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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Apple Find My is the built-in Apple app for locating the people and things that matter most, from an iPhone left in a café to an AirTag attached to keys or a family member sharing their location. It brings together the old Find My iPhone and Find My Friends services into one place, making it easier to track Apple devices, supported accessories, AirTags, and shared locations across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and iCloud.
The app can show an item’s last known location, play a sound on nearby devices, provide directions, mark devices as lost, and use Apple’s wider Find My network to help locate items even when they are offline. It is designed around privacy, with encrypted location data, permission-based people sharing, and safety alerts that help reduce unwanted tracking.
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Used well, Find My is both a recovery tool and a daily convenience. With the right setup, it can help you find misplaced headphones, check whether a device was left at home, coordinate with family, and protect personal data if something goes missing.
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Apple Find My is the built-in Apple service for locating devices, items, and people in one app. It replaced and combined the older Find My iPhone and Find My Friends apps, so the same place now handles a missing iPhone, a set of keys with an AirTag, a Mac left at the office, or a family member who has chosen to share their location. On iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and through iCloud on the web, Find My gives you a map-based view of the things and people connected to your Apple ID.
#1 Best Overall
- FIND YOUR ITEMS ON FIND MY — AirTag (2nd generation) helps you keep track of what matters. Attach one to an item you want to keep track of using the Find My app.*
- EXPANDED PRECISION FINDING ON IPHONE AND APPLE WATCH — Get step-by-step directions to your lost item on iPhone and, now, Apple Watch.*
- ENHANCED SPEAKER — With a 50% louder speaker and a new, distinctive chime, it’s easier than ever to hear and find AirTag.*
- PING FROM FAR AND WIDE — Upgraded Ultra Wideband and Bluetooth chips allow you to find your items from even farther away than ever before.*
- SHARE ITEM LOCATION — Share AirTag location access temporarily and securely with trusted contacts, third parties, or over 50 airline partners if you lose something important.
For Apple devices, Find My can show the last known or current location of an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, and other supported Apple hardware. If a device is nearby, you can play a sound to locate it under a cushion or inside a bag. If it is farther away, you can open directions in Apple Maps. If it may be lost or stolen, you can mark it as lost, lock it, display a contact message, and in some cases erase it remotely. This makes Find My both a convenience tool and a basic recovery and protection feature.
What you can track with Find My
- Apple devices: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, and some Beats products associated with your Apple ID.
- AirTags: small trackers designed for keys, bags, luggage, wallets, and similar personal belongings.
- Find My network accessories: compatible third-party items such as certain wallets, bikes, earbuds, and trackers that support Apple’s Find My network.
- People: friends and family members who have explicitly shared their location with you through Find My, Messages, or Family Sharing.
Find My is especially useful because it works beyond simple Bluetooth range. If a supported device, AirTag, or item is offline, it can still be detected by the broader Find My network. Nearby Apple devices can securely notice its Bluetooth signal and relay an encrypted location back to the owner. The person whose device helped relay that location does not see the item, the owner, or any personal details. This is what allows an AirTag in lost luggage or an offline iPhone in a taxi to appear on a map even when it is not connected to Wi-Fi or cellular service.
The app is organized around simple tabs. The Devices tab lists Apple hardware signed in to your Apple ID or shared through Family Sharing. The Items tab lists AirTags and compatible accessories. The People tab shows contacts who share their location, along with controls for notifications and directions. Depending on the device and accessory, you may also see options such as precision finding, separation alerts, battery status, and lost contact information.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallFind My also helps with everyday routines, not just emergencies. You can check whether your AirPods are still at home, get an alert if you leave your backpack behind, see when a child arrives at school if they share location with you, or confirm that your Mac is still at work before commuting back. Its value comes from combining location, remote actions, and sharing controls into a single system that is already built into Apple devices.
