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In iOS 15, Apple added separation alerts to the Find My app that notify you when you leave an AirTag or other Apple device behind. Separation alerts also support Find My-enabled third-party accessories.
Called “Notify me when left behind,” the new Find My separation alerts or notifications inform you every time you are separated from your personal belongings or Apple device in an unfamiliar location, which can be quite helpful – both when traveling and in everyday life. Feature automatically sets your home as a trusted location (a place where you often leave your items and don't want to be notified every time - your home?!), so you'll need to add your home address to your contact card in the Contacts app before enabling the feature.
Notify when left behind: How to activate the function in iOS 15
The following steps will guide you through the process of setting up disconnection alerts.
- Start the Find My app on your iPhone.
- Select the Devices or Items tab and tap the device you want to set up notifications for.
- Tap “Notify me when left behind.”
- Activate the switch for the feature.
- Under “Notify me except here,” tap New location to set a trusted location where you don’t want to receive notifications.
On the "Add Location" map screen, you can search for an address or enter it in the input field. You can set the radius of the circular geofence for your trusted location by dragging the blue dot or using the Small, Medium, or Large options below. Now tap Done.
If there are no more location exceptions you want to add, tap "Done" in the top right corner to complete the configuration. The next time you leave your AirTag or other Apple device in a public place, you'll receive a notification letting you know in advance and giving you the opportunity to return. Be careful, though: These types of notifications require an iPhone, so be sure not to leave your iPhone behind. Apple may eventually expand this feature to include the iPhone and Apple Watch. (Photo by hadrian / Bigstockphoto)
