How to use tile to find your keys wallet or anything else

Eric Ravenscraft has nearly a decade of writing experience in the technology industry. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, PCMag, The Daily Beast, Popular Science, Medium’s OneZero, Android Police, Geek and Sundry, and The Inventory. Prior to joining How-To Geek, Eric spent three years working at Lifehacker. Read more.

Tile trackers are handy for finding your keys, wallet, or anything else you might lose. Normally, you need to use your phone to find your Tile, but if you have an Amazon Echo or any device that can use Google Assistant, you can find your stuff with a simple voice command.

How to Set Up and Use the Tile Alexa Skill

To find your Tile with an Echo, first you’ll need to enable the Alexa skill. Head to this page and enable the Tile Alexa skill.

Next, you’ll need to give Tile permission to access your address. Click Save Permissions to continue.

After this, click Link Account to connect your Tile account to the Alexa skill. You’ll need to make sure that popups from Amazon are allowed in order to sign in.

Sign into your Tile account.

Once your Tile account is linked, you can find your Tiles with the following voice commands:

• “Alexa, ask Tile to find my phone.” This command will make your phone ring wherever it is.
• “Alexa, ask Tile for the location of my keys.” With this command, Alexa will give you the last known address of your stuff.
• “Alexa, ask Tile to ring my keys.” This will cause your Tile trackers themselves to ring. Note that your stuff will still need to be within range of your phone for this to work.

Sometimes this might not be helpful if your keys and your phone are separated. At that point, you’d need to wander around your home with the phone app opened anyway. However, it can be useful if you left your phone and keys in the same place, and it’s especially handy for finding your phone, since that’s always connected to the internet.

How to Link Tile to Google Home or Assistant

Setting up your Tile to work with Google Assistant is a little different. In order to set up the Tile app, you’ll need a phone or tablet with Google Assistant on it. This includes Android phones running 6.0 or higher, or an iPhone with the Google Assistant app installed.

To set it up, open Google Assistant and say “ask Tile to find my phone.” Google will tell you that your Tile account is not linked yet and give you a button to link it. Tap “Link Tile to Google.”

On the next screen, enter your Tile account credentials to link your two accounts.

Once your Tile account is linked to Google, you can use the same voice commands as you can with Alexa. You can now talk to Tile from any Google Assistant-capable device connected to your account, including Google Home.

Last updated on September 11, 2020 By Stacey Butler Leave a Comment

When you can’t find your iPhone, you probably already have strategies in place for finding it like using your Apple Watch or having someone nearby call your number. What about your keys? Your wallet? These items don’t (generally) come equipped with any technology you can use to find them. So, how do you use your Apple Watch or iPhone to find your keys?

The answer is to add a tracking device that does have the technology to communicate with your devices. Now, this means, the ability to use your device to keep track of your possessions is going to require some additional tools to make it happen.

We will describe how to use Mate by Tile to find your stuff using your iPhone.

Tile Mate is a small device you can attach to your keys that uses Bluetooth to communicate its location to your device. It has a range of 200 ft, has a replaceable battery, and can be attached to almost anything you need to keep track of. It is available in packs of 1 or 4.

How to Setup Tile

After purchasing your Tile, download the Tile app from the App Store. Open the App Store app on your iPhone, tap the Search tab, and search Tile. When you find it, tap the Get button.

Open the Tile app. Click Get Started.

Click Activate a Tile.

Choose your Tile device.

Enter your email and password to sign up for a new account.

Allow Bluetooth access.

Allow location access.

Now you can see the Tile dashboard. Follow the onscreen instructions to add your Tile.

Once your Tiles are added, you will see them in the dashboard. You can click Find to ring your Tiles.

After you click to find your Tile, say one that you put in your wallet, you will see a screen that will help you locate your wallet by showing a visual with circles to indicate how close you are. Here you can also control the the volume of your Tile’s ring.

Please note that since this app requires Bluetooth and Location Services, your battery life may be affected negatively.

