A technology expert has warned that work-provided AirPods that arrived in an open box pose privacy risks.
Marc Porcar, who works at QR Code Generator, warns AirPods users of an easily overlooked and confusing tracking settings. When enabled, they could help locate items containing AirPods or people carrying them. Porcar also raises privacy concerns if an employer owns the device, advising on how to check if your boss can track your location outside of work.
Scenario A: You Own a Pair of AirPods and Want to Hide Your Location – How Do You Disable Tracking Them?
If for whatever reason you do not wish anyone to know your location, disabling your AirPods’ tracking features can be tricky, Porcar advises.
He says: “You cannot disable your AirPods alone from being tracked while still keeping them linked to an Apple ID. You would have to remove the AirPods altogether from that Apple ID or manually reset its factory settings.”
Via iPhone/iPad:
To disable Find My AirPods through a paired iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, navigate to the Devices tab, select your AirPods and tap Remove This Device.
Via Mac:
If you previously used them on a Mac, open the Find My app, go to the Devices tab, click the AirPods from the list on the left and then find the circled “i” in the right-hand panel. Press Remove This Device to disable its tracking.
Manual Factory Reset:
You can also disable any previous pairing, whether done by you or someone else, by restoring its factory settings manually. You will need to first locate the small reset button at the back of your AirPods’ case. To restore the factory settings, place both AirPods in their charging case, close the lid, wait for 30 seconds, reopen the lid, then press and hold the reset button at the back of the case for 15 seconds until the little light at the front of the case flashes amber, then white.
Scenario B: You Have Work-Provided AirPods – Can Your Boss Track Them?
If you are worried about your boss tracking your location outside working hours, your concerns are somewhat valid, but only if your AirPods arrived in an opened box or you use them with a work laptop or phone.
Porcar explains: “If the box was previously opened, it is possible that the employer linked the AirPods previously to their Apple ID, which means they can always track their location unless you reset them and link them to your personal Apple ID.
“This does not mean just pairing them to a new Apple device but also enabling the Find My setting. Simply pairing the AirPods with a device, which would allow you to use them, does not guarantee that it changed ownership or that location tracking ceased.”
Porcar adds: “Using AirPods with an Android phone or tablet does not prevent tracking if they remain linked to an Apple ID because they can still use the manufacturer’s network to be located. Older generations of AirPods have less precise location capabilities, but Find My can still track them if linked to an Apple ID.”
Offering further clarification, Porcar states: “In other words, if you want to prevent your boss from being able to see your real-time location outside of work, all you need to do is to restore the AirPods’ factory settings manually and link them with another non-work Apple ID using an iMac, iPhone or iPad.”
Tracking process
“AirPods can be tracked indirectly through, say, the work mobile or laptop, not necessarily Apple-branded, whose location an employer can access anyway,” Porcar explains.
There are other factors to consider: “Keep in mind that, even if you successfully switch to a different Apple ID, your employer will be able to see the location where you did that, so make sure you carry out the changes at an already familiar address if you want to keep your out-of-work activities private.”
Porcar also advises: “Ideally, though, you may wish to keep your work AirPods at your usual place of work, whether that is at the office or at home, and do not take them with you for non-work-related activities like a morning jog, a gym session or a quick drink after work. This prevents many complications like theft and loss of company property, but, more importantly, it keeps you safe from uncomfortable encounters with your boss or anyone at work with access to company device management.”
If any of the above steps fail or you cannot reconnect the AirPods to your Apple ID, reboot your devices and check that you installed the latest updates or contact Apple Support.
