iOS 15 Find My Updates for Powered-Off Devices

Apple significantly upgraded its Find My network in iOS 15 by introducing the ability to locate devices even when they are turned off, out of battery, or factory reset. Prior to this update, a powered-down iPhone severed all tracking signals, rendering it invisible until turned back on. With iOS 15, Apple introduced continuous low-power tracking by leveraging its vast crowdsourced network of Apple devices, turning the iPhone into a persistent beacon regardless of its power state.

How Powered-Off Tracking Works

When an iPhone running iOS 15 is shut down, it does not completely power off its internal components. Instead, the device enters a specialized low-power state where its Bluetooth transmitter, Secure Element, and Ultra Wideband (U1) chip remain active.

In this state, the iPhone continuously broadcasts short-range Bluetooth signals. Nearby Apple devices running iOS, iPadOS, or macOS detect these signals, encrypt the location data, and relay it back to Apple's servers so the owner can view the device's location in the Find My app.

Key Updates and Features

  • Tracking After Battery Depletion: If an iPhone runs out of battery, iOS 15 reserves a small amount of power to keep the Find My beacon active. This allows users to track a dead iPhone for up to 24 hours after it shuts down.
  • Tracking After Device Erase: iOS 15 expanded Activation Lock to prevent thieves from hiding stolen hardware. Even if an unauthorized user wipes and factory-resets the iPhone, the Find My network continues to transmit the device’s location, and the "Hello" setup screen clearly indicates that the phone is locked and trackable by its original owner.
  • Power-Off Alert and Temporary Disable: iOS 15 added a visual prompt beneath the "slide to power off" slider reading "iPhone Findable After Power Off." Tapping this message gives users the option to temporarily disable Find My tracking for that specific shutdown cycle if they require a total, untraceable power-down.

Supported Hardware

The powered-off tracking feature relies on specific low-power hardware architecture. Because older models lack the necessary dedicated power-management components, the feature is supported only on the following devices running iOS 15 or later:

  • iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max (and newer models)

Privacy and Security

All location data broadcast by powered-off devices remains end-to-end encrypted. The relay devices that pick up the Bluetooth beacons cannot read the identity or location of the lost device, and Apple does not have access to the unencrypted location data, ensuring that user privacy is maintained while the device is being tracked.