How Find My Locates Devices, AirTags, and Items
Find My uses several location methods depending on what you are trying to find. For an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, or supported AirPods, the app can show the device’s position on a map when it is online and has access to GPS, Wi‑Fi, cellular, or Bluetooth signals. If the device is moving, its location may update periodically, so you can see whether it is still at home, left at work, or traveling with you in a bag or car.
When a device is offline, Find My can still help through Apple’s Find My network. This is a crowdsourced network made up of hundreds of millions of Apple devices. If your missing device, AirTag, or compatible third-party item is near another Apple device, it can send out a secure Bluetooth signal. The nearby Apple device detects that signal and relays an encrypted location estimate to Apple, which then appears in your Find My app. The person whose device helped relay the location does not see your item, and Apple says the process is designed so that the location data remains encrypted and anonymous.
How different items are located
- Apple devices: iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and supported AirPods can appear on the map if Find My was enabled before they went missing.
- AirTags: AirTags use Bluetooth and the Find My network to report their approximate location. With a compatible iPhone, Precision Finding can guide you to a nearby AirTag using distance and direction.
- Supported third-party items: Some bikes, bags, headphones, and trackers work with the Find My network and appear in the Items tab after pairing.
- Nearby items: If an AirTag or item is close enough, you can play a sound to locate it under a couch cushion, in a backpack, or inside a parked car.
AirTags and many compatible items do not have built-in GPS. Instead, they depend on Bluetooth range and nearby Apple devices in the Find My network. In a busy airport, city street, school, or office building, location updates may arrive quickly because many Apple devices are nearby. In a remote area with few people and few devices, updates may be less frequent. This is an AirTag can be very effective for keys, luggage, backpacks, and camera bags, but it is not the same as a live GPS tracker.
Rank #2
- FIND YOUR ITEMS ON FIND MY — AirTag (2nd generation) helps you keep track of what matters. Attach one to an item you want to keep track of using the Find My app.*
- EXPANDED PRECISION FINDING ON IPHONE AND APPLE WATCH — Get step-by-step directions to your lost item on iPhone and, now, Apple Watch.*
- ENHANCED SPEAKER — With a 50% louder speaker and a new, distinctive chime, it’s easier than ever to hear and find AirTag.*
- PING FROM FAR AND WIDE — Upgraded Ultra Wideband and Bluetooth chips allow you to find your items from even farther away than ever before.*
- SHARE ITEM LOCATION — Share AirTag location access temporarily and securely with trusted contacts, third parties, or over 50 airline partners if you lose something important.
For supported iPhone models, Precision Finding adds a more detailed nearby search experience for AirTags. Once you are within Bluetooth range, the Find My app can show an arrow, distance, and haptic feedback to guide you toward the item. This is useful when the map has already brought you to the right building or room but you still need to find the exact spot. If the AirTag is buried in a coat pocket or hidden under papers, tapping Play Sound can make the final search faster.
Find My also keeps a record of the last known location for many devices and items. If your AirPods were last connected at the gym, or your iPad was last seen at a hotel, the app can show that point even after the battery dies or the device goes offline. For best results, keep Bluetooth and Location Services enabled, update your Apple devices regularly, and check that each device or item appears in the correct tab of the Find My app before you need it.
Sharing Location With Friends and Family
Find My also lets you share your live location with people you choose, making it useful for everyday coordination as well as peace of mind. This part of the app grew out of Apple’s former Find My Friends service and is now built into the same Find My app used for devices, AirTags, and compatible items. When location sharing is on, selected friends or family members can see where you are on a map from their iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, or the Find My app.
You can share your location from the People tab in Find My. Tap Start Sharing Location, choose a contact, then select whether to share for one hour, until the end of the day, or indefinitely. The other person receives an invitation and can choose whether to share their location back. This makes it flexible for short-term situations, such as meeting someone at a crowded park, or long-term arrangements, such as family members keeping track of one another during commutes or travel.
What you can do after someone shares location
- View their current location: Open Find My, tap People, then select their name to see them on the map.
- Get directions: Tap Directions to open Apple Maps and navigate to their location.
