Can it find my lost earbuds, Galaxy Buds or AirPods?

Yes, as long as they are powered on and sending a Bluetooth signal. It works with Bluetooth LE earbuds, headphones, watches, fitness bands, speakers and controllers.

Why doesn't my earbud show up even though it's right next to me?

Earbuds connected to your phone often stop advertising. Disconnect them first, open the charging case or take one bud out, then scan again.

Is there a subscription or free trial?

No. There is no subscription and no trial that turns into a charge. Every feature works from day one, and the app is supported by ads.

How accurate is the distance?

Bluetooth signal changes with walls, pockets and sofas, so Budsonar shows a range like "about 1-2 m (estimate)" together with the live dBm value and a closer or farther trend. It never claims 1-meter accuracy.

Can it find earbuds with a dead battery?

No. A device with a completely dead battery sends no signal. Check the last place you used it.

How do I tell which device is mine?

Unnamed devices are labeled by type and the last 4 characters of their address. Once you find yours, star it and give it a name.

Does it need location permission?

Not on Android 12 and newer. On Android 11 and older the system requires location permission for Bluetooth scanning.

What if the signal drops?

Stay where you are for a few seconds instead of starting over. Budsonar tells you to wait in place.

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Bluetooth signal strength (dBm) and distance explained

Bluetooth signal strength is shown in dBm (RSSI), and values closer to 0 are stronger. For example, -50 dBm is much closer than -80 dBm. At the same distance the value can still shift by several to tens of dBm because of walls, bodies and fabric, so read it as a range and a trend, not an exact number of meters.

What dBm values roughly mean

Signal	Rough meaning
-40 to -55 dBm	Very close (within about 1 m)
-55 to -70 dBm	Close (a few meters)
-70 to -85 dBm	Same room or area, but some distance away
Below -85 dBm	Far away or blocked

Ranges are a guide and vary by device and surroundings.

Watch the trend, not one number

The signal jumps from moment to moment. Whether the value is rising (getting closer) or falling (moving away) over a few seconds is a better guide to direction than any single reading. Turn slowly so your own body doesn't block the signal.

Why "accurate within 1 meter" claims fail

Signal strength alone cannot give an exact distance, because devices transmit at different power and signals reflect and get blocked. An app that shows the real number and a range helps more than one that overstates accuracy.

Doing it with Budsonar

Budsonar shows the live dBm value, a range like "about 0.5-1 m (estimate)" and a getting closer or moving away arrow. The proximity ring grows and turns hot as the signal gets stronger.

Find it with honest numbers

Get Budsonar on Google Play