Product Description

Tile is one of the world’s most effective tools for finding lost objects. If you tend to misplace your keys — or your wallet or your meds — just attach a Tile to them. When the item goes missing, pull out your phone; you’ll be able to see the lost object on a map or activate an alarm to help you track it down underneath the couch. Tile comes in different sizes (including the new Tile Slim, which is as thin as two credit cards, and the Tile Mate, which easily hooks onto keychains) to help you find whatever you’re looking for.

If you’re thinking “But what happens if I lose my phone?” don’t worry: Tile works backward, allowing you to use your purse (or your umbrella or glasses) to find your phone. Just press one of your Tiles and your phone will beep.

With more than 5 million devices sold, Tile is the world’s largest lost and found network.

#CommissionsEarned: As an Amazon Associate, ADDitude earns a commission from qualifying purchases made by ADDitude readers on the affiliate links we share. However, all products linked in the ADDitude Store have been independently selected by our editors and/or recommended by our readers. Prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

Full Product Description

Tile Mate is perfect for hooking onto your keys, luggage, bags, or anything else you want to easily attach it to. Or use the Tile Mate adhesives (sold separately) to stick your Tile Mate device to any flat surface, allowing you to find what matters most with ease.

Tiles are meant to make life easier and less stressful. With that in mind, Tile’s non-replaceable battery will last one year with zero charging required. After a year, you can replace your old Tiles with new ones for a special community-member price.

Find your phone. Can’t find your phone? Simply double press the button on your Tile Mate to make your phone ring -even on silent!

See where you had it last. The easy-to-use, free Tile app remembers the last time and place it saw your Tile, so if you left it somewhere, you’ll always know where to look.

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Tile was an early Selfstarter success story, and now it’s hitting the big leagues. Starting today, there’s a new version that will be available both online and in retail stores. The Tile is designed to help you find your keys — or purse, or basically whatever else you can attach it to. That remains unchanged — pair it to your iPhone or Android device and you can tap a button on your phone to make the little square dongle beep. Tile says that said beep is three times louder now and will work within 100 feet — both claims ring (ahem) true in my testing. Tile also has another clever feature — if you lose something, you can tell the Tile hive mind and every Tile user’s phone will start looking for it. If it’s detected, you’ll get an alert on your phone — but the user who came near it won’t know, protecting your privacy and your stuff.

Every phone can become a Tile now

Tile has also updated its app: now it lets the Tile system ring your phone if it’s lost, effectively creating a backup find-my-phone system. There’s a new web app for finding both Tiles and phones, and there’s also an Apple Watch app. The new Tile hardware has a button hidden in the logo that you can now double-tap to make your phone ring if it’s in Bluetooth range — even if it’s on silent. On Android, one sort of annoying thing about the system is that you can’t quit the app if you want it to work. That does mean you can kill it and save battery, but it seems like the sort of thing that ought to live in the notification tray.

The new Tile isn’t quite as thin as I’d like — it’s about 3/16th of an inch thick, which makes it a bit much to put into anything but a Costanza Wallet. It also has a fully sealed battery, but Tile says it lasts about a year before it needs replacing. All that said, it’s about as dead-simple and full-featured as you’d want a Bluetooth key-finding gizmo to be. A single Tile costs $25, but anybody can install the app on their phone, even if they don’t purchase a Tile.

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September 6, 2019 9:04 am

As blind and visually impaired people, we’ve all lost something in the house at one point or another.

It’s all too easy to forget where you put your keys, cane, guide dog or phone. Whatever the case, you spend way too long trying to find misplaced items when you could simply ask your Amazon Echo to help you find them.

If you’re putting something important in a new, different or unusual spot, you can tell Alexa to remember exactly where you placed it. Then just ask Alexa again when you’re ready to find it.

This feature is useful if you’re constantly in a rush and always drawing a blank on where you left your keys, glasses or phone. The catch is that you have to actually remember to tell Alexa where you put your things.

Here’s how it works.

First, tell Alexa to remember where you’ve placed something that you’ll need to find again.

All you have to say is something like “Alexa, remember I put my keys on the kitchen counter.” Your Amazon Echo will then confirm what you’d like to remember. This works for absolutely any item. You can try it with your cane, TV remote, wallet, keys, phone and so on.