- Set location notifications: Create alerts for when someone arrives at or leaves a place, such as home, school, work, or an airport.
- Label places: Assign familiar names like Home or Office to make the map and alerts easier to understand.
- Stop sharing at any time: Select the person in Find My and choose Stop Sharing My Location.
Family Sharing can make this even simpler. If you use Apple Family Sharing, members of the family group can share locations with one another without setting up each person from scratch. Parents may use this to check whether a child arrived at school, while adults may use it to coordinate pickups, errands, or travel plans. Location sharing is not limited to families, though; you can share with any compatible Apple ID contact as long as both sides are using supported Apple software and services.
Apple gives you control over which device represents your location. For most people, this should be their iPhone because it is usually the device they carry. To check or change it, open Find My, go to the Me tab, and look for My Location. If you also use an iPad or Mac, confirm that the correct device is set as the source so friends and family do not see the location of a device left at home instead of where you actually are.
For best results, keep Location Services enabled, make sure the Find My app has permission to use your location, and leave mobile data or Wi-Fi available when possible. If someone’s location appears stale, check the timestamp under their name; it may show the last known location rather than a live update if their phone is offline, powered down, or unable to get a reliable signal. Location sharing is most helpful when everyone understands how it is being used, so it is worth reviewing sharing settings regularly and removing access for anyone who no longer needs it.
Rank #3
- Smart Finder:The luggage GPS tracker makes it easy to manage your valuables. Working with the Find My app(IOS ONLY), you can quickly locate your items. It comes with one case, allowing you to attach the tag to your keys, wallet, backpack etc.
- Find Nearby:Use the Find My app to ring your luggage tracker when it's within Bluetooth range,or ask your Siri to find it for you.Click the 'Play Sound' Button, the tag tracker will make a sound 'di di di'. You can according to the sound find your items
- Find Far Away: When outside of Bluetooth range, use the Find My app to view your 'Item Locator's most recent location on a map. You can use the network and GPS of millions of Apple devices to locate it anywhere in the world.Reduce the loss of your items
- Share Your Items and Privacy Protection:The item finders tag lets your family view the location of your items (a feature for iOS 17).The chip in this Bluetooth tracker is MFi certified,guaranteeing that your location data is encrypted and protected
- Water Resistant & Replaceable Battery: Designed for outdoor adventures, this tracker can withstand rain, ensuring you can use it confidently in various weather conditions. Plus, it features a replaceable CR2032 battery that lasts up to a year
Setting Up Find My on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch
Find My works best when it is turned on before anything goes missing. Setup is tied to your Apple Account, iCloud, Location Services, and, for some features, two-factor authentication. Once enabled, your device can appear in the Find My app and on iCloud.com/find, and compatible devices may be located even when they are offline, powered down, or erased, depending on the model and settings.
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Set up Find My on iPhone or iPad
- Open Settings and tap your name at the top.
- Tap Find My, then tap Find My iPhone or Find My iPad.
- Turn on Find My iPhone or Find My iPad.
- Turn on Find My network to help locate the device when it is offline.
- Turn on Send Last Location so the device can automatically send its location to Apple when the battery is critically low.
You should also confirm that location access is allowed. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services and make sure Location Services is on. Then scroll to Find My and allow location access. For the most accurate results, keep Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth enabled, even when you are not actively connected to a network or accessory.
Set up Find My on Mac
On a Mac, open System Settings, click your name, then choose iCloud. Under iCloud features, enable Find My Mac. You may be asked to allow Location Services; if so, open Privacy & Security > Location Services and make sure location access is enabled for Find My. On supported Macs, Find My network can also help locate the computer when it is offline or asleep. A Mac with Activation Lock support, such as many Apple silicon and T2-equipped models, can also be harder for someone else to erase and reuse without your Apple Account credentials.
