findphone
Locate a nearby Bluetooth device by signal strength, from the macOS command line — for when Find My isn't available
What is it?
What it is
A command-line tool to locate nearby Bluetooth devices by signal strength, especially when Find My is unavailable.
Why it exists
To help users find devices within Bluetooth range when Find My is disabled (e.g., by MDM), providing proximity feedback via signal strength.
Who should use it
macOS users who have lost a nearby Bluetooth device (like an iPhone) and need to locate it by signal strength when 'Find My' is unavailable due to MDM restrictions or other limitations.
Who should avoid it
Users looking for a tool to make a device ring, users needing directional guidance, or users on non-macOS operating systems.
How it works
A quick walkthrough in plain English
How findphone works
Step 1 of 3
You interact with it
Open findphone, send a request, or connect it to your stack.
Features
Advantages
- Works when 'Find My' is unavailable (e.g., due to MDM restrictions)
- Provides audio cues to assist visual searching
- Lightweight with no external dependencies
- Provides a coarse proxy for distance using dBm readings
- Universal binary support for arm64 and x86_64
Disadvantages
- Cannot trigger an audible ring on the target device
- Cannot provide directional bearing (distance only)
- Signal accuracy is heavily affected by physical obstructions like walls or metal
- Limited range (roughly 10-20m indoors)
- macOS Bluetooth caching can cause latency in RSSI updates
Installation
cloud
n/a
docker
n/a
native
tar -xzf findphone-macos-universal.tar.gz xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine findphone ./findphone --help
compose
n/a
FAQ
How do I install the application on macOS?
Download the universal binary from the Releases page, extract the tarball, and run 'xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine findphone' to remove the macOS quarantine flag.
Can I use this tool to make my lost iPhone ring?
No. This tool is a proxy for distance via signal strength and cannot trigger the 'Find My' ringing feature.
How can I use audio to help locate my device?
Use the '--sound' flag in hunt mode. It provides clicks that increase in frequency as you get closer to the device, acting like a parking sensor.
How accurate is the signal strength measurement for distance?
Signal strength (dBm) is a coarse proxy for distance. While -45 dBm is roughly arm's reach and -72 dBm is roughly the same room, physical obstructions like walls, metal, or human bodies can significantly attenuate the signal.
What is the purpose of the '--redact' flag?
The '--redact' flag is intended for screen recording. It masks Bluetooth addresses and replaces device names with device kinds to protect privacy.
What are the system requirements for running findphone?
The tool requires macOS 13 or later and needs Bluetooth permissions granted to your terminal application under System Settings > Privacy & Security > Bluetooth.
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