How it works
Quiet on an ordinary day. Precise on the worst one.
Two systems live in every Ember Locate device: a local scanner that looks for hidden Bluetooth trackers, and an emergency locator that turns one press into an actionable message for the people you trust.
Part one
Scanning for hidden trackers
Your device listens for Bluetooth Low Energy advertisements from known tracker families — AirTag, SmartTag, Tile and compatible clones.
- 1
Continuous passive listening
The scanner samples nearby BLE traffic every few seconds and keeps signatures on-device only.
- 2
Movement correlation
A tracker only matters if it travels with you. Ember correlates signal presence across time and distance before flagging anything.
- 3
A private notification
You get a discreet phone notification — never a beep from your bag. The app shows signal strength so you can narrow down where it is.
- 4
Guided next steps
Step-by-step advice on locating the device, documenting it, and reporting it, written with safety advocates.
“Three unknown trackers detected in the last 30 days by the average Ember Locate user in a major city.”
Most are harmless — luggage tags, borrowed keys, a partner's wallet. Ember tells you anyway, quietly, so the decision stays yours.
Part two
The emergency activation flow
This is the part we obsess over. Everything below happens in about three seconds.
Step 1
You press the button
A double press on Pulse. A short haptic countdown gives you five seconds to cancel — no lights, no siren, nothing visible to anyone around you.
Step 2
Your location is fixed
The device and paired phone establish a precise position using GNSS plus assisted positioning, then convert it into both decimal GPS coordinates and a What3Words address.
Step 3
The automated message goes out
Every trusted contact receives the same message simultaneously by SMS and push: a clear statement that you are in danger, your coordinates, your What3Words address, and an explicit instruction to contact law enforcement and relay those exact details.
Step 4
Location keeps updating
A live link refreshes your position every 15 seconds until you mark yourself safe. Contacts can see movement — and read the coordinates aloud to an emergency operator at any moment.
Automated emergency alert
Sent to 4 trusted contacts · delivered in ~3s
EMERGENCY — Sofia is in danger and has triggered an Ember Locate alert.
GPS coordinates: 51.50354, -0.12768 (±4 m, updated live)
What3Words: ///filled.count.soap
Please contact law enforcement immediately and pass on the exact coordinates and What3Words address above.
Live location link updates every 15 seconds until Sofia marks herself safe.
Exactly what the message contains
- Your name and a plain statement that you are in danger
- Decimal GPS coordinates with an accuracy radius
- The matching What3Words address for a 3-metre square
- A direct instruction to contact law enforcement and pass on those details
- A live-updating location link and the time of activation
You can edit the opening line of your message in the app — some people add a medical note, a vehicle description, or a child's name.
Setup & compatibility
Four minutes, once.
The Ember app is free on iOS 15+ and Android 10+, and works with every Ember Locate device.
- 1.Download the Ember app and create your account.
- 2.Hold your device near your phone to pair over Bluetooth.
- 3.Add up to eight trusted contacts and send each a test message.
- 4.Choose your activation gesture and cancel window, then you're done.
Firmware updates arrive over the air, roughly quarterly.
Why people keep it on their keys
“I travel alone for work most weeks. Knowing my sister gets my exact coordinates and a What3Words address if I press once has genuinely changed how I move through airports at 2am.”
“The scan caught an AirTag in my coat pocket after a night out. No drama, no alarm — just a quiet notification and a very clear next step.”
“We bought a Pulse when our daughter started university. It doesn't look like a safety device, which is exactly why she actually carries it.”
Ready when you are.
Devices from $75 with free shipping over $75 and 30-day returns.