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Query Apple's FindMy network with Python

(github.com)
378 points nkko | 4 comments | 21 Dec 24 12:14 UTC | HN request time: 0.62s | source
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pixelmonkey ◴[21 Dec 24 15:17 UTC] No.42480134[source]▶
This looks great. If this Python implementation of the FindMy API actually works, it would be a major technology quality-of-life improvement for me. I hope Apple lets it stay alive.

Everyone who shares location with me does so over Find My, and my family insists on using AirTags. As a 100% desktop Linux and mobile Android user, it is one of the few things that I always need to remote in to my Mac Mini to access because there are no x-platform FindMy apps and the FindMy iCloud web app does not have feature parity to the macOS and iOS apps. One of a long list of offenses where Apple refuses to make things easy for x-platform friend groups and families. Very annoying.

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1. GeekyBear ◴[21 Dec 24 16:52 UTC] No.42480685[source]▶
What information is available through this api that would not already be available over the web?
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2. pixelmonkey ◴[21 Dec 24 17:03 UTC] No.42480765[source]▶
Hopefully locations shared by users not part of my iCloud Family account, and "Items" (Apple jargon term for AirTags). Currently it only shows macOS or iOS "Devices" directly linked to my iCloud account, or in my iCloud Family, none of the locations shared by friends. And it shows no "Items," not even those in my iCloud account.

(... yep, it looks like one of their example programs is about accessing AirTag info via API: https://github.com/malmeloo/FindMy.py/blob/main/examples/rea... ...)

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3. malmeloo ◴[21 Dec 24 20:13 UTC] No.42481954[source]▶
To the best of my knowledge, AirTag locations still cannot be obtained through the iCloud website. The locations it shows are simply generated by the devices themselves and uploaded directly to Apple. This library specifically only queries the FindMy network, which is the system that allows other iPhones (and iPads etc.) to "find" your devices.

The library also explicitly does not integrate with your Apple account, but only uses it to query encrypted location reports from Apple. This can be done with any account, even if it does not "own" the device, as long as you can generate the correct keys.

4. bolognafairy ◴[22 Dec 24 03:33 UTC] No.42484211[source]▶
“Items” is not an Apple jargon term for AirTags. AirTags are not the only thing that can show up in this list. Third-party FindMy-compatible devices are quite common.

Since you frankly seem to have a bee in your bonnet about Apple, I’d suggest that you actually look into these. They might be more to your taste.