Finding lost items will soon be significantly easier thanks to the upcoming iOS update. Apple is enhancing the Find My app with iOS 18.2, enabling users to share the location of their AirTags or other lost items with anyone, not just those in their trusted circle.
Find My introduces a new feature for sharing the location of lost items with iOS 18.2
The Find My app currently allows users to share their belongings with those they trust, enabling shared tracking. This functionality is invaluable for families frequently sharing items like keys. However, with iOS 18.2, users will also have the ability to temporarily share their item locations with anyone they choose.
This new feature is accessible through an updated menu when an item is selected in the Find My app. It essentially generates a public link that displays the item’s location, allowing anyone with the link to see where it is. Apple illustrates this by suggesting users might share the link with an airline to assist in recovering a lost item.
The link is temporary, expiring after a few hours, and users can deactivate location sharing whenever they wish. When a lost item is shared, Apple’s system displays the user’s email address and phone number, and users can also track who accessed the shared link.
Another addition to the Find My app allows users to transmit their contact information when someone brings an AirTag close to an iPhone. This feature facilitates easier access for others to the owner’s email address or phone number for a lost item.
Additional information about iOS 18.2
These enhancements are part of iOS 18.2, which is currently in a beta version for developers. This substantial update introduces numerous features linked to Apple Intelligence, such as Genmoji, Image Playground, ChatGPT integration, and Visual Intelligence for iPhone 16 models.
Apple has announced that the public release of iOS 18.2 is scheduled for December.
