The alert in question can occur because of a malfunction with your Apple AirPods, or AirTags if you own one. Additionally, a firmware anomaly can also cause the alert to appear on the Find My app incorrectly. To resolve the alert, we will go through a series of solutions along with the potential reasons for the alert appearing in detail below.
What is the “Unknown Accessory Detected” Alert?
The alert in question is part of a revamp led by Apple to notify users of unknown devices, such as AirTags around them. This essentially serves as a privacy feature that is intended to keep you safe from devices that have been placed on you with negative intentions. “The ‘unknown accessory detected near you’ notification appears when an unrecognized device is near your iPhone. While this is intended to indicate an unknown AirTag in your vicinity, that is not always the case. This is because, as we have mentioned, firmware malfunctions can often cause the alert to appear incorrectly.
How to Deal with “Unknown Accessory Detected” Notification?
Now that you know why the alert is occurring on your iPhone, it’s time for us to discuss what you can do to tackle the notification.
1. Look for an Unknown Device
If you are coming across the alert on your device in public, you can most likely ignore the notification. This is because you have likely passed close to someone carrying an AirTag which prompted the notification on your device. However, in case you are coming across the notification when alone or at home, you will have to carry out a search for an unknown device in your vicinity. AirTags are devices designed to track your items, but their malicious use to stalk people is not uncommon. To help you locate the AirTag near you, you can use the Play Sound option on the notification screen. This will make the device ring and you should be able to follow the sound to locate it if there is one near you. In case you are unable to locate the AirTag, it is likely the notification is occurring due to an anomaly. In such an instance, move to the following methods.
2. Re-Pair your AirTags
If you own a pair of AirTags, use the instructions below to pair them again:
3. Reset your AirTags
4. Re-Pair AirPods
5. Update Find My App
These solutions should enable you to handle the Unknown Accessory Detected alert on your iPhone. To prevent the notification from appearing incorrectly in the future, make sure the Find My app is up to date and your AirTag or AirPods are not running into connectivity issues.
