One of the most exciting iOS 15 features announced at WWDC 2021 in June is definitely Find My location when the device is completely turned off. However, the feature is not supported by every device.
With iOS 13, Apple implemented a new version of its Find My network that also works offline. It uses Bluetooth technology to send the location of a lost device to other Apple devices nearby. This allows users to see the location of an iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple Watch even if the device is not connected to the Internet. With iOS 15, Apple has now gone a step further and finally has the option integratedthat completely turned off devices can be located via the "Find My" network. But that's not all. According to the company, devices running iOS 15 or later can be located even if they have been fully restored.
iOS 15: New "Find My" feature requires the U1 chip
The only way to truly disable Find My is to delete the original owner's iCloud account from the device. Unfortunately, due to technical limitations, only certain iPhone models can be located when they are completely turned off. Below is a list:
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
The new feature is based on ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, which is part of Apple's U1 chip. Only the iPhone 11 and newer models (except the second-generation iPhone SE) have the U1 chip, which is why only these devices are compatible with Find My even when turned off. Although the Apple Watch Series 6 also has the U1 chip, Apple did not include it in this context. According to Apple, supported devices can be located via Find My even when they are in low power mode. In other words, location will work even if your iPhone runs out of battery, just like Express Transit with Apple Pay. Basically, you could almost think that the feature turns an iPhone into an AirTag. (Photo by Unsplash / Daniel Romero)
