How to use AirTag sharing when travelling with family and friends
I didnt waste any time when AirTags first came out, immediately buying eight of them: for five bags, keys, a videography rig, and a bicycle. But Ive also repurposed some of them during trips for some AirTag sharingwith friends, and iOS 18.2 makes this option even better.Ive confessed before to being something of a bagaholic, so the first thing I did was to slip an AirTag into each of my main bags, where they live almost permanently This means that no matter which of my main bags I take out with me, it will be protected.For less-frequently used bags, I just borrow one to temporarily protect whichever bag Im using that day.But Ive also lent one or two of these AirTags to my partner or friends when travelling together, so that I can track their bags as well as my own. In addition to the obvious value if a bag does go missing, I also really like the reassurance I get from boarding the plane, checking the Find My app and confirming that all our hold baggage made it safely on board.But the AirTag sharing feature introduced in iOS 18.2 makes this type of social use even better. I can simply share the link for the tags used in my companions bags with them, so that they too can track them. It does, though, mean that they have no ability to track items until they are marked as lost (and you cant cheat and do that when they arent, as the option isnt available when they are with you).This can be done with the original sharing feature, but that requires them to have an Apple account and an Apple device. Share Item Location in contrast works with any device, and without the need for an Apple ID.Ill also share with them the AirTags in my own bags as that way we get some additional redundancy. In the worst case of someone snatching both my phone and my cabin bag containing my other Apple devices my travel buddy will be able to instantly track my possessions on their own phone.Share Item Location is a significant enhancement to AirTags when traveling with family or friends, ensuring that everyone in the party has oversight over all the bags.Check out our simple how-to guide for instructions, and enjoy even greater peace of mind on your next trip.Photo by4zyxxnonUnsplashAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel