Unknown Tracker Alerts is a privacy feature developed jointly by Google and Apple. Integrated into Android via Google Play Services, it constantly scans your environment using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for separated Bluetooth trackers—specifically Apple AirTags and compatible Find My devices—that appear to be traveling with you over time. If a foreign tracker is detected following you, Android generates a high-priority alert. While designed to prevent malicious stalking, this constant background BLE scanning consumes battery. Furthermore, in crowded urban environments or dense apartment buildings where you are legitimately in close proximity to a neighbor’s AirTag for extended periods, the system can generate frustrating false positive alerts.
This guide explains how to completely disable the Unknown Tracker Alerts background scanning system on an Android device.
Disable Unknown Tracker Alerts
Because this feature is deeply integrated into Google’s safety architecture rather than standard Bluetooth settings, you must disable it from within the core safety menu.
- Open the main Settings app on your Android smartphone.
- Scroll down and tap on Safety & emergency. (On some devices, this may be located under “Personal Safety”).
- Locate and tap on Unknown tracker alerts.
- At the top of the screen, you will see a toggle switch labeled Allow alerts.
- Tap the switch to toggle it to the Off (grey) position.
Verify the Scanning Lockdown
Disabling this switch instructs Google Play Services to immediately terminate the background daemon responsible for passively listening to AirTag and Find My BLE broadcasts. Your phone will no longer attempt to correlate external tracker UUIDs with your location history.
To verify the lockdown is successful, stay on the “Unknown tracker alerts” screen. You will notice that the manual “Scan now” button remains available, meaning you can still actively sweep your environment if you choose, but the automated “Allow alerts” background system is completely disabled. You have successfully reclaimed the battery life associated with this constant polling and eliminated false-positive stalking alerts.