Elevation Lab has removed its AirTag Silencer from sale after acknowledging that the accessory could help people track others without triggering the AirTag’s audible warning. The company originally marketed the device as a way to stop thieves from detecting an AirTag attached to valuable property, such as a bicycle.

The decision follows criticism that disabling the tracker’s speaker undermines an important anti-stalking protection. In an email to customers, Elevation Lab said it had created the product for its own use on bicycles but later recognized that it could also aid people with harmful intentions.

How the AirTag Silencer worked

The Silencer used a pin positioned over the AirTag speaker. Its instructions told owners to remove the AirTag battery, place the accessory on the tracker, and strike it with a hammer. That action forced the pin through the AirTag’s plastic cover and into the speaker beneath.

With the speaker damaged, an AirTag would no longer be able to produce the sound intended to alert someone that an unknown tracker might be travelling with them. Elevation Lab argued that people can already silence AirTags themselves and that smartphone notifications would still warn users about an unfamiliar tracker.

However, audible alerts remain an important part of the device’s safety system. A person being followed might not receive or notice a phone notification, while a sound from the AirTag can provide a more immediate indication that a tracker is nearby.

Why the accessory drew criticism

AirTags have faced criticism since their launch in 2021 because of concerns that they could be misused for stalking. Apple has introduced safety improvements over time, including changes intended to make unwanted tracking easier to detect.

The newer AirTag 2 has a louder speaker and uses more adhesive, making the speaker more difficult to remove. Those changes reflect the tension between AirTag’s theft-recovery usefulness and the need to prevent covert tracking.

Six Colors writer Glenn Fleishman described the Silencer as “appalling” and raised concerns with Elevation Lab. The criticism focused on the fact that the product was not merely a repair or protective accessory: it was specifically designed to disable a safety mechanism.

Elevation Lab plans to block similar products

Elevation Lab said it has removed the Silencer and plans to use its patent to stop other companies from making a similar accessory. The company did not say that it would replace the product with another design.

The withdrawal means owners seeking to protect an AirTag from being heard by thieves will not be able to purchase Elevation Lab’s dedicated tool. At the same time, the move reinforces that the tracker’s sound is intended to protect people as well as help locate property.