Bluetooth trackers have been available for years, but Apple’s integration of AirTags with iPhones made location tracking highly reliable. This widespread use prompted Apple to add anti-stalking measures. On the Android side, Google’s equivalent system, Find Hub, has been less consistent.
According to Android Authority, Google plans to introduce a new screen during the Android phone setup process that lets users enable a more effective tracking method. This feature, included in Play Services version 25.24, has not yet seen a wide release but will allow devices to be located remotely more reliably.
Bluetooth trackers like AirTags function by broadcasting a Bluetooth LE identifier that nearby phones detect. These phones then report the signal’s approximate location, helping the owner pinpoint lost items when multiple signals are collected. However, Google’s Find Hub initially imposed strict limits on where this tracking could occur, focusing on busy areas with many phones to ensure privacy.
By default, Find Hub operates only in densely populated locations, which can hinder device recovery in less crowded areas. The option to extend tracking to all locations exists but is deeply nested within system settings, making it difficult for most users to find. For example, Pixel users must navigate to Security > Device Finders > Find Hub > Find Your Offline Devices to adjust this setting.
The upcoming change aims to simplify this process by prompting users to configure Find Hub during device setup, potentially enhancing the overall effectiveness of Google’s device-finding network.