this post was submitted on 18 Oct 2025
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DeGoogle Yourself

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Does anyone know of a keychain style bluetooth tracker (wallet and device trackers are a bonus) that works with Android that ideally doesn't require having an account with some company? And most definitely not with Google. Understanding that such a device probably won't have access to Google's Find My Device network or something similar. I haven't any luck finding anything definitive.

Here's the features I want in such a device:

  • Find device via my phone (if in bluetooth range)
  • Rechargeable/replaceable battery
  • No subscription required

Less important but nice to have:

  • Find my phone via the device (again, if in bluetooth range)

Here's the devices I've tried/researched. Seems unlikely any of these will work. I'm hoping I'm either wrong and/or there's some option I didn't find.

Tile

I bought some of these. I had a phone with a custom rom and microG. Which let me circumvent a google sign in (still need a vendor account, unfortunately). But I damaged that phone while traveling and had to replace it quickly and didn't research the replacement. This phone currently doesn't have any custom roms available. With regular Google Play services as opposed to microG, the Tile app also requires you be signed in to Google play to work. Maybe I could get around this via the unlock bootloader > Magisk > LSPosed > FakeGapps > MicroG route and perhaps I'll try, but I'd rather have a device that doesn't try to force me in the first place.

Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2

So far this seems like the best option. From what I've read it requires a Samsung account but not a Google one. Lesser of two evils.

Chipolo

The FAQ for all devices in their current product line say they work with Google’s Find My Device app and their app provides extra features. Which indicates to me a requirement on Google.

Pebblebee

Their current Clip (keychain) product lists Google's Find Hub app as a requirement. Their card and tag products do not.

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[–] skuzz@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 1 day ago

There are cheap Chinese ODMs that make trackers for companies. Used to be a "cube" branded tracker that was for keys, not sure there still is. Never used the app, just used LightBlue explorer (free app) to scan for BLE devices and noted its MAC address. The app shows signal strength.

If you have to find your thing, you just point your phone around and watch the signal until it gets stronger. Same process the fancy apps use without the creeper crap. This app also let's you find any of your devices broadcasting a beacon. Fitbit, watch, whatever.