Support
Tracker Detector — AirTag Scan
If you’re in danger
If you believe you are being stalked or are in physical danger, contact local law enforcement and the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (US) or thehotline.org. The App can help you save evidence; it cannot replace human help.
Getting Started
How do I scan for trackers?
Open the app and tap “Scan Now” on the dashboard. The app sweeps Bluetooth for 15 seconds and lists detected devices, ranked by risk: confirmed trackers first, then “Following you” alerts (Premium), then possible-tracker signals, then everyday Bluetooth devices.
What do the risk badges mean?
Tracker = matched a known fingerprint (AirTag, Tile, SmartTag, Chipolo, Pebblebee). Following you = the same unknown device has appeared at multiple locations you visited. Possible tracker = partial fingerprint match, worth investigating. Unknown BLE = a Bluetooth device with no tracker signature, almost always an everyday phone, watch, or accessory.
What does the signal-strength dial show?
It’s a relative indicator (0–100) based on RSSI — how loud the tracker’s Bluetooth advertisement reaches your iPhone. Higher means closer. We deliberately do not show fake distances in feet or meters; RSSI cannot be reliably converted to distance.
Tracker Identification
How do I find out who an AirTag belongs to?
If the AirTag is in separated mode (away from its owner), tap your iPhone to it and choose “Tap to read NFC”. iOS will read the NFC chip and surface the owner’s contact info or Lost-Mode link. This works on any iPhone 7 or newer.
Can I make an AirTag beep?
Apple has limited third-party access to the AirTag’s sound trigger. If the AirTag has been separated from its owner long enough, iOS itself will play a sound automatically. Our app surfaces a clear status when this is or isn’t expected.
What if a device shows up but I’m not sure what it is?
Tap into the device detail and read the “Why this is flagged” explanation. You can mark it as yours (suppresses future alerts), report it as suspicious (saves to your evidence log), or export a PDF with timestamps and locations for police or counsel.
Follow-Me Detection (Premium)
How does background tracking detection work?
With Premium, the app uses iOS’s significant-location-change API. When you move to a new place, the app wakes briefly to scan. If the same unknown tracker shows up at multiple locations — for example home, then a café, then your office — you get a local notification. The decision happens entirely on your iPhone; no location data leaves the device.
Why do I sometimes get a follow-me alert that turns out to be nothing?
Bluetooth identifiers rotate over time, and busy environments (large parking lots, transit hubs) can produce coincidental matches. We err on the side of telling you. You can mark the device as yours to suppress future alerts.
Why can’t the app scan continuously in the background?
iOS limits background Bluetooth scanning to preserve battery. Our background detection is wake-and-scan rather than continuous. For maximum coverage in a worrying moment, run a manual “Scan Now” sweep — that’s the most thorough option.
Privacy
Where do my scan results go?
They stay on your iPhone. Tracker Detector does not upload scan data, locations, or identifiers to any server. The app’s App Store listing carries Apple’s “Data Not Collected” nutrition label across every category. See the Privacy Policy for full details.
What permissions does the app need?
Bluetooth (always — the core feature), Location (When In Use for sighting tags; Always for Premium background monitoring), NFC (only when you tap an AirTag), Notifications (only for follow-me alerts you opt into).
Is the app safe to use if I share an Apple ID with someone?
Yes. We do not use iCloud, do not sync across devices, and do not require an account. Detection history, sightings, and labels are stored only in the App’s local sandbox on this iPhone — they do not appear on any other device signed into your Apple ID. You can delete the app at any time to remove all evidence that you ran a scan.
What we can — and can’t — detect
Why didn’t the app find a tracker I know is there?
iOS withholds some Bluetooth manufacturer data from third-party apps. Our detection relies on service-UUID matches, Find My continuity-protocol byte signatures, and persistent-RSSI heuristics — the same surface every iOS-side scanner has access to. Trackers with reconfigured firmware can broadcast in a way no third-party scanner catches, including this one. If you suspect tracking and our app is clear, also walk through Apple’s built-in “Items Found Moving With You” alert. An Android-side scan has access to different fields and can be a useful second pass.
What trackers can the app detect?
Apple AirTag, Tile (Mate, Pro, Slim, Sticker), Samsung SmartTag & SmartTag2, Chipolo One & Card, Pebblebee Clip / Card / Tag, and any DULT-compliant Find My accessory broadcasting standard advertisements.
What about hidden GPS trackers (cellular, not Bluetooth)?
Cellular GPS trackers (the kind sold by some surveillance retailers) do not broadcast Bluetooth and cannot be detected by any iPhone-side BLE scanner. For those, you need a physical sweep: check vehicle wheel wells, undersides, the trunk, and bag interiors. A professional sweep service uses RF detectors that pick up cellular emissions.
Free vs Premium
What’s free vs Premium?
Free: 3 manual scans per day with full detection results, NFC tap-to-read AirTag owner, 3 saved device labels, with banner and interstitial ads. Premium: unlimited scans, background follow-me monitoring with alerts, sightings timeline + map, unlimited device labels, PDF evidence export, and zero ads.
Is there a free trial?
Yes — the Premium Annual plan ($24.99/year) includes a 7-day free trial. You’ll only be charged at the end of the trial. Cancel anytime in your Apple ID subscription settings before the trial ends.
How do I restore my purchase?
Open Settings inside the App and tap “Restore Purchases”. This re-applies your active subscription if you’ve previously purchased one on this Apple ID.
How do I cancel my subscription?
Open the iOS Settings app, tap your name at the top, then tap Subscriptions. Find Tracker Detector and tap Cancel Subscription. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period.
Contact Us
Email Support
For questions, bug reports, or feature requests:
We typically respond within 48 hours. If you’re reporting a bug or a missed detection, telling us the tracker family, your iPhone model, and roughly where you scanned helps us reproduce.