Microchips vs. Trackers: Registration, and What to Update When You Move
Last verified: August 2026
A microchip and a GPS tracker do two completely different jobs — and a chip only works if its registration is up to date. Here's the difference, and the ten-minute check that reunites lost pets.
About microchips and trackers
People mix these up all the time, so let's be clear. A microchip is a tiny permanent ID — about the size of a grain of rice — placed under your pet's skin by a vet. It is not GPS and cannot tell you where your pet is. It only does one thing: when a lost pet is scanned at a shelter or vet, the chip number pulls up your contact information so they can call you. That's it, and that's powerful — but only if your information is current.
A GPS tracker is the opposite: it's a collar device that shows you a live location on your phone, but it needs charging and usually a monthly plan, and it can fall off. The two aren't rivals — they're partners. The chip is the permanent safety net that never falls off or runs out of battery; the tracker is the active tool for finding a pet that's loose right now.
The most important and most overlooked step is keeping the chip's registration updated — especially when you move or change your phone number. A chip registered to an old address and a disconnected number can't reunite you with anything.
When to skip the DIY and just call: Understanding which tool does which job · Finding which registry holds your pet's chip · Updating your contact details after a move.
Common Questions
1 What's the real difference?
- A microchip is a permanent ID scanned by a vet or shelter — it does not track location.
- A GPS tracker shows a live, moving location on your phone but needs power and a plan.
- A chip never falls off or dies; a tracker can do both.
- A chip only helps after someone finds your pet and scans it.
- Use both: the chip as the permanent backup, the tracker as the active finder.
2 How do I find where my pet's chip is registered?
- Get your pet's microchip number from the vet's paperwork or by asking them to scan it.
- Go to the free AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup online.
- Enter the number — the tool tells you which registry (company) holds the record.
- Note that the AAHA tool is a directory; it points you to the registry but doesn't show or store your details.
- Then go to that registry's website to see and update your information.
3 What do I update when I move?
- Log in to your pet's registry account (the one the AAHA lookup pointed you to).
- Update your new address, and — most importantly — your current phone number and email.
- Do this for every pet and every chip.
- If you can't recall the registry or login, the lookup tool and a quick call sort it out.
- Check that the registration is active and not expired; some charge a small one-time or annual fee.
4 Should I bother if my pet has a tracker?
- Yes — a tracker can fall off, run out of battery, or fail; the chip can't.
- Shelters and vets scan for chips, not trackers, when a stray comes in.
- The chip is your permanent, no-battery safety net.
- Keep both current: charge the tracker, and keep the chip registration updated.
- Not sure your info is current? I can sit with you and check it in a few minutes.
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