Set up Find My on Apple Watch
Apple Watch is generally added to Find My automatically when it is paired with an iPhone that has Find My enabled. To check, open the Find My app on your iPhone and look under the Devices tab for your watch. You can also open the Watch app, tap All Watches, select the info button next to your watch, and confirm it is associated with your Apple Account. Cellular Apple Watch models may be easier to locate away from your iPhone, while GPS-only models rely more heavily on the paired iPhone, known Wi‑Fi, or the Find My network.
- AirTags and items: Add an AirTag from the Items tab in the Find My app by holding it near your iPhone and following the pairing prompts.
- Family devices: Devices used by children or family members should be signed in with their own Apple Account, then shared through Family Sharing or location sharing as needed.
- Verification: After setup, open the Find My app and confirm each device appears on the map with a recent location.
- Battery habits: Keep devices charged and updated, since low battery and outdated software can reduce location accuracy or feature availability.
Using Lost Mode, Play Sound, and Directions
Find My gives you several actions to take once a device, AirTag, or supported item appears on the map. The best choice depends on whether the item is nearby, moving, or likely left somewhere public. For something in the same room, Play Sound is usually fastest. For something left at a café, office, airport, or rideshare, Directions can guide you back to its last known or current location. If an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch may be in someone else’s hands, Lost Mode helps protect your data and makes it easier for an honest finder to contact you.
Play Sound for nearby devices and items
Use Play Sound when Find My shows the device or item close by but you cannot see it. In the Find My app, open the Devices tab for Apple hardware or the Items tab for AirTags and supported accessories, select the missing object, then choose Play Sound. An iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods case, AirTag, or compatible item tracker can emit a tone if it is powered on and reachable. This is useful for finding AirPods under a cushion, an AirTag-equipped bag in a closet, or an iPhone left in a coat pocket.
For supported iPhone models and AirTags, Find Nearby may also appear. This uses Precision Finding to show distance and direction, such as “2 feet to your right,” making it easier to locate an item in a cluttered room or parked car. If the item cannot play a sound immediately, keep the Find My screen open for a short time; it may update when the device reconnects or another Apple device in the Find My network detects it.
Rank #4
- Easily Track Items: Easily track and bluetooth luggage tracker your items with the locator and stop worrying about losing your valuables. Within the signal range of Connect to the global Find My Network that covers billions of iOS devices to easily track and locate items through the Find My app without paying a subscription fee. Within (60 meters/200 feet) Bluetooth range, trigger the built-in speaker to locate your belongings using your phone. (iOS only, not available for Android)
- Left-Behind Remind & Lost Mode: If an item with our smart bluetooth tracker is left behind and the Bluetooth connection to your iOS device is disconnected, the Find My app will immediately send you a notification that the item is missing. If you preset the lost mode and keep your contact information, the Key Finder Tracker will allow nearby Apple devices to access your contact information and remotely provide you with the location of the tag.
- Protect Privacy and Easy Pairing: weTag mini focuses on protecting privacy, all communication with the “Find My” network is anonymous and encrypted,location data and history are not stored on air tags. Open the “Find My app” and Bluetooth, click on ‘Items’, then click on “Add Item” and select “Other Supported Item” and follow the in-app instructions for easy pairing without waiting. (Please make sure your device has been updated to iOS 18 to utilize this feature.)
- IP67 Water and Dust Resistant with Replaceable Battery: The item finder is IP67 water resistant to splashes, rain and brief submersion. The luggage tracker comes with a replaceable battery that lasts up to a year without the need for frequent battery changes. You can check the battery status in the Find My app.
- Lightweight and Compact Tracking Tags: The finder is conveniently designed with a length and width of only 3.3 cm (1.3 inches), a thickness of 0.76 cm (0.3 inches), and a weight of only 7.6 grams. Keep track of your belongings with ease. The smooth surface of the item locator will not scratch other items. The locator's slim, durable design makes it the perfect companion for wallets, keys, backpacks, suitcases, luggage and laptop bags
Get Directions when the item is elsewhere
When a device or item appears at a location away from you, tap Directions to open Apple Maps and navigate there. Find My may show a current location, a recent location, or a “last seen” time, so check the timestamp before heading out. If the location is a business, transit stop, school, or apartment building, the map pin may get you close but not to the exact room, counter, or seat. Once you arrive, switch back to Find My and use Play Sound or Find Nearby if available.
