I lose my keys roughly once a week. I have found them in the fridge, under the couch, and once inside a jacket I had already checked twice. A ten dollar Bluetooth tracker ended that madness.

The tracker trick is simple: a small tag that talks to your phone, and you can make it beep from anywhere in the house.

How it works

You attach the tracker to your keys, or slip the card version in your wallet. When you cannot find them, open the app and press find. The tracker beeps, and you follow the sound.

It works in reverse too

The tag can make your phone ring even when it is on silent. Press the button on the tracker and your phone screams, which is how I found my phone under a blanket twice.

Use the last seen location

If you leave your keys at a store, the tracker records the last place it saw them. The app shows the location on a map. That is how I found my wallet at a coffee shop two blocks away.

Where to put them

Keys and wallets are the classics, but trackers work in backpacks, luggage, and even bikes. One in the suitcase means no more panic at baggage claim. One on the bike lock and you know where the bike is.

Check the battery

Tracker batteries last about a year, and they are replaceable. Set a reminder to swap the battery, or the tracker goes silent exactly when you need it.

Privacy tip

Trackers use a network of phones to find lost items, which is how the location sharing works. Keep the tag on your own stuff and it is just a helpful locator. Do not put one on someone else’s things without asking.

My key panic is gone. The tracker beep is the sound of me finding my keys in fifteen seconds instead of fifteen minutes.