How do I buy a tile device?

Purchase one or more Tile devices from a retailer like Best Buy, Target, Walmart, or Amazon, or directly from tile.com. The Tile Mate (with a keyring hole) is a good starting point for keys. The Tile Slim is credit-card sized and fits in a wallet. Look at the packaging to see which model suits your needs.

How do I download the tile app?

On your iPhone, open the App Store and search "Tile." On Android, open the Google Play Store and search "Tile." Download the free Tile app and open it. Create a free Tile account using your email address, or sign in with an existing Google or Apple account.

How do I set up your tile device?

Open the Tile app and tap the "+" button or "Add a Tile" option. Pull the small plastic tab from your new Tile device (this activates the battery). Follow the on-screen instructions to name your Tile — for example "House Keys" or "Wallet" — and pair it with your phone via Bluetooth. Stay close to the Tile during this process.

How do I find a lost item using the app?

Open the Tile app and tap the item you want to find. Tap the "Find" button to make your Tile ring. Move around your home while watching the signal strength indicator — a stronger signal means you are getting closer. When you are very close, the Tile will ring loudly to help you pinpoint the exact location.

How do I use the tile to find your phone?

Tile works both ways. If you have misplaced your phone, double-press the small button on your Tile device. Your phone will ring loudly even if it is on silent mode. This is one of the most popular features — your Tile becomes a physical button to ring your phone from anywhere in your home.

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Tile is a small, flat device — about the size of a large postage stamp — that you attach to things you frequently lose, like keys, a wallet, a purse, or a TV remote. When you cannot find that item, you open the Tile app on your phone and tap a button to make the Tile beep loudly. Follow the sound and you will find your missing item.

The Tile works using Bluetooth technology, which means it communicates wirelessly with your phone when both are within roughly 100 to 400 feet of each other depending on the model. If your item is within range, the app shows you how close you are getting as you move toward it, and you can make it ring. If your item is out of range — say your keys ended up in a different building — Tile's network of millions of users can help. The network works anonymously: if any other Tile user's phone passes near your lost item, Tile's system picks up the location and quietly updates the last known location in your app.

Setting up Tile is straightforward. You buy the physical Tile device (available at Target, Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, and the Tile website), download the free Tile app, and follow the instructions to pair each Tile with your phone. Tile devices come in several styles: a small square with a keyring hole, a slim card-sized version for wallets, and sticker versions for smaller items.

The basic Tile service is free. A paid Tile Premium subscription (around $30 per year) adds features like smart alerts and extended location history, but most people find the free version perfectly useful for everyday needs.

Tile works with both iPhone and Android phones.