How Can AirPods Be Tracked Without GPS?

1 ghttp 3 7/5/2025, 3:27:38 PM

AirPods send Bluetooth signals picked up by nearby Apple devices that report their location anonymously.

How exactly does this work, and why isn’t it considered a privacy issue?

Comments (3)

dagmx · 2h ago

Nobody here has actually answered you.

The Find My network is well documented, starting with https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/security/sec6cbc80fd0/...

But essentially each device says where they saw an unknown device via Bluetooth. This gets aggregated into just knowing a device is in the area, but nobody (including Apple) can know what it is other than the owner of the account.

There’s no risk to privacy unless you consider the knowledge of the mere existence of some Bluetooth capable device as being a privacy issue.

robotswantdata · 4h ago

It’s not just AirPods you need to worry about look up beacon tracking in malls https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/14/opinion/bluet...

Regarding air pods, good privacy overview here: https://www.mozillafoundation.org/en/privacynotincluded/appl...

hackernewsdhsu · 3h ago

Ya don't wanna look at the wigle project then. :)

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How Can AirPods Be Tracked Without GPS?

Comments (3)