When you’re looking for the item that you misplaced, just say, “Alexa, where did I put my keys?” Alexa will then repeat exactly where you said your item would be, so you can grab it and go.

So what do you do if you forget to ask Alexa to remember?

Unfortunately, the Amazon Echo can’t remember what you don’t tell it to. But if you’re not organized or forgetful, there are RFID devices you can attach to your keychain, wallet, coffee mug or anything else. And Alexa can help you find those too.

For example, I use a tracker called Tile Mate which attaches to your wallet, backpack, keys or anything else you misplace often. Once you have the tracker, open your Alexa app > Menu > Skills & Games > search for Tile > select Enable to Use. You’ll have to create a Tile account to begin using the skill. Once you’re all set up, you can say, “Alexa, ask Tile to find my keys” or “Alexa, ask Tile for the location of my wallet.”

About Nelson Régo

Nelson Régo is the owner and founder of the Cool Blind Tech website since November of 2012. Nelson launched the first show on March 14, 2013. He also directs the website as a whole, hiring staff, originating new shows, and approving all content.

Best answer: If you want the most peace-of-mind when it comes to getting the most out of your Tile products and ensuring you never lose important items again, then yes, the service is worth it.

Track it: Tile Mate ($25 at The Tile App)

What does Tile Premium include anyway?

There are quite a few reasons to get Tile Premium if you’re already using Tile products, including Smart Alerts, free battery replacements, location history, extended warranty, unlimited sharing, and premium customer support.

The Smart Alerts are super useful to have. With this enabled, you’ll be notified every time you leave home without your Tiles or Tile-enabled devices.

Never lose anything again and get premium customer support when you need it.

The Tile Mate and Tile Pro have replaceable batteries. Previous versions required buying an entirely new unit once the battery ran out since they were not replaceable. If you subscribe to Tile Premium, you’ll get free yearly battery replacements for all applicable Tile Mate and Tile Pro units that you own.

Location History tells users exactly where their Tiles or Tile-enabled devices have been for the last 30 days. That’s a pretty long history and helps when you need to track down where an item’s been.

With the Extended Warranty, users get another three years of warranty coverage. This covers any defects or other issues with how the Tile works with your smartphone app.

Unlimited Sharing lets users share their Tile with trusted friends and family members who can help you find your stuff. With Tile Premium, the number of people you share with has no limit.

That sounds handy! But how much will this cost me?

First, you’ll need to have a Tile Mate or Tile Pro. The Tile Mate starts at $25 for one, or you can buy a 4-pack for $70. Tile Pro starts at $35 per unit; you can get a 2-pack for $60, or go big with the 4-pack for $100.

Previous versions required buying an entirely new unit once the battery ran out, but Tile Premium now offers battery replacements.

Then you need to sign up for Tile Premium, which starts at $2.99 a month or $29.99 for a year. You’ll end up saving some money by going for the annual subscription, but you’ll need to commit to using your Tile trackers.

Not sure if it’s for you yet? Luckily, there’s also a free trial so you can test the service out and see if it works for you.

I have multiple Tiles. Would I need to sign each one up individually?

Once you sign up for Tile Premium, all of your Tiles and devices become part of the subscription. However, if someone who isn’t a Premium subscriber is sharing a Tile with you, you won’t be able to use Tile Premium specific features with this Tile, just the ones you specifically own.

What happens when I buy a new Tile after I activate a subscription?

Since Tile Premium is account-based, your subscription covers any existing and future Tiles. Just add a new Tile to your account, and the Premium-only features get applied.

I’m convinced. What device can I access Tile Premium on?

Tile Premium is available for your iPhone or Android phone.

I just bought a Tile, but I don’t want another subscription. Can I still use my Tile tracker?

Of course! Tile does not require a Premium subscription to use their trackers. They work as standalone units, and users can access all of the core features without paying extra. Tile trackers work with the free Tile app, so you can see where they last were, and you’re able to ring your Tile as long as it’s within Bluetooth range. If you lose something, you can utilize the large Tile community to help locate the missing item.

