Has your lunch ever mysteriously disappeared from the fridge at work? And have you ever wished that you had some sort of secret technology to track it down (even though deep down you know it wasn’t stolen by Russian spies and it’s already been consumed by your coworker Jeff)?

Maybe that secret tech does exist.

A recent study found that we spend two-and-a-half full days every year just looking for missing stuff.  And when we don't find it, we collectively spend more than $2.7 billion a year replacing the things we lost.

That’s a big reason why Apple created AirTags: the small discs you attach to things which operate like personal GPS tracking devices.

Theoretically, at least. Because the AirTags themselves don't contain GPS technology. Instead, they "ping" Bluetooth-enabled Apple devices nearby and that device's location data does the rest. Depending on the conditions, those other devices may only need to be within around 300 feet, which is usually plenty because there are like a billion Apple devices out there.  Literally.

Apple wasn’t first to market with this type of device; you’ve probably heard of Tile, which has been doing this sort of tracking for almost a decade. The main differences are that AirTags use Apple’s “Find My” iOS app, and it can leverage a much larger network of devices to hone in on a position. (Tile leverages other Tile users as well as Amazon’s Sidewalk network for locations.)

But this is the most noteworthy distinction:  AirTags utilize a fairly new technology called Ultra Wideband. It's supported by recent Apple devices, including the iPhone 11 and 12, and it allows for much more precise location tracking.  So, if you have a phone equipped with Ultra Wideband, it would basically direct you to an AirTag within INCHES.

And like Tile, AirTags are affordable (because they want you to buy these things in bulk).  A single AirTag currently costs $29, or you can get a pack of four for $99.

The future potential for devices like these is intriguing — and, like a lot of technology, somewhat terrifying — but for now, what can you do with AirTags, straight out of the box?

31 practical and smart ways to use Apple AirTags in your life

For starters, there’s the obvious stuff.  When you’re setting up an AirTag on your iPhone, Apple provides a list of labels around the most basic uses. I’ve included those here, plus a few others.

Things you always need to carry, and may need to quickly locate

1. Your keys
2. Your purse / handbag
3. Your wallet
4. Your backpack 

The AirTags themselves aren’t much larger than the battery that powers them, so they’re pretty small — but the trade-off is there’s no built-in method to attach them to your things. It’s easy to drop them into the pocket of a purse or backpack, but you’ll need a keychain-like accessory to clip them onto, well, like a keyring, for example.  Naturally, Apple is selling those separately... along with a number of third party merchants.

Also, an AirTag is about one-third-of-an-inch thick — think about the size of a Mentos — so it’ll fit snugly in bulkier wallets. But if you have a slimmer one, this Apple Freshmaker won’t work for them. (Some brands, like The Frenchie Co., have started selling wallets specifically made to incorporate an AirTag. That's another advantage of an Apple product like this: a whole ecosystem of supporting accessories will sprout up around it.)  

Things you don’t always carry and may be more likely to forget

1. A jacket
2. An umbrella
3. Your gloves
4. A briefcase

Unfortunately, the AirTag can’t help you with the fact that you NEVER have an umbrella with you when you really need it.  (Unless your style can be described as Mary Poppins-chic.)

Things that might get lost or stolen

1. A camera
2. Your headphones
3. A beach bag or gym bag
4. Your bike
5. Your lunch at work
6. The communal bathroom key at your office or restaurant

Bikes are constantly being stolen. And having an AirTag could potentially help you in the event that your bike gets swiped. That said, it’s probably not best to think of AirTags as a full-on anti-theft device. (They’re not designed to be discreet, intentionally.)  However, people are finding ways to hide them on bikes, like under the seat; one Etsy seller is even selling a bike reflector mount that perfectly conceals an AirTag. The next step: Getting your AirTag location device to sync with Strava. One day.

That covers Apple’s defaults, but you can also custom label your AirTags (even naming one “Chad” if you must) and there are many more practical uses.

To avoid getting lost

1. Your car in a crowded parking lot
2. Your car when you go hiking

Some people suggest stashing an AirTag in your car at all times, but there are surely better tracking systems for most vehicles, including ones that come standard. However, one great in-car use is putting an AirTag in your car in a crowded parking lot — that could really help you out when you try to navigate back to where you parked later. Another good use: Put one in your car when you park to go on a remote hike, in case you need help guiding yourself back to the beginning of the trail.

