Google Introduced ‘Unknown Tracker Alerts’ for Android Users

Unknown tracker alerts, which Google announced at I/O 2023, are beginning to roll out

Google has begun rolling out its Unknown Tracker alerts on Android to give you notifications when a Bluetooth tracker could be traveling with you that you weren't expecting. According to the blog post, the promised unknown tracker alerts, announced during I/O 2023, are now rolling out on Android devices. At the time, they were working with Apple to make sure Android users could also be notified if an Apple AirTag was used to track you in an unwanted fashion. If enabled, this feature will alert users if it detects that a Bluetooth tracker that users do not own is traveling with them instead of its true owner. Tapping the provided notification lets users view a map of how long it's been following them.

Here are the three key features of Unknown Tracker Alerts:

Get automatic alerts for unknown trackers

With unknown tracker alerts, you will get notified on your compatible Android device if an unknown Bluetooth tracker is separated from its owner and is determined to be traveling with you.

Take action on an unknown tracker alert

After you receive an alert, you can learn more about the unknown Bluetooth tracker and get tips on how to take action. When you bring the device near the back of your phone, some Bluetooth trackers may share their serial number or additional information about the owner of the device, like the last four digits of their phone number.

Manually scan your surroundings

Sometimes, you may want to check your surroundings for trackers on your own without waiting for an alert. We built a manual scan feature so you can check if there are any trackers nearby that are separated from their owners.

Google also provided an update on the Find My Device network, set to launch on Android this summer. This network will support various third-party Bluetooth tracker tags to help users locate their belongings, such as headphones, phones, luggage, and keys.