[General Topics] GalaxyA325G:
Today the Android Usenet newsgroup discussed tracking Apple Airtags from Android, so I wrote up this handy tutorial for you.

Here is how to create one-tap shortcuts to Android unknown trackers (which also works from Windows when your phone is on your LAN).

1. Start MuntashirAkon App Manager

<https://github.com/MuntashirAkon/AppManager>

<https://muntashirakon.github.io/AppManager/en/>

<https://f-droid.org/packages/io.github.muntashirakon.AppManager/>

2. Search for "Google Play Services", tap on it, and then tap

the "Activities" tab & search for "Unknown tracker alerts".

Click the "Create shortcut" button & place in your shortcut folder.

Voila!

You just created a one-tap shortcut to the unknown trackers GUI.

If you want to change the icon, just go to images.google.com and

type in "unknown trackers" and screenshot the page that results.

Then paste that screenshot into any image editor (e.g., Irfanview)

and crop to a 48x48 pixel square PNG icon (transparent bg or not).

Longpress on the shortcut to set the icon to that square PNG.

3a. To run automatic scans for unwanted unknown Apple Airtag trackers

a. Tap your one-tap shortcut to turn "Bluetooth" on

b. Tap your one-tap shortcut to turn "Location" on

c. Tap your one-tap shortcut for "Unknown tracker alerts"

d. Set "Allow alerts" to "ON"

"When alerts are on, you'll get a notification if an

unknown tracker is detected traveling with you.

Alerts are deleted after 48 hours."

<https://support.google.com/android/answer/13658562>

3b. To run manual scans for unwanted unknown Apple Airtag trackers

a. Tap your one-tap shortcut to turn "Bluetooth" on

b. There is no need to turn "Location" on

c. Tap your one-tap shortcut for "Unknown tracker alerts"

d. There is no need to set "Allow alerts" to "ON"

e. Under "Manual scan", tap "Scan now"

f. You will see "Checking for trackers" for about 15 seconds

g. And then you should see "No trackers detected"

Make sure you tap your one-tap shortcuts to turn bluetooth off

once you've run a manual scan. You need "Bluetooth" & "Location

on (in addition to "Allow alerts" to be on) for automatic scans.

---< below is background information with gory details >---

*Unknown tracker alerts currently work with Apple AirTags*

<https://support.google.com/android/answer/13658562>

How unknown trackers work:

An unknown tracker alert is sent when someone else's tracker device

is separated from them and detected to be traveling with you

(and out of Bluetooth range from the owner).

The notification alerts you to the tracker and tells you how

to find it and what to do next.

Bluetooth trackers, also called tags, are small devices that you

can attach to items, like keys or a backpack, to help you locate

them if they get lost.

However, in some cases, these devices can be misused to track

others without their knowledge or consent.

You can identify, find, and remove trackers that have been placed

near you or in your belongings without your knowledge or consent.

Notice the tracker alert requires both Bluetooth & Location.

URI=intent:#Intent;package=com.google.android.gms;component=com.google.android.gms/com.google.android.personalsafety.settings.BleTagSettingsActivity;end
ACTION=android.intent.action.VIEW
COMPONENT=com.google.android.gms/com.google.android.personalsafety.settings.BleTagSettingsActivity
PACKAGE=com.google.android.gms
LABEL=Unknown tracker alerts
NAME=com.google.android.personalsafety.settings.BleTagSettingsActivity
PACKAGE=com.google.android.gms

If you want to start this Android activity from Windows, use this:

C:\> adb shell cmd activity start --user 0 -a android.intent.action.VIEW -n com.google.android.gms/com.google.android.personalsafety.settings.BleTagSettingsActivity -f 0 com.google.android.gms

If you know more, please add value so that everyone learns from you.