To ease (some of) the pain of flying

1. In your suitcases before you fly
2. In your carry-on bag

You can’t stop an airline from losing your luggage — that’s fate’s work. But maybe you can help them track it down after they do. Put an AirTag in your suitcase so if it does go missing, you’ll be able to find its location (as long as someone with an iOS device walks by). [Editor’s note: I did this on a recent trip to a small airport notorious for losing bags, so it gave me great peace of mind when we landed. I searched for my luggage AirTags, and found they were just below me on the plane.] AirTags can also help you track where your bags are on the carousel, or help you out if someone grabs your identical black suitcase instead of their identical black suitcase. (If you're particularly fancy, Hermes sells very pricey AirTags luggage tags.)

AirTags also have a feature called separation alerts, where your phone will notify you when you get out of range of your AirTag. Your carry-on bag is a case for that; before you accidentally leave it on the plane or the back of your Uber, your iPhone will let you know.

To keep your kids and/or pet from getting lost

1. When your kid goes to school
2. When you take the family to a crowded place (like an amusement park)
3. On your pet’s collar

It’s probably a bit paranoid to force your kid to wear an AirTag on a necklace to school. But in the era of helicopter parenting… well, you probably wouldn’t be the only one. There’s one much more practical use: when you’re in a chaotic place like an airport, an amusement park, a parade, the county fair, an Insane Clown Posse concert, or a mall. (Okay, maybe not a mall.  If you go to a mall these days, there’s a chance you’re the only one there.) Putting an AirTag on your child in one of these situations can really help in the event that you’re separated.

Naturally, there’s a limit to the people-tracking you should do with AirTags. Sneaking AirTags onto other adults and teenagers may seem like a fun or conniving idea, but that's a big no-no.  Apple has implemented alarm and security features to help ensure AirTags aren’t used as people-tracking devices.  (And for good reason.)

As for pets… slipping an AirTag on a pet’s collar (made by brands like Follow Paw) is helpful in two ways. One: Everything I’ve mentioned about tracking.  And two:  There is also something called “Lost Mode” on an AirTag, which allows you to get notifications when the AirTag is detected.  Someone can scan the AirTag on their smartphone (not just iPhones), and you can customize a message for that “finder.”  Maybe the pet’s name, your phone number / address / email, or any other vital information or instructions.  This isn’t just for the pet scenario, but it can be helpful for when someone happens to find your dog wandering into their yard.

You could also use your AirTag if you suspect your outdoor cat is two-timing you and living with another family when you’re not around.

To prevent emergencies

1. Family members suffering from dementia
2. Life-saving medicine (EpiPen, insulin, inhaler, etc.)
3. To assist blind family members

There’s probably only one exception to the no-tracking-adults rule, and that’s using AirTags to keep tabs on vulnerable people who have a condition that makes it possible that they could essentially lose themselves, like those suffering from dementia.

But more commonly, AirTags could be used to quickly locate life-saving items where you can’t afford to spend time turning the house upside-down. Things like an EpiPen, insulin, an inhaler, heart meds, aspirin, and a first aid kit.

On a slightly more nuanced level, AirTags might make it easier for people with partial blindness to locate things, especially since they could just ask Siri to assist them in finding something via voice commands.

To find household items you always misplace

1. TV remotes
2. Tools
3. Toys and games
4. Sunglasses
5. Important documents
6. Things you’ve hidden, like presents
7. Your valuables

There was a time when cable remotes were as large as Subway sandwiches.  (Though arguably less delicious.)  Losing the remote then was just something to shout about, not an actual First World Problem.

But now, Apple TV remotes are around the size of a Kit Kat, and they’re like a millimeter thick.  If you’re single, momentarily losing the remote might be a twice-a-week annoyance.  If you’re married with four kids, it’s a major, twice-a-day Double Dare physical challenge. However, affixing an AirTag to a remote (especially an Apple TV one) isn’t simple, so brands like Elago have created special cases for the remote which includes space for the AirTag. A special case is a more elegant solution than just sticking an AirTag to a remote (you can see my photo below and, well, it's not amazing.)

