How to tell if someone has hidden a tracker on you (AirTag, Tile or GPS) and what to do without putting yourself at risk
In short: if someone turns up wherever you are without you telling him, he may have hidden a tracker in your bag, your coat or your car. iPhone and Android warn you automatically when an AirTag or another compatible tracker is moving with you, and on Android you can also scan manually. If you find one and you live with whoever put it there, don’t remove it straight away: take photos and talk to a specialist domestic abuse service first.
Signs that may make you suspicious
- He turns up where you are without you telling him, or knows when you left and where you went.
- He gave you something you always carry: a keyring, a bag, a teddy for the children.
- He has access to your car or to the children’s things when they are with him.
- Your phone has warned you about an “AirTag Found Moving With You” or an “unknown tracker”.
- You hear a chirp and can’t tell where it comes from: an AirTag separated from its owner starts beeping after a few hours.
If you have already ruled out spyware and he still knows where you are, a tracker is the most likely explanation. Here is how to check your phone: how to tell if there is spyware on your phone.
How to scan with your phone
- iPhone: it warns you automatically if an AirTag, or since iOS 17.5 another compatible tracker, is moving with you. Bluetooth and Location Services need to be on. If you get the alert, tap it: you can make the tracker play a sound and see on a map where it has followed you.
- Android: it also warns you automatically, and you can scan manually in Settings → Safety & emergency → Unknown tracker alerts → Scan now. The menu name varies a little by brand.
- Samsung Galaxy: in the SmartThings app, the unknown tag search finds SmartTags.
- Tile: the Tile app has a “Scan and Secure” search that finds nearby Tiles.
Alerts are not instant: they usually take a while to arrive. If you are suspicious, run the manual scan somewhere you feel safe.
What your phone can’t detect
GPS trackers with a SIM card don’t use Bluetooth: they send their position over the mobile network, and no phone can detect them. They usually go in the car: under the seats, in the wheel arches, in the boot (next to the spare wheel), in the bumpers or plugged into the diagnostic port under the steering wheel. Many need recharging, so whoever fitted it needs access to the car from time to time. If you suspect the car and can’t find anything, a garage or the police can check it.
Watch out for the car’s own app too: many modern cars show their location in the manufacturer’s app, and if he has the account, he can see it.
Where trackers are usually hidden
- In the lining of a bag, an inside coat pocket or a wallet.
- In gifts: keyrings, phone cases, soft toys.
- In the children’s backpacks or toys, especially after contact visits.
- In the car, as explained above.
If you find one
- Don’t remove it straight away if you live with him or he watches you closely. If the tracker stops moving or disappears, he will notice and know where you found it. A specialist service can help you decide when and how.
- Take photos of the tracker and where it was, and write down the date.
- If it is an AirTag, hold your phone against its white side: a page opens with the serial number. Apple can give the police the details of the account it belongs to.
- If you are in danger right now, don’t go home: go somewhere busy or to the police and call 112. We explain it in what to do if you think someone is following you.
- When it is safe, switch it off: on an AirTag, press down on the cover, twist it and take the battery out.
And Silncy?
Silncy doesn’t detect trackers. It does something else: if you are afraid he will turn up, it lets you alert your trusted contacts with your location with a single press, without taking out your phone. If you are experiencing domestic abuse, several European countries also offer an official, free alarm device: we explain it in panic buttons for women facing domestic abuse.
Resources
- 112 — emergencies anywhere in the EU (999 in the UK).
- Ireland: Women’s Aid 24-hour National Freephone Helpline, 1800 341 900.
- United Kingdom: National Domestic Abuse Helpline, 0808 2000 247 (24 h, free).
- Stop Stalkerware (stopstalkerware.org) — international coalition against covert tracking and stalkerware.
FAQ
Can I find out who put the AirTag on me?
You can’t, but the police can: holding your phone to the AirTag shows its serial number, and with a police report Apple can disclose the account it belongs to.
Will my phone warn me about any tracker?
No. It warns you about AirTags and compatible Bluetooth trackers, and not instantly. GPS trackers with a SIM card can’t be detected by any phone.
If I take the battery out, will he know?
Probably: he will see it has stopped moving and where it was last. If you live with him, make a plan with a specialist service first.
Is it a crime to put a tracker on me?
Tracking someone without their consent can be stalking, which is a crime across Europe, and from a partner or ex-partner it is a form of domestic abuse. Keep the evidence and report it.
This article is for information only. If you are in danger, call 112 (EU) or 999 (UK). Your national helpline for women experiencing violence can help you plan your safety.