Update December 13: This change did not make it into the final release of iOS 15.2, but may reappear in a future update.


In iOS 15.2, which is available in beta right now, Apple introduced new features for the Find My app, including a new way to search for items that might be lost so that you can help return them to their rightful owner.

FindMy Feature
The new Unknown Items feature is called "Help Return Lost Items" and when activated, it will scan for anything that's nearby that belongs to someone else and let you know about it.

If anything is detected, such as an AirTag or other Find My-enabled item, Apple can provide you with the contact details of the owner so that you can return it to them.

The following steps show you how to activate the feature in iOS 15.2. Note that items can only be found if they are not in range of their owner's device, up to 50 meters.

  1. Launch the Find My app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap the Items tab at the bottom of the screen.

  3. Drag the items card further up onto the screen using the small pill-shaped handle to reveal more options.
  4. Tap Help Return Lost Items.
    find my

  5. Tap the Search button.
  6. Look at the list titled "Unknown Items." If a device is discovered, tap it for more information.
    find my

  7. If it's an AirTag, you can optionally tap Play Sound to more exactly locate it. Tap Learn More About This AirTag to see if its owner has added contact details in case the item is lost.
  8. Bring your ‌iPhone‌ near the AirTag and then tap the onscreen notification to open an Apple website, where you should find contact information for the owner.
    Find My

Even if an AirTag isn't in Lost Mode, if it's been separated for a period of time from its owner then it will make a sound to alert anyone nearby.

AirTags can only be used to track items via an ‌‌iPhone‌‌ or iPad with the ‌‌Find My‌‌ app. Apple sells individual ‌‌AirTags‌‌ for $29 or a pack of four for $99. For more details on AirTag item trackers, check out our dedicated guide.

Related Forum: iOS 15

Popular Stories

iOS 17

iOS 17.2 Will Add These 12 New Features to Your iPhone

Friday December 1, 2023 12:19 pm PST by
iOS 17.2 has been in beta testing for over a month, and it should be released to all users in a few more weeks. The software update includes many new features and changes for iPhones, including the dozen that we have highlighted below. iOS 17.2 is expected to be released to the public in mid-December. To learn about even more features coming in the update, check out our full list. Journal ...
anker new xmas 1

Anker's Cyber Week Sale Enters Final Days With Up to 60% Off Sitewide

Friday December 1, 2023 12:05 pm PST by
Anker's Black Friday/Cyber Week event is entering its final days this weekend, and it's still offering up to 60 percent off sitewide. There are also a few "mystery boxes" that can include hundreds of dollars in savings, if you're willing to risk not knowing what you're buying ahead of time. All of these sales will end on December 3. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Anker. When you...
General Apps Messages

Green Bubbles on iPhone to Gain These 7 New Features Next Year

Thursday November 30, 2023 9:00 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple announced that it will finally support RCS in the Messages app on the iPhone starting later next year. This change will result in several improvements to the messaging experience between iPhones and Android devices. RCS will become the new default standard for messaging between iPhones and Android devices, but these conversations will still have green bubbles like...
top stories 2dec2023

Top Stories: iOS 17.1.2 Released, NameDrop Misinformation, and More

Saturday December 2, 2023 6:00 am PST by
Apple employees are back to work following a Thanksgiving break, and that means this week saw a number of new operating system updates for both public release and beta testing. This week also saw some misinformation about Apple's new NameDrop feature making the rounds, while Apple and Goldman Sachs appear to be on the verge of a break-up in their Apple Card and savings account partnership,...
instagram messenger

Instagram and Facebook Messenger Chats to Disconnect This Month

Tuesday December 5, 2023 1:57 am PST by
Meta has revealed plans to end Instagram users' ability to chat with Facebook accounts later this month, rolling back a feature that it introduced over three years ago. In September 2020, Meta (then Facebook) announced it was merging its Facebook Messenger service with Instagram direct messaging, allowing Instagram users to chat with Facebook users and vice versa using the same platform....
iphone 5g mmwave

Apple's Work on 6G Connectivity Already Expanding

Monday December 4, 2023 7:00 am PST by
Apple's work on implementing 6G cellular connectivity on its devices appears to be ramping up, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that Apple is increasingly turning its attention to 6G, even amid its widely reported difficulties developing a custom 5G cellular modem. In 2021, the first highly specific Apple job...