Google and Apple’s unknown tracker alert needs this one big feature

i love mine aviation label — They’ve saved me countless lost and found hassles and have been a constant companion for everything from my house keys to my car keys, backpack, and even my e-cigarette. this Precise location trackingloud ringtones, and seamless integration with iPhone’s Find My network, making them indispensable for tracking all my essentials. They’re one of those little technology upgrades that make you wonder how you managed without them.

But like most things in technology, smart labels are a double-edged sword. While they bring convenience to my life, lately, my Airtags have also become a source of constant annoyance. Android’s unknown tag alert system (designed to help prevent unwanted tracking) ensures that I’m bombarded with notifications about “unknown” trackers on an almost daily basis.

Now, don’t get me wrong: I understand the importance of these alerts. They are necessary safeguards against Abuse of tracking devices For stalking or other nefarious purposes. If the cost of increased security is a little annoyance, I’m fine with that. But there’s a difference between well-implemented security features and security features that become a daily nuisance, and unfortunately, this falls into the latter category.

I live in a multi-platform household, using both Android and iOS devices. Over the past few months, every time I’ve walked out of my house, or even returned, with my Airtag-equipped house key, my Android phone Alert me about “Unknown tracker detected nearby.” It’s not limited to my own device; if I travel with friends or family members who carry Airtags, my phone immediately thinks I might be being watched.

As a recent example, I borrowed my wife’s keys to run errands. Her keychain has the same aviation tag as mine. Minutes after walking out of the house, my phone lit up with a warning that I was being followed by a strange tracker.

Ironically, the tracker was just doing its job – staying on the keys – but I had to put up with repeated alerts throughout the trip. There is currently no way (simple or complex) to whitelist these tags as “safe”, so I’m constantly being spammed with notifications.

This problem isn’t limited to dual-platform folks like me. Imagine a household with multiple devices in the Apple and Android ecosystems. A misplaced key or a tracker attached to your child’s backpack can turn a smart security feature into an annoyance for anyone nearby.

What worries me more than the constant pings is the potential for alert fatigue. Over time, I got so used to ignoring these notifications on my devices that I almost stopped looking at them. If, in some unlikely but possible scenario, someone did try to slip an Airtag into my bag or car, I would probably ignore the alert without a second thought.

This defeats the entire purpose of the system. Features that were originally designed to ensure security eventually broke themselves due to too many users. If people don’t trust these notifications—or worse, start ignoring them entirely—they become meaningless.

The solution to this problem is not complicated. All it really needs is the ability to mark certain tags as “safe.” Whether you call it a whitelist or a known device, the idea is simple: allow users to specify trackers they know and trust to avoid unnecessary notifications.

For example, if I often carry my partner’s keys or borrow a friend’s bag, I should be able to approve their Airtag on my device. This can be accomplished through a prompt when an alert occurs, asking if the tag is safe and allowing you to confirm—it may even require an additional layer of authentication, such as confirmation from the tracker owner.

Neither Android nor iOS currently offer this feature, but it seems to be the obvious next step for both platforms. After all, they have collaborated on shared specifications for tracker alerts. Extending this functionality to include whitelisting would go a long way toward reducing unnecessary outages without compromising security.

Of course, any system that allows whitelisting will need to have safeguards in place to prevent abuse. For example, there may be a time limit on how long a tracker remains whitelisted, requiring periodic reauthorization. Alternatively, the owner of the tag can retain control, ensuring that only approved devices can whitelist their trackers.

This is not only a problem that Apple and Google need to solve individually, but also a common challenge affecting millions of users of both ecosystems. By working together to improve the tracker alert system, they can achieve a better balance between security and usability.

Smart tags like Airtags Bringing great convenience to our lives, their growing popularity requires smarter solutions to how we interact with them. Current alarm systems, while well intentioned, are too lacking in functionality for the complexities of modern multi-device homes. With some tweaks — starting with the ability to whitelist trusted trackers — Apple and Google can make these systems more secure and user-friendly.

Until then, I’ll continue to ignore notifications in the hope that I don’t miss the ones that really matter.