OpenHaystack For Mac

Apple has recently opened its Find My network to third-party tracking devices, but very few are officially supported as of now. If you don't own one of the Apple-vetted trackers or an AirTag, you cannot take advantage of the Find My service.

Unless, of course, you use OpenHaystack. This is an open-source project that aims to make most Bluetooth devices usable on the Find My network, thus letting you turn them into custom AirTags. It's a bit of a workaround, as it uses an Apple Mail plugin to download location reports.

At first launch, you will be prompted to install the Apple Mail plugin. Consult this guide if you run into any issues. Then, add a new device and connect it via USB. Check this list to see if your particular Bluetooth device is supported. Then, just click Deploy. It can take up to 30 minutes for the first report to be generated.

The app creates a public-private key pair, with the public key deployed on the Bluetooth device and the private one stored safely on your Mac. The public key is then received by nearby devices via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) advertisements, and the location is encrypted and sent to Apple's servers. The location report is then downloaded by the app (via the Apple Mail plugin) and decrypted using the private key.

This system works because Apple cannot tell the difference between the public keys broadcast by your custom tracking tags and those broadcast by a genuine Apple device. Until more third-party accessories are supported, this could be your best way to track Bluetooth devices via the Find My network.