- Check the time shown: a location from two minutes ago is more useful than one from last night.
- Look for movement: if the pin keeps changing, the item may be in a vehicle or with another person.
- Use safe judgment: if a device appears in an unfamiliar private location, contact local authorities rather than confronting anyone.
Use Lost Mode to protect devices and help recovery
Lost Mode is available for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, and many items in Find My. For Apple devices, turning it on locks the device with its passcode or Apple Account protection, can suspend Apple Pay cards, and lets you display a phone number and message on the Lock Screen. A simple message such as “This iPhone is lost. Please call this number” gives someone a safe way to return it without accessing your personal information.
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For AirTags and supported items, enabling Lost Mode lets you add contact details so someone who finds the item can tap it with an NFC-capable phone and view your recovery message. You can also turn on notifications so Find My alerts you when the item is detected again. If you recover the device or item, return to Find My, select it, and turn off Lost Mode. For a device you believe is stolen or permanently gone, avoid removing it from your Apple Account too quickly, because Activation Lock can help prevent another person from erasing and using it as their own.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Privacy, Safety, and Anti-Stalking Features
Apple designed Find My so location data is useful to you without becoming an easy way for others to watch where you go. When you locate your own iPhone, Mac, AirTag, or supported third-party item, the location shown in the Find My app is tied to your Apple Account and protected by encryption. If the Find My network helps locate an offline device or item, nearby Apple devices can relay a secure Bluetooth-based signal to Apple without revealing the identity or location of the nearby device owner.
For people sharing, Find My is based on consent. You choose who can see your location, and you can stop sharing at any time from the Find My app or from Settings. You can also share from a specific device, such as your iPhone instead of an iPad left at home, so your shared location reflects the device you actually carry. In Family Sharing groups, location sharing can be convenient, but it is still manageable per person; being in a family group does not mean every member automatically gets unlimited access to your live location unless sharing is enabled.
How Apple reduces unwanted tracking
AirTags and Find My network accessories include several safeguards intended to make covert tracking harder. If an unknown AirTag or compatible item appears to be moving with you over time, your iPhone can show an alert such as “AirTag Found Moving With You.” From that alert, you can make the item play a sound, view details such as its serial number, and get instructions for disabling it. AirTags separated from their owner for a period of time can also emit a sound when moved, which can help people without an iPhone notice a tag that was placed in a bag, vehicle, or personal item.
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- Unknown item alerts: iPhone can warn you when an AirTag or supported Find My accessory is traveling with you and is not registered to your Apple Account.
- Sound playback: You can trigger a detected item to play a sound, making it easier to find in a coat pocket, backpack, seat cushion, or car interior.
- Item information: Tapping an AirTag with an NFC-capable phone can show limited details, including whether the owner marked it as lost and the serial number.
- Disable instructions: Find My can guide you through removing the battery from an AirTag or disabling certain compatible accessories.
If you receive an unknown item alert, check your belongings calmly and use the Find My prompt to locate the item. If the item is attached to something borrowed, such as keys or luggage from a friend, the alert may be harmless. If you do not recognize it, take screenshots of the alert, record the serial number if available, disable the item, and contact local authorities if you believe your safety is at risk. Apple can provide account-related information connected to an AirTag in response to valid legal requests.
Best Value
- 【AIR TAGS-2 PACK FOR APPLE FIND MY】 Includes one black and one white tracker tag. Works with the Apple Find My app and Find My network to help locate everyday belongings such as keys, luggage, backpacks, purses, and travel bags. Apple MFi certified and compatible with iOS devices only; not compatible with Android.
