iOS 18.2 lets you share location of your lost luggage
What's the story
Apple is gearing up to introduce a new feature on its Find My app, MacRumors reported. The update, which is being tested in the second developer beta release of iOS 18.2, will allow users to temporarily share the location of a lost AirTag with "an airline or a trusted person." The purpose of this feature is to help airport staff find misplaced luggage if it's detected nearby via Find My.
Enhanced functionality
New feature enhances location sharing capabilities
The next iOS 18.2 update will bring a "Share Item Location" option in the Find My app. This feature creates a link that can be shared with anyone. On Apple devices, the link will open the Find My app and show where the item tagged with an AirTag is located. For non-Apple devices, it opens a web page with a map showing the item's last known location.
Expiration details
Link has an expiration date
The temporary location sharing link generated by the new feature would automatically expire after a week or once the lost item has been found. You can also track how many people have accessed your shared link. Plus, there's an "Show Contact Info" option for those who want to share their contact details with the person who finds their lost item.
Twitter Post
Get help in finding a lost item
Huge update to Find My in iOS 18.2 beta 2
— Aaron (@aaronp613) November 4, 2024
Get help finding a lost itemby sharing its location with an airline or trusted person. They will be able tosee the location of your item on a map. pic.twitter.com/lHckNRfZbj
Past updates
Apple's history of location sharing features
Back in September 2023, Apple had introduced a feature to continuously share an AirTag's location with up to five additional people. This was aimed at families to keep track of the locations of pets, vehicles, or other shared items. The latest update builds on this capability by letting users temporarily involve more people in their search for a lost item without having to revoke their access later.