Apple's Third-Party Find My Accessory Program Gets Closer to Launch With New Test App

Apple is getting closer to launching the third-party program that will allow item trackers and other Bluetooth devices to be tracked using the Find My app, based on the launch of a new app.

find my test app 1
As noted by TechCrunch, Apple Sunday introduced the Find My Certification Asst. app, which was created exclusively for Made for iPhone (MFi) licensees who need to test their accessories with the ‌Find My‌ network. From the App Store description:

For use by MFi Licensees only. Use the Find My Certification Assistant to test discovery, connection, and other key requirements for accessories you develop that incorporate Find My network technology.

Based on screenshots of the app, product developers are able to test connectivity, sound power, NFC capabilities, firmware, Bluetooth connectivity, and more.

find my test app 2
Apple's Find My Network Accessory Program was first introduced alongside iOS and iPadOS 14. It lets third-party products integrate with the ‌Find My‌ app, allowing them to be tracked right alongside Apple devices.

find my test app 3
iOS 14.5 added a new "Items" tab to the ‌Find My‌ app, which is where any ‌Find My‌ integrated device will be able to be tracked. This is also presumably where Apple's own AirTags will be able to be located when those launch, but for now, it may be aimed at third-party accessories.

So far, there are few accessory makers that have released a product that works with ‌Find My‌ integration. Belkin in January announced the Soundform Freedom True Wireless Earbuds, which have ‌Find My‌ integration and will be able to be tracked in the ‌Find My‌ app.

‌Find My‌ is able to work with any device that has Bluetooth and integrates Apple's code through the ‌Find My Network Accessory Program‌, so it is not limited to item trackers and can be built into any Bluetooth product. Tile has been offering a similar program that allows accessories to integrate with the Tile ecosystem to be located through the Tile app.

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
iphone 17 air dummy unbox therapy

iPhone 17 Air's Extreme Thinness Demoed in New Video

Tuesday April 22, 2025 10:22 am PDT by
Apple plans to release an all-new super thin iPhone this year, debuting it alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. We've seen pictures of dummy models, cases, and renders with the design, but Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy today showed off newer dummy models that give us a better idea of just how thin the "iPhone 17 Air" will be. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be ...
ipad air windows 11 arm

M2 iPad Air Runs Windows 11 ARM via Emulation, Thanks to EU Rules

Tuesday April 22, 2025 5:01 am PDT by
A developer has demonstrated Windows 11 ARM running on an M2 iPad Air using emulation, which has become much easier since the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations came into effect. As spotted by Windows Latest, NTDev shared an instance of the emulation on social media and posted a video on YouTube (embedded below) demonstrating it in action. The achievement relies on new EU regulatory...
iphone 17 dummies sonny dickson

iPhone 17 Air Almost as Thin as Its Buttons, New Images Show

Thursday April 24, 2025 2:14 am PDT by
If you missed the video showing dummy models of Apple's all-new super thin iPhone 17 Air that's expected later this year, Sonny Dickson this morning shared some further images of the device in close alignment with the other dummy models in the iPhone 17 lineup, indicating just how thin it is likely to be in comparison. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be around 5.5mm thick – with a thicker ...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
iOS 18

iOS 18.5 Includes Only a Few Changes So Far

Monday April 21, 2025 11:00 am PDT by
Apple seeded the third beta of iOS 18.5 to developers today, and so far the software update includes only a few minor changes. The changes are in the Mail and Settings apps. In the Mail app, you can now easily turn off contact photos directly within the app, by tapping on the circle with three dots in the top-right corner. In the Settings app, AppleCare+ coverage information is more...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 13 New Features

Wednesday April 23, 2025 8:31 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...

Top Rated Comments

breather Avatar
53 months ago

If AirTags are not going to be released with 14.5 I’m going to lose it.
....and you won’t be able to find it.
Score: 52 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hellosil Avatar
53 months ago
If AirTags are not going to be released with 14.5 I’m going to lose it.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
_Spinn_ Avatar
53 months ago
I'm starting to think AirTags won't arrive until this is ready to help avoid anymore antitrust scrutiny.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Macintosh IIvx Avatar
53 months ago
Hoping there's nice Shortcuts integration. Allowing for actions to be taken based on various criteria, such as a device coming into or out of range, for example.

Would love to be able to have more options for such with other things, like wifi. When I get in the car and the phone connects to my in-car Bluetooth, automatically turn off wifi, etc. Or when I get home and it connects to the home wifi, turn off 5G, etc.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jrhop Avatar
53 months ago
I'm thinking that maybe AirTags aren't coming and they are leaving it open for 3rd party companies to make the hardware.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WiseAJ Avatar
53 months ago

There are two things that always need to be found:
1. Living room apple tv remote
2. bedroom apple tv remote
Hopefully the remote for the next gen Apple TV (should it ever see the light of day) includes built in Find My with U1 chip.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)