- 【SHARE WITH UP TO 6 PEOPLE】 Each Bluetooth tracker can be shared with up to 5 additional people in the Find My app, allowing the owner and up to 5 trusted users to view the item’s location. Requires an Apple ID, iCloud sign-in, and an iPhone or iPad running iOS 14.5/iPadOS 14.5 or later.
- 【COMPACT DESIGN & REPLACEABLE CR2032 BATTERY】 Measuring approximately 1.22 × 1.22 × 0.38 inches, these lightweight item finder tags are easy to attach to keys, luggage, backpacks, and bags. Each tag uses a replaceable CR2032 battery that typically lasts about 5–8 months, depending on use; frequent use may require replacement after approximately 3 months. No monthly fee or additional app is required.
- 【IP67 PROTECTION WITH SILICONE CASE】 The tracker tag itself is not water-resistant. IP67-rated water and dust protection applies only when the included silicone holder is correctly and fully installed. Insert the tag with the printed side facing outward and the striped side facing inward for a secure fit. Suitable for protection against everyday rain, splashes, and moisture; do not submerge or expose it to water for extended periods.
- 【UP TO 70dB SOUND, NOTIFICATIONS & EASY BATTERY REPLACEMENT】 When the item is nearby, use the Find My app to play a sound up to approximately 70dB in an open environment. Separation notifications may be available depending on Find My settings, distance, and network conditions. To replace the battery, insert a coin or similar flat tool into the slot, turn 45° clockwise toward “Open,” install a CR2032 battery, then turn 45° counterclockwise toward “Close” until securely locked. Coin or tool not included.
You can also review your own sharing settings regularly. In Find My, open the People tab to see who can view your location, then stop sharing with anyone you no longer want to include. In the Devices and Items tabs, remove old hardware you sold, gave away, or no longer use. Keeping your Apple Account secured with a strong passcode and two-factor authentication helps prevent someone else from signing in and using Find My features against your wishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Find My locate my iPhone if it is offline or powered off?
Yes, in many cases Find My can show the last known location and may still update the location if the device is offline but detectable through Apple’s Find My network. Some newer iPhone models can also remain findable for a limited time after being powered off. For best results, turn on Find My iPhone, Find My network, and Send Last Location before the device goes missing.
What is the difference between Find My iPhone, Find My Friends, and Apple Find My?
Apple Find My is the combined app that replaced Find My iPhone and Find My Friends. It lets you locate your Apple devices, AirTags, supported third-party items, and people who have chosen to share their location with you. Instead of using separate apps, everything is managed from the Find My app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.
How do I set up Find My before I lose a device?
On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap your name, choose Find My, then turn on Find My iPhone or Find My iPad. Enable Find My network and Send Last Location so your device has a better chance of being found if it is offline or the battery is low. On a Mac, go to System Settings, select your Apple Account, open iCloud, and enable Find My Mac.
Can someone track me with an AirTag without me knowing?
Apple includes anti-stalking alerts that can notify you if an unknown AirTag or Find My accessory appears to be moving with you over time. On iPhone, you may see an alert and can make the AirTag play a sound or view instructions to disable it. Android users can also use Apple’s Tracker Detect app or built-in unknown tracker alerts on supported Android versions.
What should I do first if my Apple device is lost or stolen?
Open the Find My app or go to iCloud.com/find and check the device’s location. Use Play Sound if it may be nearby, Directions if you need to navigate to it, or Mark As Lost to lock it and display a contact message. If you believe it was stolen, avoid confronting anyone yourself and contact local authorities with the location information.
Bottom Line
Apple Find My brings device tracking, item finding, AirTag support, and location sharing into one simple app, making it easier to keep track of the people and things that matter. Once it’s set up, features like the Find My network, Lost Mode, directions, notifications, and Precision Finding can help you act quickly when something goes missing.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFor the best results, turn on Find My before you need it, keep location and Bluetooth settings enabled, and review your sharing and privacy settings regularly. If you use Apple devices or supported accessories, Find My is one of the easiest safety nets to have in place.
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