What is Tracking Notifications on iPhone: What You Need to Know

Seeing “AirTag Found Moving With You” or “Unknown Accessory Detected Near You” means your iPhone detected a tracker that may be traveling with you.

It could be harmless (borrowed keys, a bag, a shared item). It could also be unwanted tracking. This article tells you what the alert means, why Apple added it, how it triggers, and what to do next.

What are Tracking Notifications on iPhone?

Tracking notifications are safety alerts built into Apple’s Find My network. Their purpose is to warn you if a tracking device that doesn’t belong to you appears to be moving with you.

Apple introduced this feature with iOS 14.5 in response to real privacy and safety concerns. Before tracking notifications existed, it was possible for someone to hide a small tracker in a bag, car, or pocket and follow another person’s movements without their knowledge. That kind of tracking is dangerous, invasive, and often completely invisible.

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Now, instead of being tracked silently, your iPhone makes tracking visible with notifications. 

Tracking notifications work by detecting unknown AirTags, AirPods, or other Find My-compatible devices that appear to be traveling with you over time. When your iPhone notices a pattern that suggests tracking, it sends you an alert. It is a clear signal that something may be wrong.

How Tracking Notifications Work

Your iPhone is constantly scanning nearby Bluetooth signals in the background. You don’t see it happening, and it doesn’t drain your battery in any noticeable way.

Here’s how the process usually works:

• Your iPhone detects a nearby AirTag or Find My–compatible device
• The device appears to be separated from its owner
• Your iPhone notices that the device is traveling with you
• After several hours (usually between 8 and 24 hours), you receive a tracking notification

The system is designed to avoid false alarms. Devices owned by people in your Family Sharing group are ignored, and brief contact with a tracker won’t trigger an alert. The notification only appears when there’s a pattern that suggests tracking.

What a Tracking Notification Looks Like

When a tracking notification appears, it looks like a normal iPhone alert. You might see messages such as:

• “AirTag Found Moving With You”
• “Unknown Accessory Detected Near You”
  

You’ll see it on your lock screen and inside the Notification Center. Tapping the alert opens the Find My app, where Apple walks you through the next steps.

What to Do If You Receive a Tracking Notification on Your iPhone

Getting one of these alerts can feel unsettling, but the most important thing is to stay calm. The notification doesn’t automatically mean someone is trying to harm you. It simply means something needs your attention.

Once you tap the alert, you’ll see tools that help you understand what’s happening.

1. Locate the Device

Your iPhone will show where the device was first detected and the route it followed with you. You’ll have options to:

• Play a sound on the AirTag to help you find it
• Use precision tracking to guide you toward it
  

This is especially helpful if the device is hidden inside a bag, jacket, or vehicle.

2. Check Device Information

You can scan the tracker by holding it near the top of your iPhone. This opens a page with details such as:

• The device’s serial number
• A partial phone number or blurred email of the owner
• Whether the device is marked as lost

If it’s marked as lost, the owner may have left contact information so you can return it.

3. Pause Alerts If You Recognize the Device

Sometimes the explanation is harmless. Maybe you borrowed a friend’s bag or keys and forgot they had an AirTag attached.

In this case, you can choose Pause Safety Alerts for a day or longer. This stops repeated notifications while keeping the feature available when you need it again.

4. Disable the Device If It’s Unfamiliar

If you don’t recognize the device and feel uncomfortable, your iPhone provides instructions to disable it. This usually involves removing the battery so it can no longer report location.

If you’re concerned about your safety, Apple strongly recommends contacting local law enforcement. They can work with Apple using the device’s serial number if needed.

How to Turn On Tracking Notifications on iPhone

Tracking notifications are turned on by default, but it’s worth checking your settings to make sure everything is working properly.

First, your iPhone needs a few basics enabled:

• Location Services must be on
• Bluetooth must be on
• Airplane Mode must be off
• Find My must be active

To check or enable tracking notifications:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Notifications.
3. Scroll to Tracking Notifications.
4. Turn on Allow Notifications.
   

You can also find this option in the Find My app by tapping Me and selecting Customize Tracking Notifications.

How to Turn Off Tracking Notifications (And Why You Shouldn’t)

You can turn tracking notifications off, but Apple does not recommend it because it reduces your safety.

To turn them off:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Notifications.
3. Scroll to Tracking Notifications.
   

This turns off the alerts, so your iPhone will stop warning you about unknown trackers that may be moving with you.

Most people are safer leaving tracking notifications enabled. They run quietly in the background and only appear when something unusual happens.

Common Issues and Helpful Tips

If you’re not receiving tracking notifications, make sure:

• Your iPhone is running iOS 14.5 or later
• Find My is enabled
• Bluetooth and Location Services are turned on

False alerts can happen, especially with shared or borrowed items. The system improves over time and learns from your interactions.

Apple also adds extra protection by making AirTags play sounds after being separated from their owner for several days. This makes them harder to hide and easier to discover.

Why Tracking Notifications Matter

Tracking notifications are one of those features you hope you never need, but are grateful to have when you do.

They work silently, respect your privacy, and step in only when something doesn’t feel right. In a small notification, Apple gives users awareness, choice, and control.

In a world where personal safety and digital privacy are closely connected, tracking notifications are not just a setting. They are peace of mind.

Keeping them enabled is one of the simplest and smartest ways to protect yourself without changing how you use your iPhone at all.

Also read:

• What iPhone apps track your activity, and how do you stop them?
• How to turn on Stolen Device Protection on iPhone
• How to turn on iMessage Contact Key Verification on iPhone