What is what does it mean when an airtag beeps?

Here's information about what AirTag beeps mean, presented in Markdown format with linked important subjects:

An AirTag beeps for a few reasons, primarily related to its function of helping you locate lost items and deterring unwanted tracking.

• Finding a Lost Item: The most common reason an AirTag beeps is when you're using the "Find My" app to locate an item attached to it. When you're within Bluetooth range, you can tap "Play Sound" in the app, and the AirTag will beep, guiding you to its location. The sound is relatively loud, designed to be heard even if the item is somewhat obscured.

• Anti-Stalking Feature: To prevent unwanted tracking, if an AirTag that isn't registered to your Apple ID is moving with you for an extended period, your iPhone will alert you that an unknown AirTag is detected. After a certain period of time (typically 8-24 hours of separation from its owner) if the AirTag is moving with you, it will start to beep, even without an iPhone nearby, to alert you to its presence. This anti-stalking%20feature is crucial for personal safety.

• Low Battery: While less common, some users have reported that an AirTag might emit a short, infrequent beep when its battery is low. However, you usually receive a notification on your iPhone indicating low battery well before the AirTag starts beeping for this reason.

The absence of beeping doesn't necessarily mean the AirTag isn't working. It could be out of Bluetooth range, have a dead battery (though you'd usually receive a notification), or not be triggering the anti-stalking feature because it's not been separated from its owner long enough.