Lost Mode is a feature of AirTag that helps you locate items attached to an AirTag when they are lost. To activate Lost Mode, you need to have your iPhone, iPad, or Mac with you. When you enable Lost Mode for an AirTag, you can add a phone number, email address, and a brief message, as well as activate alerts. Apple then marks the AirTag as missing and initiates a search. When a compatible iPhone comes within range of your lost AirTag, the phone detects it and sends a notification to Apple. At this point, one of two things can occur: if you activated notifications when you enabled Lost Mode, your iPhone will alert you that your AirTag has been found and will show its location on a map. If an individual with an iPhone or an Android phone equipped with an NFC reader encounters your tag, they will receive a notification. If you provided a phone number or message when you activated Lost Mode, they will see this information on their phone.
You can turn on Lost Mode for an AirTag by following these steps:
- Open the Find My app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap Items at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the name of the lost item.
- Below Lost Mode, tap Enable.
- Follow the onscreen instructions to enter a phone number where you can be reached. To enter an email address instead, tap “Use an email address.”
- Tap Activate.
When you find your lost item, you can turn off Lost Mode by following these steps:
- Open the Find My app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap Items at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the name of the item.
- Below Lost Mode, tap Enabled.
- Tap Turn Off Lost Mode, then tap Turn Off.
