iOS 18.2 lets you share the location of a lost item

With the latest beta of iOS 18.2, Apple enriches the Find My app with a useful and innovative feature: the ability to share the location of a lost item with a trusted person or even an airline operator. This option promises to make it easier to locate lost devices and other items connected to the Find My network, such as AirTags.

Within the Dove è app, a new “Share Object Position” item allows you to create a temporary link. By sharing this link, a trusted person, even without an Apple device, can view the location of your lost item. This way, you can get immediate help from a third party, whether it’s a friend, a colleague, or even an airline employee handling your baggage.

Once generated, the link is valid for one week, after which it automatically expires. The same function shows how many people viewed the link, giving you feedback on who actually viewed the location of your item. Furthermore, the link is deactivated both when the object is found and when the sharing time expires, guaranteeing a very high level of security and privacy.

In addition to location sharing, Apple has added another feature called “Show Contact Information”. When enabled, it allows anyone who finds a lost item to access a dedicated website, with the owner’s contact information (phone and email) directly linked to the item. This mode is particularly convenient for those who do not use Apple devices and therefore do not have direct access to the Find My app.

The function of Temporary location sharing it joins the already present possibility of sharing a device or a lost object with a contact. The difference lies in the fact that sharing can now also be extended to people who are not part of your contact list, making the possibility of involving those who can actually help you recover the object more immediate.

AirTags, in particular, benefit from this innovation. Until now, a lost AirTag could only be located via Apple devices. With iOS 18.2, however, even non-Apple users will be able to view the location of an AirTag or receive the owner’s contact information, increasing the chances of recovering the object.

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