Does the Left Behind setting “notify me, except at:” prevent notifications if the iPhone leaves the Trusted Location

I understand that the purpose of the Trusted Location is to prevent unwanted notifications as I move around the “home”, but should it notify me when I leave with my iPhone and leave items behind ?

Posted on Aug 8, 2023 07:52 PM

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Posted on Aug 9, 2023 03:47 PM

here is my example: I have an iPhone 14 and an Apple AirTag.


If I enable Notify Me when Left Behind, Except at home, I fully expect that I will get no Left Behind notifications on my iPhone if my iPhone stays within the radius shown (Trusted Location). That is how it is described.


However, if I take my iPhone out of that radius... say miles away, I expect a Left Behind notification on my iPhone about the AirTag... this does NOT happen!


My question is "Is this the way it is designed to work?"


The only way I can get notifications in the above scenario is to turn off "Notify me Except at: home"


I can't find an Apple document that discusses the iPhone leaving the Trusted Location



4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 9, 2023 03:47 PM in response to genieen16

here is my example: I have an iPhone 14 and an Apple AirTag.


If I enable Notify Me when Left Behind, Except at home, I fully expect that I will get no Left Behind notifications on my iPhone if my iPhone stays within the radius shown (Trusted Location). That is how it is described.


However, if I take my iPhone out of that radius... say miles away, I expect a Left Behind notification on my iPhone about the AirTag... this does NOT happen!


My question is "Is this the way it is designed to work?"


The only way I can get notifications in the above scenario is to turn off "Notify me Except at: home"


I can't find an Apple document that discusses the iPhone leaving the Trusted Location



Aug 9, 2023 04:13 PM in response to faengelm

Hi faengelm,


A Trusted Location allows you to leave the AirTag behind without receiving an alert. This article has more specific information regarding AirTags which you may find helpful: Set separation alerts in case you leave an AirTag or item behind in Find My on iPhone.


"In the Find My app, you can turn on separation alerts for an AirTag or other item so you don’t accidentally leave it behind. You receive an alert every time the device sharing your location separates from the item.

You can also set Trusted Locations, which are locations where you can leave an item without receiving an alert.

Important: In order to receive separation alerts, make sure you allow notifications for the Find My app. See Change notification settings on iPhone.


  1. Tap Items at the bottom of the screen, then tap the name of the item you want to set an alert for.
  2. Below Notifications, tap Notify When Left Behind.
  3. Turn on Notify When Left Behind.
  4. If you want to add a Trusted Location, you can choose a suggested location, or tap New Location, select a location on the map, then tap Done.
  5. Tap Done."


We hope this helps.


Take care.


Aug 9, 2023 03:05 PM in response to faengelm

Hello faengelm,


It looks like you're looking for more clarification on how separation alerts work with devices left behind and Find My on your iPhone. Without knowing what items you have linked to your iPhone, it'd hard to offer specific areas to focus on for steps. However, the information on this page will help with enabling separation alerts in case you leave a device behind in Find My on your iPhone: Set separation alerts in case you leave a device behind in Find My on iPhone - Apple Support.


If you want more specific information and steps, provide more information about what items you have linked to your iPhone, so others in the Apple Support Communities can offer guidance and more specific steps and information.


Kind regards.

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Does the Left Behind setting “notify me, except at:” prevent notifications if the iPhone leaves the Trusted Location

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