Apple's New 'Find My' App for macOS and iOS Can Find Your Devices Even When They're Offline - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple's New 'Find My' App for macOS and iOS Can Find Your Devices Even When They're Offline

by

Apple's "Find My Friends" app is being revamped in macOS Catalina and iOS 13, and will now be called simply "‌Find My‌." The new version of the app combines ‌Find My‌ iPhone and ‌Find My‌ Friends.

f1559587984
The major feature of the updated app is that it can now locate Apple devices that are offline, making it even easier to find your iPhone or MacBook if you ever happen to lose it.

Apple said that when a device is offline and sleeping, it sends out a secure Bluetooth beacon that can be detected by other Apple devices nearby, even the ones owned by other people. This results in a network that works to find lost Apple devices through a secure, encrypted, and anonymous signal relay.

Tag: WWDC 2019

Top Rated Comments

d5aqoëp Avatar
d5aqoëp
91 months ago
This feature gets a thumbs up from me.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B
benshive
91 months ago
Creepy
Not really. I think it's really cool. Just taking advantage of the fact that you're probably always within a few feet of another iPhone.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
A
ASFx
91 months ago
What kind of battery drainage should we expect from a constant Bluetooth signal being emitted? Just curious.....
Bluetooth is an extremely low power tech. if it's anything like the power consumption used on the Tile devices, it will be completely unnoticeable. Tiles run on a single small battery for over a year.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NickName99 Avatar
NickName99
91 months ago
Wow, this is a really powerful feature. I definitely wouldn’t trust it from anyone but Apple; implemented carelessly, it could potentially lead to offline device hacking.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Codpeace Avatar
Codpeace
91 months ago
This is super cool! Wow...
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
R
r98266
91 months ago
Creepy
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments

Popular Stories

Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Tuesday May 26, 2026 6:32 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not launching until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component will be moved under the...
Read Full Article • 52 comments
Apple Watch Blood Glucose Monitoring Feature 2

Apple Watch for Diabetes: The Latest on Apple's Plans for Non-Invasive Blood Sugar Monitoring

Tuesday May 26, 2026 9:30 am PDT by
For many years now, it has been rumored that the Apple Watch will eventually gain non-invasive blood sugar monitoring capabilities, which would enable millions of people with diabetes to track their blood glucose levels without needing to prick their skin with a needle or wear a dedicated continuous glucose monitor. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple recently shifted oversight of...
Read Full Article • 75 comments
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Just Expanded iPhone Driver's License Feature to Arkansas

Wednesday May 27, 2026 9:41 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Starting today, the feature is available in Arkansas, which is the 14th state to offer it. However, it may take some time to roll out to all users. To...
Read Full Article • 48 comments