Apple is expanding its Find My network to include third-party devices. Some of the first products that will take advantage of the tool include Belkin’s Soundform earbuds and the Chipolo One Spot item tracker, with those becoming available at the start of next week.
Find My functionality launched in 2009 along with iPhone 3GS. Over the past 12 years it has grown from just tracking lost iPhones to being able to find most Apple products like Macs, Apple Watches and AirPods. With the launch of iOS 13 in 2019, Find My became able to find your Apple devices using ultrawideband whether they were online or not. Currently, the Find My network has hundreds of millions of Apple devices tied to it.
A “Works with Apple Find My” badge will tell you they’re compatible with the company’s software. You’ll be able to add a device through the “Items” tab within the app.
When tracking a Find My accessory, you’ll see it on the app’s map interface. There will also be an option to tell the device to play a sound so that you can have an easier time finding it. Additionally, a Lost Mode allows you to lock a device to your Apple ID and prevent another person from pairing it with their account.
Apple first announced it was opening up Find My to third-party manufactures back at WWDC 2020. The end of 2020 came and went with Apple not providing many updates on the expansion. Then over this past weekend, the company published Find My Certification Asst to the App Store. The software allows MFi (Made for iPhone) licensees to test their devices on the network, and submit the data they collect to Apple for certification.
More products and accessories will enter the Find My network soon, Apple said in a press release.
