iOS 15 of Apple will now allow iPhones to be still traceable through the Find My network even when the mobile is switched off. It can be gathered that with iOS 15, the phone is not completely ‘powered off’, it remains in a low-power mode and functions like an AirTag, enabling any nearby iOS device to pick up the Bluetooth signal and send back its position.
This further means that if an iPhone goes out of battery during the day, the user will still have a possibility of finding its location for several more hours. Apple states the position tracking will even continue running whilst the phone is reset to factory settings with Activation Lock equipped.
“Locate your devices using the Find My network even after they have been turned off. This can help you locate a missing device that was low on battery power or that may have been turned off by a thief,” says Apple.
Read more: Here are the key announcements Apple made at the WWDC 2021
Furthermore, Apple will inform the users about this new operation with an alert dialog when the newly-updated iOS 15 iPhone is going low on power for the first time. Interestingly, the example for the alert dialog references this feature to assist recover stolen items. Normally, Apple does not promote using Find My features to fight against theft.
Apple is further launching separation alerts, which send an alert to the owner’s iPhone when an AirTag or compatible product is forgotten behind. Find My gives directions to the item. The Find My network will also provide users an estimated position of missing AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. It intends to get the user within Bluetooth reach so they can play a sound to find the headphones or earphones.
Source: 9to5mac
Image Source: Fortune
