How to enable tracker left-behind alerts in Google Find Hub

Google has finally added left-behind alerts to Find Hub, so if you ever leave your keys, wallet, or bag with a tracker behind, the app will let you know. It sounds like something that should’ve existed from day one, but somehow it took Google this long to add it. Here’s how these “Notify when left behind” alerts work and how to set them up.

Find Hub can now finally keep tabs on the distance between your tracker and your phone. The moment you drift out of range, you get an alert, along with the last known location of wherever you left the tag behind.

You obviously don’t need these alerts if you’re leaving your tracker at home, and Google has thought about it too. If you’ve added your home address to your Google account, Find Hub skips the alert entirely when the tag stays behind at home. But if you do want those alerts — say to avoid forgetting your wallet or bag at home — you can simply remove that exception.

It’s kind of surprising that it took so long for Google to add this. After all, both Apple Find My and Samsung Find have offered such separation alerts for years now. The timing, though, makes sense. Google has just launched Pixel Tag, and it wouldn’t be a true AirTag alternative if it didn’t offer this feature. The good thing is that these alerts also work with third-party Bluetooth trackers, including Motorola’s Moto Tag and Chipolo’s trackers.

Setting up left-behind alerts for your trackers is as easy as it gets. This option was first spotted on Find Hub version 3.1.787-06, so make sure you’ve updated the app first.

1. Open the Find Hub app on your phone and choose your tracker.
2. Tap the gear icon next to your tracker’s name.
3. Turn on the Notify when left behind toggle.

If you have multiple trackers, you’ll need to set this up for each one individually, as there’s no bulk option to flip them all at once. A bit tedious, sure, but it’s a one-time thing. More importantly, these alerts will only work if the Find Hub app itself is allowed to send notifications, so make sure to verify that too. Head to Settings > Apps > See all apps > Find Hub and turn on the All Find Hub notifications toggle. You also need to keep Bluetooth and location services on for this to work. And finally, if your phone is on battery saver mode, these left-behind alerts won’t work, something worth remembering if you’re the type who runs low on battery by mid-afternoon.

By default, Find Hub won’t alert you if you leave your tracker at your home, and you can even add more places like that, such as your office or any other trusted place, by going to Notify when left behind > Add location.

That’s about everything you need to know about this update. Right now, these separation alerts are only available for Bluetooth trackers, but we all would love to see Google extend these left-behind alerts to other Find Hub devices, like headphones. Those are just as essential — Apple’s Find My sends these alerts for AirPods, and they’re genuinely useful.