The function “Find My” Apple has made finding your iPhone a simple procedure. Now, thanks to Separation Alerts, introduced along with other new features in iOS 15, you may never leave your iPad or any other prized possession behind again.
What are separation alerts?
Separation alerts are exactly what they sound like. Once you have enabled alerts for a device, your iPhone will inform you if you leave it behind. In this way, You don't have to worry about getting home from work only to find you left your iPad at the office.
Separation alerts aren't just for your Apple devices either. Thanks to Apple AirTags, you can use this handy new feature to make sure you don't lose any of your valuable belongings.
It makes sense that you find Separation Alerts built into the Find My app, since these alerts are an extension of the functionality of that application. Even though you don't use Apple's Find My Network, still has the goal of preventing you from losing your device.
You can use Separation Alerts with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch with iOS or iPadOS 15 the later. You can also use them with AirTags, as well as both the AirPods Pro Y AirPods Max. Unfortunately, Original Apple AirPods are not compatible with this tool.
As of September 2021, you cannot receive separation alerts on your Apple Watch.
How to use separation alerts on your iPhone
Fortunately, you don't need to manually add your iPad or iPod Touch to the Find My app to use them with Separation Alerts. As long as you are logged into them with the same iCloud account that you use on your phone, should see them automatically.
The steps are also similar with Apple AirTags, assuming you have already configured them. If you haven't, check out our guide to setting up and pairing AirTags with your iPhone. Once these are set up with your iCloud account, you can use them with Separation Alerts by following the steps below.
Open the Find My app, then select Devices at the bottom of the screen if you are enabling notifications for an iPad or iPod Touch. If you are pairing an AirTag, select Items at the bottom of the screen.
Now select the device for which you want to enable separation alerts. Scroll down to Notifications and tap Notify when left behind. Now enable the slider to Notify when left behind.
You will notice that below this, you'll see “notify me, Except in” and a location will be added by default if you have a home location configured in iCloud. This is not the only way you can customize when and where you will receive separation alerts.
How to Add Trusted Locations to Clearance Alerts
Although Separation Alerts will automatically exclude your home location (assuming it's configured) when you create them, this is not the only place where you may not want to receive alerts. As an example, if you regularly bring your iPad to your workplace, you probably don't need to be reminded every time you put it down on your desk.
Fortunately, you can customize these trusted locations, as Apple calls them. You can also add as many of these locations as you need, so you're not limited to a single trusted location.
In the settings “Notify when left behind” for a specific item or device in the Find My app, scroll down until you see Notify me, except on and touch “New location”. Enter the address of the new trusted location you want to add.
You will be presented with two options. Choose “For all items and devices” to determine this location for all your Apple devices and AirTags, O “For this device” only for the device you are currently viewing.
If you no longer use a certain trusted location, you can remove it from the list by tapping the red minus arrow on the right side of the location in Find My.
But, What if you lose your iPhone?
As of September 2021, separation alerts only play from your iPhone. This shouldn't be a big deal for many people., since we have learned to carry our phones with us. Having said this, separation alerts won't do much good if you lose your iPhone.
If you have come to this post for help after losing your iPhone, do not worry. Just take a look at our guide to find a lost iPhone for instructions on how to track your unauthorized phone..
