AirTags are small, coin-like devices that can help you keep track of your belongings. They use Apple’s Find My network to locate lost or stolen items, and can be attached to keys, bags, and even pets. However, not all iPhones are compatible with AirTags out of the box. If you have an older iPhone, here’s how to use AirTags with it.

First things first: compatibility. AirTags require an iPhone running iOS 14.5 or later. This means that if you have an iPhone older than the iPhone 6s (such as the iPhone 5, 5c, or 5s), or if you haven’t updated to iOS 14.5, you won’t be able to use AirTags.

Assuming you have a compatible iPhone, the first step is to pair your AirTag with your phone. This is done by bringing the AirTag close to your iPhone and following the on-screen instructions. If your iPhone doesn’t have the U1 chip (which enables more precise location tracking), you won’t see the “precision finding” feature, but you can still use the basic tracking functionality.

Once your AirTag is paired with your iPhone, you can attach it to the object you want to track. You can do this by attaching it to a keyring, placing it in a bag, or using a third-party accessory. The AirTag will send its location data to Apple’s Find My network, which you can access through the Find My app on your iPhone.

To track your AirTag, open the Find My app and select the “Items” tab. You should see your AirTag listed there, along with its last known location. You can also play a sound on the AirTag to help you find it if it’s nearby.

If your AirTag is lost or stolen and out of range of your iPhone, you can put it in “Lost Mode.” This will notify you when the AirTag is found by another iPhone user who has the Find My app, and you can choose to display a message with your contact information so that the finder can return the item to you.

In summary, using AirTags with older iPhones is possible as long as your iPhone is compatible with iOS 14.5 or higher. You won’t get all the features of AirTags if your iPhone doesn’t have a U1 chip, but you can still use them to track your belongings. Just pair the AirTag with your iPhone, attach it to the item you want to track, and use the Find My app to locate it if necessary.