TraceGuard support

TraceGuard listens for Bluetooth trackers (AirTag-style tags and similar) that keep turning up around you. Everything stays on your phone.

If you think you are in danger, contact your local emergency number first (999 in the UK, 112 in the EU, 911 in the US). TraceGuard shows signals to check. It is not proof that someone is tracking you, and it can miss a tracker.

Getting started

Open Scan and tap Start background scan. Keep the phone where you normally carry it.
Switch on place history if you want TraceGuard to check whether a tracker moved with you. Without it, the top warning cannot appear.
If a tracker is listed, use Find a nearby tracker. The beeps get faster as the signal gets stronger.

What the labels mean

Recognised format heard: something sent a tracker-style signal. This alone means very little.
Heard repeatedly: the same tracker kept appearing over at least 10 minutes.
Possible unwanted tracking: it was heard for at least 30 minutes, said it was away from its owner, and stayed with you while you moved at least 400 m.

A tag that says it is with its owner never reaches the top label. Signal strength is never used to decide.

Permissions

Bluetooth

Needed to hear nearby trackers. TraceGuard never connects to them.

Location (iPhone: "Always")

Only used when you turn on place history. On iPhone, recording places while the app is closed needs "Always". iOS cannot show that prompt from the background, so TraceGuard asks in Settings while you have the app open.

Location (Android)

Place history runs as a visible notification service. Start the scan with the app open. You do not need "Allow all the time".

Notifications

Used to tell you about a possible tracker and to show the scan is running.

Questions

Why did the app not warn me about a tracker I know about?

Some trackers change their Bluetooth address every few minutes. On Android, TraceGuard may then see one tag as several short ones, and none may last long enough to reach the top label. This is a known limit.

Why did scanning go quiet with the screen off?

Phones limit Bluetooth scanning in the background, and some limit it more with the screen off or the phone in a pocket. Android may also throttle or stop scans. TraceGuard cannot promise continuous coverage.

Does it work on a phone with no mobile data?

Yes. Scanning and place history use Bluetooth and GPS only.

The Locate screen says "getting further" and I am right next to it.

Update to the latest version. Locate now says so when it stops hearing the tracker instead of guessing.

Is the spoken guidance on?

It is off by default. Turn on "Speak guidance in Locate" in Settings.

How do I delete my data?

Sightings and place history live only in the app. On iPhone, use Erase everything on this device on the Record tab. On Android, use Erase all stored data in Settings. Uninstalling also removes it.

Contact

Email: btl@btltech.co.uk

Include your phone model, the app version (Settings), and what you expected to happen. Please do not send exported evidence by email unless we ask.