Various methods and systems are provided for detecting an unplugged radio frequency (RF) coil in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. In one embodiment, a device for an RF coil comprises an alert generator, a power source, and a field-sensitive switch including an open state and a closed state, wherein the field-sensitive switch switches from the open state to the closed state responsive to sensing a magnetic field with a strength above a threshold, and wherein the field-sensitive switch in the closed state electrically couples the alert generator and the power source. In this way, an alert may be generated to notify an operator of an MRI apparatus of an unplugged RF coil.