AirTag tags are recognized not only on iPhone but also on Android devices via NFC
April 21, 2021
Thanks to a document published by Apple support, it became known that AirTag tags can be identified by Android device owners if the tag is in lost mode.
With AirTag, you can easily find lost keys, a wallet, a bag, a suitcase, and/or larger items. The tags work by constantly staying connected to the Find My network, thanks to the U1 chip.
However, what Apple did not mention is that any user with an NFC-enabled device will be able to read the information from the tag in case of loss.
NFC is a module in a smartphone, which stands for Near Field Communication. NFC works exclusively at short distances - up to 10 cm. This is its main difference from conventional Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The limitation is related to security. For interaction, they must be at least in close proximity to each other. Example: paying for goods with a phone instead of a physical bank card.
To read information from an AirTag, you need to tap it and hold the white side to the NFC module on your smartphone, after which an interactive link will appear on the screen. By following it, you can find out the information provided by the tag owner and contact them to return lost items.
It is worth noting that to set up the tag, you need the iOS operating system and the Find My app. This means that using the tags with Android devices will yield no results, but will only allow you to find out who the owner of the lost tag is.
