OpenHaystack

OpenHaystack is a cool tool that lets you use more Bluetooth devices with Apple's Find My network. So, if you don't have one of those fancy Apple-approved trackers or an AirTag, this is your ticket to joining the fun!

What is OpenHaystack?

Basically, it's an open-source project that helps turn most Bluetooth devices into custom AirTags. How neat is that? It’s a bit of a hack since it uses an Apple Mail plugin to snag location reports, but hey, it works!

Getting Started with OpenHaystack

When you launch the app for the first time, it’ll ask you to install the Apple Mail plugin. If you hit any bumps along the way, no worries! Just check out this handy guide.

Next up, you'll want to add your device and connect it via USB. To see if your Bluetooth device plays nice with OpenHaystack, peek at this list. Once everything looks good, just hit Deploy! Keep in mind, it might take about 30 minutes for the first report to pop up.

How Does It Work?

The app creates something called a public-private key pair. The public key goes on your Bluetooth device while the private key stays safely on your Mac. Nearby devices pick up the public key through Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) ads and send encrypted location info to Apple's servers.

Your app then downloads this location report using the Apple Mail plugin and decrypts it with your private key. Pretty clever, right?

Your Custom Tracking Solution

This system works like a charm because Apple can’t tell if those public keys belong to your custom tags or actual Apple devices. So until more third-party gadgets are supported by Find My, OpenHaystack might just be your best bet for tracking those Bluetooth devices!

If you're ready to jump in and track away, check out OpenHaystack. You'll be able to keep tabs on all sorts of gadgets in no time!