There are plenty of other household items that you wouldn’t NEED to tag, things like tools, measuring tape, flashlights, special chargers, beloved toys, handheld gaming devices, etc. But if there’s enough drama when they do go missing, an AirTag could save a few headaches.

The AirTag is too bulky for sunglasses, however you could put one on (or in) your sunglasses case, or use a device like Nomad Goods’ sunglasses strap with a built-in AirTag holder. 

Now, for perhaps one of the most under-considered, under-appreciated uses:  Being able to find something that YOU hid temporarily.  And no, I’m not talking about Easter eggs or metaphorical scars.

Think about it:  Maybe you’re hiding important documents like a passport; something that you need periodically, and can’t be forever buried into a filing cabinet or safety deposit box. 

Also, when I was younger, my mother hid a Christmas present that she got for me, and then couldn’t find it for months.  Maybe a diary, or a secret master password?  Or, maybe if you’re temporarily hiding things from your kids, like their Nintendo Switch, you might want to remember where you put it.

You could also stash a valuable, an heirloom, a pile of cash, a gun, an . . . okay, I think we’re heading into a game of Clue here. 

There is a downside to this one:  An AirTag has a battery life of around one year before it needs replacing.  Fortunately, in a very un-Apple move, it’s a simple replacement you can make with a common CR2032 battery.  This means that anything you stash away with an AirTag must be something you’ll definitely need to find within a year.  

So you can’t do something cool like hiding your family jewels in the walls of your old Victorian mansion, with only an AirTag to locate them.

7 unorthodox ways to use AirTags

I’ve blanketed all the practical uses of AirTags, at least at this early stage in their functionality.  But here’s a rundown of some of the more ridiculous potential.

Scavenger hunts

If you’re trying out your new AirTags, you might think to have someone hide them around a park or something — and then see if you can locate them.  If you take this a step further, you could see how they could be utilized in a more structured scavenger hunt or geocaching event.

DIY security system

Use it as a small, DIY security system from Apple-loving intruders. If you have an AirTag next to something you’ve hidden, you’ll know if someone with an iPhone approaches it. Also, if you have an item that keeps getting stolen (like a funny sign outside your house or a particularly appealing garden gnome), AirTags could help you find the thieves.

Checking up on your kids’ chores

If you slapped an AirTag on the lawn mower or vacuum cleaner on your way out the door, you’d be able to see if your teenager is doing his chores (by checking in to see if it’s moving).

Following the status of a package

If your trust in shipping companies is low enough, you might be willing to drop an AirTag into a package to follow it to its destination (as long as it’s regularly near people with iOS devices.) Of course, you’d lose your AirTag that way, so maybe your equally-suspicious friend can then send it back to you in another package?

Taking this one step further: If you buy something very valuable off a site like eBay, you could send the seller an extra $29 to buy an AirTag so you can track the package’s journey to you. 

To send a whimsical message to strangers

If you’re willing to risk $29 for a social experiment, you could tie an AirTag to a balloon with helium, and let it go.  Or, you could tuck one into a bottle and throw it into the ocean. You’d have to hope that the bottle could be found within a year, though.

To see what happens when you flush the toilet

AirTags can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes, so you’d probably need to put one into a small container to do this. But if you think your pipes can handle it — and you think it might encounter people with iOS devices along its journey, flush an AirTag and see where it ends up.

To track things you’re throwing away but aren’t sure you want to throw away

If you have hoarding tendencies, you could ease yourself into throwing things away by putting an AirTag in every bag of trash. For the label, name it with the date or the contents of the trash bag. That way, if you toss something you want back within the year, you could go to the landfill and try to locate it (assuming it hasn’t been compacted). I’m sure this would receive a hearty welcome from the landfill staff.

More places to buy Apple AirTags accessories

We've covered a number of specific AirTags accessories throughout this article, but if you're looking for some good spots to start your shopping, here are three good options.

Apple, of course, sells its standard high-end accessories for AirTags, including cases and keychains. (Top Apple retailers like Best Buy and Target also sell the official accessories.)

Case-Mate sells several useful AirTags products including keychains, dog collars, kids bracelets, and multipurpose sticker mounts.

Moment has created different AirTags mounts, including hard shells, cases to affix to curved surfaces, and stretch fabric.