AirPods aren’t just the best headphones. AirPods can also act like an AirTag, which happened to a North Carolina family traveling internationally when a pickpocketer stole the bag containing their passport and ID.
AirPods help track stolen purse in Italy
Karis McElroy shared the story on TikTok: Her mother and stepfather were visiting Venice, Italy, when three people crowded around them on the street.
Once they made it to their Airbnb, McElroy’s mom discovered her backpack had been unzipped. Her water bottle, wallet, and purse were missing. More importantly, her passport, credit cards, and cash were gone as well.
Fortunately, her AirPods were also in the bag.
“She was frantic trying to get this back,” McElroy said. “Her and my stepdad immediately started tracking her purse through her AirPods on ‘Find My Friends’ and they were able to track it down back to those three girls.”
McElroy’s mom tracked the AirPods and confronted the group while waiting for police. One suspect fled with the purse but later ditched it. With help from law enforcement in both countries, the items were returned to an airport U.S. liaison office before reaching their owner.
How AirPods work with the Find My network
While AirTags are purpose-built for item tracking, several Apple products can provide similar functionality through the Find My network.
That includes certain AirPods models, which can send out a Bluetooth signal that nearby Apple devices detect and relay back to the owner’s Find My app. This system allows users to see the location of their AirPods even when they are not actively connected to an iPhone or iPad.
When the Find My network is turned on, supported AirPods can appear in the Find My app for up to 24 hours after they were last connected to your device, even if they are no longer nearby.
This includes AirPods 3, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, all AirPods Pro models, and AirPods Max.
While AirPods can help recover lost items, AirTag is still the most reliable option for tracking.
Unlike AirPods, AirTags are designed specifically for this purpose, with a user-replaceable battery, a built-in speaker for locating, and ultra-wideband precision tracking on supported iPhones.
They also stay visible in the Find My app far longer than the 24-hour window AirPods offer. Still, if your bag ever turns up missing, keep in mind that AirPods can help, especially in the first 24 hours.