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I lost my iPad mini (current model, 5th generation, running iOS 14 beta), the model that is equipped only for WiFi. This is the model of iPad mini without any cell phone hardware.

When I checked now using Find My on my iPhone, Apple reports contact with the iPad only a half-hour ago, showing a current location on the other side of the city. But I've not been on that side of the city for hours.

Where I lost the iPad, there are no WiFi networks that I have ever given permission for the lost iPad to join.

➥ So how can Apple's server's be reporting contact with a Wifi-only iPad with no previously-joined WiFi network available?

I understand that a WiFi-only iPad can determine its location by scanning for nearby WiFi routers. But how does a WiFi-only iPad communicate that location back to me via Apple if the iPad has no authorized WiFi network connection?

Basil Bourque
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  • Different question, same answer - https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/111032/how-does-my-imac-know-my-location-in-the-maps-app-given-that-i-use-a-vpn-that-h – Tetsujin Aug 02 '20 at 07:55
  • That question is about how an iPad determines its location with Wifi only equipment. My questions is: How does an iPad with only Wifi (but no authorized Wifi network connection) communicate its location to Apple and to my iPhone? – Basil Bourque Aug 02 '20 at 08:09
  • Why do you think the iPad is talking with Apple? I agree the questions are not duplicates. Related and should be linked in the body for sure so people know it’s not the same – bmike Aug 02 '20 at 08:28
  • @bmike As I said in the Question, the Find My app on my iPhone updated its report of the iPad‘S location hours later than when the iPhone was in that part of the city. – Basil Bourque Aug 02 '20 at 09:12
  • I understand a measurement was made. Rather than guess if you know other devices can report location for your iPad or your belief that it wasn’t on WiFi, I’ll answer in general covering the three possibilities I see. Hopefully this isn’t an XY question... – bmike Aug 02 '20 at 09:58

2 Answers2

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  1. Apple devices join networks for setup by default so any open network would work even enter resetting your SSID / network preferences. I’m not sure you can be certain some SSID wasn’t joined without forensic details, but let’s set that more obvious cause aside.
  2. Apple devices use handoff to talk amongst themselves without any WiFi based station. You’ve enabled this by signing in to iCloud from what I can tell based on Apple’s documentation and experience.
  3. Apple devices have offline location functionality built in as well as last known location reporting.

Find My can help you locate a missing device — even if it’s offline and sleeping — by sending out Bluetooth signals that can be detected by Apple devices in use nearby. These devices then relay the detected location of your device to iCloud so you can locate it in the Find My app. It’s all anonymous and encrypted end-to-end so no one, including Apple, knows the identity of any reporting device.

Any one of these will update location and all could be in play based on your situation. Find My has many ways to establish a location report as opposed to the initial functionality of find my iPhone from June 2010 and iPhone 4s. Both the hardware and software have developed quite significantly.

bmike
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if ipad Or iphone not restarted there is an option on the right side in lattest version and in older may differ where you can connect your ipad/iphone to any wifi available nearby.its depends upon the user if he dosnt know about that

Asrar Wazir
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