phone with me...not sure why I bother to pay for LTE for my watch actually.
This week we:

• Walked the dog together
• Went shopping together
• Went to a friend's house together
• Stayed home together

I only had my keys in my pocket when the car was required. My Phone is with me 24/7. She is also part of my "Family" group in iCloud and her contact card for siri and mine both have the same home address.

 

[iLoveDeveloping]

I ALWAYS have my phone with me...not sure why I bother to pay for LTE for my watch actually.
This week we:

• Walked the dog together
• Went shopping together
• Went to a friend's house together
• Stayed home together

I only had my keys in my pocket when the car was required. My Phone is with me 24/7. She is also part of my "Family" group in iCloud and her contact card for siri and mine both have the same home address.

That’s very weird, I don’t think that’s expected behaviour. Would love to know if other have had this issue! Haven’t had the issue with my wife’s phone yet, had it all weekend together on my keys - keys and phone always with me!

 

[lordhamster]

That’s very weird, I don’t think that’s expected behaviour. Would love to know if other have had this issue! Haven’t had the issue with my wife’s phone yet, had it all weekend together on my keys - keys and phone always with me!

Here is my original thread with more detail:

My wife got alerted that my keys were following her haha.

I put Airtags on 4 things so far: (My account) My Keys (My account) The dog (My account) My backpack (Wife's account) her keys My wife got a notification today that my Keys have been following her haha. Due to Covid, we are almost always together. I have to say I DO find it annoying that the...

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