Apple AirTag — here’s the biggest complaint families have

Apple AirTag — hither's the biggest complaint families have

(Prototype credit: Future)

The new Apple AirTag trackers let yous keep tabs on the whereabouts of your keys, wallet or whatsoever other valuable that often goes missing. And equally useful every bit they are — our AirTag review was pretty positive about their potential — families find that AirTag falls downwards in one fundamental area. They can't be used to share detail locations inside a family unit by way of family sharing.

This would seem to be a job for Apple's Family Sharing. That feature allows you and up to five other family members access Apple tree services. This can be mixed and matched with platforms like Apple TV Plus, Apple Music, and Apple News Plus. You tin also share iTunes and App Store purchases beyond accounts, so there'south no need to purchase the same product multiple times. But unfortunately, AirTags don't seem to share the same functionality.

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Members in a Family Sharing group can come across the location of others' iPhones, iPads, and other fashion of Apple devices in the Find My app. Curiously, Apple has non included AirTags in this functionality, though information technology certainly seems as though information technology'south the sort of matter that should be there. Equally a issue, disappointed users have left their complaints on the AirTag'due south lack of functionality across the internet.

Currently, the only affair users tin plough on via iCloud Family Sharing is the "AirTag Detected" alarm that'south meant to discourage inadvertent tracking in the case of someone slipping an AirTag into the backpack or pocket of someone else.

Information technology'south unclear whether Apple tree plans to introduce this type of functionality going forward — it would seem similar a natural extension of AirTag, though privacy concerns about the key finder may give Apple intermission.

For what information technology'southward worth, this is an issue other key finders accept figured out. Tile'due south multiple key trackers, highlighted by the Tile Pro and Tile Mate, let you lot share your Tile with 1 other address past default, with a subscription plan giving y'all unlimited sharing. The Chipolo 1 tracker has a family sharing characteristic, too.

Until Apple figures out the all-time way forward, AirTags will remain an item meant to exist used by i person per tag. Group sharing may accept to come up at a later date, unless Apple is moved by the mass backlash.

Brittany Vincent has been covering video games and tech for over 13 years for publications including Tom's Guide, MTV, Rolling Stone, CNN, Pop Science, Playboy, IGN, GamesRadar, Polygon, Kotaku, Maxim, and more than. She'south also appeared as a panelist at video game conventions like PAX Eastward and PAX West and has coordinated social media for companies like CNET. When she's not writing or gaming, she's looking for the adjacent neat visual novel in the vein of Saya no Uta. You lot can follow her on Twitter @MolotovCupcake.