Do Pet Microchips Track Location? (No — Here's How They Work)
Start here
No — pet microchips do not track location. A microchip is a passive RFID tag with no battery and no GPS; it only stores an ID number and can only be read when a scanner is held right against it. It helps reunite you with your pet after someone finds them and scans the chip. For real-time location, you need a GPS tracker, which is a completely different device.
The short answer: no GPS, no tracking
This is one of the most common misconceptions in pet ownership. A microchip cannot show you where your pet is on a map, cannot send you alerts, and cannot be “pinged” remotely. It has no power source and no way to transmit over any distance.
What it does is simple and permanent: it holds a unique ID number that links to your contact details in a registry, so a found pet can be traced back to you.
How a microchip actually works
A pet microchip is a passive RFID transponder about the size of a grain of rice, implanted under the skin between the shoulder blades. “Passive” means it has no battery — it's completely inert until activated.
When a compatible scanner is passed within a few inches of the chip, the scanner's radio signal briefly powers the chip, which sends back its ID number. That's the entire function: no battery, no signal of its own, no continuous broadcasting. This is exactly why it lasts your pet's whole life and never needs charging — and also why it can't track anything.
What the chip can and can't do
- Can: permanently identify your pet, link to your contact details, and reunite you after your pet is found and scanned.
- Can: stay functional for life with no maintenance beyond keeping registration current.
- Can't: show real-time or historical location.
- Can't: send alerts, be tracked by phone, or work over any distance.
- Can't: do anything at all unless a scanner is physically held over it.
If you want real-time location, use GPS
For actually locating a pet in real time, you need a GPS tracker — a battery-powered device on the collar that reports location to your phone via satellite and cellular networks. It needs charging and usually a subscription, and only works while it's on your pet.
The two aren't competitors — they complement each other. A microchip is permanent backup ID that can't fall off; a GPS tracker lets you find a wandering pet now. Many owners use both, plus a visible ID tag.
Getting the most from your microchip
Because the chip's whole value is the registry link, keeping your contact details current is everything. Register the chip, update it whenever you move or change your number, and note the number somewhere safe. Confirm your chip's registry anytime using the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup.
Tavi tip: Store your pet's microchip number in Tavi and set a reminder to refresh your registry details after a move — that's what turns the chip from a number under the skin into a real path home.
Frequently asked questions
Can I track my dog with a microchip and my phone?
No. A microchip has no GPS, no battery, and no ability to communicate with your phone. It can't be located or pinged remotely. To track your dog's real-time location with your phone, you need a dedicated GPS collar tracker, which is a separate, battery-powered device.
Why doesn't a microchip have GPS?
Because it's a passive RFID device with no battery — it draws a tiny bit of power only from a scanner held right against it. GPS requires continuous power and the ability to transmit over long distances, which a batteryless chip the size of a rice grain simply cannot do. That's also why it lasts a lifetime.
How close does a scanner need to be to read a chip?
Very close — typically within a few inches, essentially held against the skin over the chip. The scanner briefly powers the chip so it can send back its ID number. This short range is another reason microchips can't be used to track a pet from any meaningful distance.
So what's the point of a microchip if it can't track?
Its point is permanent identification. Collars and tags fall off, but a chip stays with your pet for life. When a lost pet is found and scanned, the chip's number links to your contact details in a registry so you can be reunited — provided you've kept that registration current.
Tavi's guides are informational and not a substitute for professional veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment. When in doubt, call your veterinarian. Sources: American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA); American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA); American Kennel Club (AKC); FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine
All guides