

- #Find my phone on apple watch update#
- #Find my phone on apple watch full#
- #Find my phone on apple watch Bluetooth#
- #Find my phone on apple watch series#
The bottom line is that an Apple Watch cannot be used to find an item, but later this year that capability will be added via a software update to watchOS 8. Currently, sharing a location from any device uses the iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch that is selected as 'My Location' in the Settings app. It isn't clear whether Apple will enable using the Apple Watch as a location source. watchOS 8 will be released later this year and a public beta will be available in the next few weeks. To ping a misplaced iPhone, swipe up from the watch-face view.
#Find my phone on apple watch Bluetooth#
The good news is that the next version of watchOS will have the Find My app and will gain the ability to locate items and devices, as well as, retaining the people-finding skill that it was limited to before. To use the ping feature, your Apple Watch will need to be connected (via either Bluetooth or the same Wi-Fi network) to your iPhone.
#Find my phone on apple watch series#
This is a bit of a surprising limitation from Apple, considering there are Apple Watch models that have cellular capability and GPS has been included since Series 2.

#Find my phone on apple watch full#
Only an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch can be used to identify where a person is located when searching with an Apple Watch, but the location of any Apple mobile device can be found, including an Apple Watch, when searching via the full Find My app that is available on an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. With Family Sharing, location sharing is on by default although it can be controlled by the device owner. Who can be found is limited to those that have location sharing enabled and that have shared their location with you. The Apple Watch has a built-in app that enables locating friends and family, the Find People app. Other mobile Apple devices, like the iPad and iPod Touch, can ping an AirTag via Bluetooth, causing it to make a cheerful chirping sound to aid in locating it, but the Apple Watch cannot. The Apple Watch SE and previous Apple Watch models don't have the U1 chip, but do have Bluetooth capability.

While this should allow it to communicate via UWB, Apple hasn't made this available for locating an AirTag. The Apple Watch Series 6 contains an Apple U1 chip, the same as used in the newer iPhone models. This allows a range and heading to appear on the smartphone's display pointing directly to the AirTag, even identifying when it's on another floor. Related: Why & How Apple Is Updating AirTag Privacy NoisesĪn AirTag can be found with remarkable accuracy when searching with a compatible device that has ultra-wideband (UWB) capability.

The Find My network may be the best and most secure tracking solution currently available. Only the user of the device that is searching can know the location that is revealed and this is only possible with devices they own or when allowed by friends or family. This happens anonymously and uses end-to-end encryption, so location and identity are secure even from Apple. After all, the Apple Watch can find friends and family that carry an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.Īpple's Find My network covers most parts of the world, working in the background on approximately one billion iPhone devices worldwide to locate people and items. As soon as the watch is removed from your wrist, like in a scenario in which someone steals it, the Watch locks until you enter the correct four-digit PIN.Įditor’s note: This article was originally published on Apand has been updated since then.Apple's new AirTag makes it easy to locate misplaced items with an iPhone, raising the question of which other devices can find these location beacons and, more specifically, whether an Apple Watch can be used to track down keys, bags, and other lost things that have been tagged. To make the security feature less annoying during everyday use, also enable Unlock with iPhone option, which will keep your Watch unlocked for as long as you’re wearing it. Visit the Passcode section and then Turn Passcode On, if you haven’t enabled it in the first place when setting up the watch. To do so, simply head to the My Watch app on the iPhone. Naturally, you can take precautions to at least prevent sensitive data loss on the Watch by setting up a passcode for it. Head to and remove your cards associated with Apple Pay. The Watch, on top of costing hundreds of dollars depending on the chosen model, can also contain precious information including credit cards used for Apple Pay.
