What Is Tracking Notifications On iPhone? Two Types!

There Are Two Types Of Tracking Notifications

First thing first there are two aspect to our tracking notification dilemma. With both equally important for you to proceed forward given ignorance can lead to devasting consequences. Let’s start with the one that posed more threat than the other.

So, you would’ve heard about AirTag by Apple? If not they are these mini GPS devices which you can clip to your bag or purse and then using it (AirTag) find them if you ever lose them (and no AirTag won’t look good clipped with Apple Watches though there are ways to find dead Apple Watches).

In theory it all sounds very cool. I would go even record and say they are next great step in the tech world. But consider this just for a moment: What if someone who intends to harm you use these (AirTag) to track you. Because it can be done very easily. All they would need to do is clip or drop it in your car and then they can know where you are going or worse: where you live!

Possible Stalker Alert: Apple Will Issue Notification

Since arrival of Air Tag open this huge gate for the stalkers to use them for wrong means Apple had to act fast, and act fast they did. Just within the 6 months after their arrival in market Apple announced the update which will make sure that your iPhone will notify you if any AirTag or AirPod is found moving with you.

However, there is a prerequisite that you should ensure is well taken care off, and it is particularly important for iPhone users. While Apple has done its part making sure your guard is up you need to ensure of these three things:

• Your iPhone must be running on iOS 14 or more.
• Make sure Bluetooth is On.
• Ensure Location Services and Tracking Notifications are turned on.

While above two are pretty easy to do so and I don’t think I’d need to explain about it to you. For the last point here is what you should know. You can turn on Location Services from Privacy section in your iPhone. We recently talked about it while discussing how to find out if your iPhone is being tracked so if you have read it already then you don’t have to worry.

What About Tracking Notifications?

Well, there are two ways through which you can access the Tracking Notification settings. First is through the Find My application. You will have to open the App navigate to Me section and there you will see the option to Customize Tracking Notifications.

Click on it and this will take you to settings where you can select the manner through which you iPhone can present to your notifications about Tracking activities. Needless to say this covers every type of Tracking notification for instance if you have set up Notification to let you know when your Girlfriend is coming home from work it also falls under this particular section.

Another way to access the Tracking Notifications is through the iPhone Settings itself. Head to the Notifications and then scroll down and there you will have it at the middle of list. Tap on it and you can begin customization of notification system.

Ensure You Can Get Reminder Timely

Once you would’ve done it which means you will have ticked of all three requirements then any time any unauthorized AirTag will be found moving with your iPhone you will be alerted.

In which case we’d suggest that you investigate the issue. Apple provides the ability to find the unauthorized AirTag all you’d have to do is play the sound and AirTag planted in your car or bag will begin to beep.

Depending on if it’s familiar AirTag or not you can choose to either disable the alert about it. Or if it appears to there for some malicious reason Apple will walk you through disabling it by removing the battery.

Another Type Of Tracking Notifications

Like we talked about it in passing before this also another aspect to tracking notification and this one is little different than the one we’ve just seen above. After the iOS 14 update Apple has added the functionality that whenever you will download a new app your iPhone will ask you a question and it will be something like this: “Do you want this App To Track Your Location?”

This is followed by two options one where you can give your consent to the said app to track your whereabouts and the other where you deny (or ask the app to not track you). Of course this request from your side must be respected by the application, given the nature of data privacy and how common it is for apps to use your data for money, this decision by Apple was one that was needed.

Enhanced Control Gifted By Apple

For your information you can also manually turn off the tracking features for application. You’d have to go to Settings > Privacy > Tracking and there you will see list of apps downloaded in your iPhone which frequently uses your location.

Keep in mind this should be only done for apps who can work without your location. For example Facebook can work fine even if you’d turn off the location services for it. On the other hand Uber could become useless without the access to your location. So, make the decision which fits your needs and doesn’t compromise on the ability of your phone or the intended application.