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Do AirTags work without WiFi?

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  • 2 min read

Apple’s AirTag is a compact and innovative tracking device that has gained popularity for its ability to help users locate their belongings seamlessly. While many users are familiar with the basic functionality of AirTags, a common question often arises: Do AirTags work without WiFi?

Want to know if AirTags work without WiFi? This article discusses whether AirTags work without WiFi or not and how they work.

Also read: Can you track AirTag miles away?


Does AirTags work without WiFi?


Yes, AirTags work without WiFi.


AirTags use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to communicate with your phone, and they don’t rely on a WiFi connection for basic functionality. Instead, they use Apple’s Find My, a crowdsourced network that helps in location tracking even without an active WiFi connection.

While AirTags themselves don’t require a WiFi connection to function, the devices they connect to do. A WiFi connection is necessary for the initial setup and activation of AirTags. The WiFi-enabled device, typically an iPhone, associates the AirTag with the user’s Apple ID and iCloud account. After this initial setup, the AirTag can operate independently of WiFi for everyday tracking tasks.

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Also read: Why is my AirTag beeping?


How do AirTags work?

AirTags are primarily dependent on Bluetooth connectivity for communication with nearby Apple devices. However, it’s important to note that AirTags do not directly connect to the internet via WiFi. Instead, they leverage the Find My network, a vast and anonymous network of Apple devices that help locate lost items, even when the AirTag is out of Bluetooth.

When an AirTag is separated from its owner and enters the lost mode, it can use the Bluetooth signals of nearby Apple devices to relay its location to the owner anonymously. This means that even if an AirTag is not connected to WiFi, it can still provide location updates through the Find My network, thanks to the help of other nearby Apple devices.

Also read: How many AirTags can you have?

Akash Singh

Akash Singh

Akash is a law graduate who likes to go for bike rides on the weekends soul-searching for answers to his many existential questions. You can contact him here: singhakash95@pm.me

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