Our pick

Tile Mate (2018)

Keep track of everything

The Tile Mate is an affordable and smart way to keep track of your keys, wallet, phone, or whatever else is important to you. Tile Premium adds an extra layer of security to your precious valuables.

Premium Tracking

Tile Premium

Always have peace of mind

Tile Premium is a great way to keep track of your most precious valuables. Never lose anything again and get premium customer support when you need it.

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Here’s a scenario that happens in my house about three times a week. I’m in a rush to get out the door, and then realize that I can’t find my car keys. I check underneath the sofa cushions, pick through the pockets of my pants from the day before, and turn my bag inside out, only to realize the keys are hiding behind the stack of mail.

Now, the Google Assistant can help me keep track of my keys—it works with Tile to help you quickly find your things just by asking. Tile is a Bluetooth tracker that you can attach to things that are easy to lose including your keys, wallet or remote. You can use the Assistant on any Nest device, like the Nest Mini or Nest Hub, to ring your Tile, or check your Tile’s last seen location. Ring your Tile by saying: “Hey Google, ring my laptop” or “Hey Google, make my backpack ring”. Or, you can ask the location of your Tile by saying: “Hey Google, where is my purse: or “Hey Google, find my passport.”

If the Tile is at home, you can use your Nest device to determine the last location your Tile was seen. For example, you may get a response like “Your keys were last seen today at 9pm near the Kitchen speaker.” And if you left your Tile somewhere else, the Assistant will tell you the street address of where your Tile was last seen based on Tile’s location services.

To get started, open up the Google Home app to set up your Tile with the Assistant.

The Amazing Device We’ve All Been Waiting For.

You’ve probably had this experience. You are rushing out the door, late for something or other, and you’ve grabbed everything except…wait a minute…”Where are my keys? (wallet, glasses, etc?)” And the frantic search begins, characterized by looking in several of the same places more than once (a sure sign of insanity) and then finally discovering them in your jacket pocket.

And in response you say to yourself, “Why doesn’t someone just invent something to stick on your keys that flashes or something?” Well, ta-da, someone did.

It’s called Tile, and it’s a little (1.5″ x 1.5″) square plastic device you can attach to keys, bicycles, backpacks, puppy dogs…just about anything you can think of that you can expect to go missing.

Here’s the app. Keys and iPhone are being tracked. There’s also a map; you can get a visual on where the hiding things are.

The version of Tile we tested is the Sport model, waterproof, bluetooth-enabled, loud (trust us on this) device that is very simple to set up and use. All you have to do is download the Tile app to your Smartphone (Android or iOS), connect the device and you’re in business. It’s got a 200 foot range, so you can cover most places in a house or office.

To find your keys with Tile attached, simply open the phone app, tap the key logo, and you will hear the keys talking to you from their hiding place. The other indispensable feature we really love is when you lose your phone , and your Tile will help you find it. Just tap the Tile device twice, and you will hear your phone peeping out from where you never thought to look for it. You even have a choice of ring tones.

If there is a downside to finding your phone with Tile, it’s that your app on the phone has to be on. We haven’t experienced any major battery issues, but it is something to think about. Maybe you just activate the app when you take your phone out of your pocket and drop it on a desk or table.

If you lose your phone and your keys, well, bless your heart. Grandma used to say start looking where you saw them last.

It’s clear that once you see how Tile works you will want to tell other people about it. Tile gives you 25 points for each person your refer and who buys. When you get 50 points, you get a free Tile.

The are four different models of Tile, from Tile Mate, to Sport, Style and Slim. Prices range from $25 for the Mate to $35 for the Style. These prices are from the Tile website. Click here to go there.

If you’re looking for stocking stuffer gifts for your family and friends, you can buy multi-packs of Tiles at a discount. A four-pack of Sport Tiles is $100.

A perfect gift. Every time one of those family members or friends finds their keys or lost eyeglasses, they will think of you!

Here’s the Tile video showing the Pro Series Sport Model which is the model we tested.