Unknown Accessory Detected Near You on iPhone

Unknown Accessory Detected Near You on iPhone.

Apple has implemented a lot of tracking features for the convenience of users, but like many well-intentioned things, some slackers have turned the utility on its head. Take AirTags for example – there have been several reports of harassment due to small devices.

The good news is that the iPhone warns you about unknown devices. So if you’re getting the “Unknown Accessory Found Near You” alert, it could mean there’s an AirTag nearby, but it could also mean a few other things. Here’s how to find out.

How to Enable Device Tracking

If you’ve never received these alerts, make sure you turn on tracking notifications on your mobile device. To do this, you need iOS or iPadOS 14.5 or later.

Go to Settings > Privacy > Geolocation Services and make sure they are enabled.

Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services and turn on Find My iPhone< /span”. >.

Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and scroll down. Click System Services and make sure important locations are enabled.

Finally, open Settings > Bluetooth and enable Bluetooth.

All these steps are necessary for you to be able to receive notifications wherever you are. After that, there is only one step left.

Go to Settings > Notifications and scroll down to Tracking Notifications. Tap an option and make sure the toggle is set to On.

Look for Apple AirTags

The first thing to look at is where the of the warning occurs. If you are in public, you can probably ignore this – for example, you could just walk next to someone with an AirTag in your wallet. However, if you are at home or no one is around, you should check your belongings.

Look for AirTags in your pocket, purse, or bags, or anything you can carry around with you. AirTag looks like a thick white coin. If you don’t have one and find an unknown AirTag, consider reporting it to the authorities, especially if you’re at home when you find it.

AirTags are tracking devices. They are designed to find lost items, but they can be used to follow people or find out their whereabouts. Thieves can use them to tell when someone is not at home. This is the cladding of a 21st century home.

You can make the AirTag play a sound to help you find it. So, when you see an “AirTag detected near you” warning, you should be able to find it on the map. Swipe the screen and select Play Sound. You can hear the device ring, but it only works as long as the AirTag is within range. This works even if the device is not yours and can help you pinpoint the AirTag’s exact location.

Re-Pair Your AirTags

If you have a pair of AirTags, this may cause a malfunction. First, find your devices in the Find My app on your phone. Then, if you can’t see them or there’s another problem, follow the process of re-pairing them to your phone.

Open Settings > Bluetooth. Click the “i” next to AirTags. Click “Forget this device”.

Click “Forget Device” again to confirm.

Once you’ve removed your AirTags from your phone, follow the setup process again to re-link them.

Reset Your AirTags

One possible solution to your AirTags malfunction is to reset them. It’s not the easiest process, but it can fix many of the issues you may be facing. There are several videos available online on how to do this if you can’t figure it out.

Re-Pair Your AirPods

AirPods may be the cause of the error. The message “An unknown accessory was found near you” does not always mean that someone is tracking you; the device may also activate it due to a weak Bluetooth signal or a malfunction of one of the paired devices.

The most common culprit is AirPods. Remove your AirPods and then reconnect them.

Open Settings > Bluetooth. Tap the “i” icon next to AirPods.

Click “Forget this device”.

Click “Forget Device”.

Once you’ve done that, just follow the standard steps to pair your AirPods with your iPhone.

Download the Tracker Detect App

Since AirTags are special Apple accessories, people with Android phones and devices cannot pick them up. However, Apple has released an app for Android users that will allow them to scan for nearby AirTags.

The Tracker Detect app is available on the Google Play Store for free.

What to Do If You Find an Unknown AirTag

If the problem is not a faulty Bluetooth device, but an actual AirTag that was attached to you, you should contact your local law enforcement first. The police take this kind of activity seriously. If you’re not at home yet, don’t go home – drive to the police station instead so whoever’s watching you doesn’t know where you are.

The police will likely ask you where you were when you first spotted the tracker and if you know anyone who might want to follow you. Answer their questions as best you can and follow their advice.

AirTags are handy devices, especially if you travel a lot. This will help you always know exactly where your luggage is. Similarly, if they are used for non-essential purposes, AirTags can be a problem.