What you get when you open an AirTag box

An Apple AirTag is a small tracking device about the size of a coin. When you open the box, you will find the AirTag itself, a keyring attachment, and a battery already installed inside. The battery is a standard CR2032 coin cell that lasts roughly one year before you need to replace it.

The AirTag does not turn on or off in the traditional sense. It activates the moment you remove the plastic battery tab that sits between the battery and the metal contact inside. Once that tab is out, the AirTag begins broadcasting a Bluetooth signal and is ready to pair with your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Key Takeaways

  • Remove the plastic battery tab from inside the AirTag to set up it — this is the only physical step required before pairing.
  • Pairing happens through your iPhone's Find My app and takes less than a minute once Bluetooth is turned on.
  • You can assign the AirTag to a specific person in your household or keep it tied to your own account, which affects who can see its location.
  • The AirTag will only work if your device is signed into an Apple ID and has Bluetooth enabled.

How to physically open the AirTag and remove the battery tab

Hold the AirTag with the polished stainless steel side facing up. On the back — the white plastic side — you will see a small circular indent. Press down on this indent with your thumb and rotate the white back counterclockwise about a quarter turn. The back will pop off, revealing the battery compartment inside.

You will see a small plastic tab sticking out from under the battery. This tab prevents the battery from making contact with the metal connector until you are ready to use the AirTag. Pull this tab straight out toward you. The AirTag is now active and will begin searching for your device to pair with.

Snap the white back onto the metal front by aligning the two halves and rotating clockwise until you hear a click. The AirTag is now sealed and ready to pair.

Pairing your AirTag with your iPhone or iPad

Open the Find My app on your iPhone or iPad. If you do not have it, it comes pre-installed on most Apple devices — search your home screen or use Spotlight search to find it. Tap the Items tab at the bottom of the screen.

Tap the plus sign (+) in the top right corner. Your device will search for nearby AirTags. When it finds yours, tap it to begin pairing. You will be asked to name the AirTag — common names are "Keys," "Wallet," or "Bag," but you can type anything you want. This name is what appears in the Find My app when you search for it later.

After naming it, you will see an option to assign it to a person. If you live alone or want only yourself to see the location, leave it assigned to your own name. If you share an Apple account with family members or want a roommate to be able to locate the AirTag, you can assign it to them instead. Tap Continue and the pairing is complete.

What happens after pairing is finished

Once paired, the AirTag will appear in your Find My app under the Items tab. You can tap it at any time to see its last known location on a map. If the AirTag is within Bluetooth range of your device (typically 30 to 100 feet depending on obstacles), you can tap Find and the AirTag will play a sound to help you locate it physically.

If the AirTag is out of range, the Find My network takes over. This network uses other Apple devices in the area to relay the location of your AirTag back to you, even if you are not nearby. This happens automatically and does not require the other person's permission — their device straightforward reports the location anonymously. You can turn this feature off in Settings if you prefer not to use the Find My network.

Replacing the battery when it runs low

The AirTag will notify you in the Find My app when the battery is running low, usually a few weeks before it dies completely. To replace it, open the AirTag the same way you did the first time: press the white back and rotate counterclockwise until it pops off.

Remove the old CR2032 battery and insert a new one with the positive side facing up. You can buy CR2032 batteries at any pharmacy, grocery store, or online retailer for a few dollars. Snap the back on, rotate clockwise until it clicks, and you are done. The AirTag will continue working without needing to be re-paired.

Privacy and location sharing settings you should know about

When you pair an AirTag, you control who can see its location. If you assigned it to yourself, only you can see where it is. If you assigned it to a family member, that person can see the location in their own Find My app, but no one else can.

The Find My network feature — which lets other people's Apple devices report your AirTag's location when it is out of range — is on by default. You can turn it off by opening Find My, tapping the Items tab, selecting your AirTag, and toggling off Find My network. Turning this off means you can only locate the AirTag when it is within Bluetooth range of your own device.

If someone else owns an AirTag and has assigned it to themselves, you cannot see its location even if you are in the same household. The AirTag only reports location to the person who set it up. This is different from shared location services like family sharing, which require explicit permission from both parties.

Troubleshooting common pairing problems

If the Find My app does not detect your AirTag after you remove the battery tab, make sure Bluetooth is turned on in your device settings. Go to Settings > Bluetooth and toggle it on. Wait a few seconds and try pairing again.

If pairing still fails, restart your iPhone or iPad by powering it off and back on. Then open Find My and try again. If the AirTag still does not appear, the battery tab may not have been fully removed, or the battery itself may be defective. Open the AirTag again and check that the plastic tab is completely gone and the battery is seated properly.

If you see a message that says the AirTag could not be added to your account, sign out of your Apple ID and sign back in. This refreshes your account connection and usually resolves the issue. You will need to be signed into an Apple ID on your device in order to pair any AirTag.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an AirTag without an iPhone?

No. You need an iPhone, iPad, or Mac signed into an Apple ID to set up and use an AirTag. Android devices cannot pair with or locate AirTags. If you do not own an Apple device, an AirTag will not work for you.

What if I lose the AirTag itself?

If your AirTag is lost, you can put it into Lost Mode through the Find My app. This allows anyone who finds it and taps it with their iPhone to see your contact information and a message you write. The AirTag will also continue reporting its location to you through the Find My network, even though you do not have it.

Do I need to charge the AirTag?

No. AirTags use a replaceable CR2032 battery that lasts about one year. You do not plug them in or charge them wirelessly. When the battery dies, you straightforward open the AirTag and swap in a new battery, which takes about one minute.

Can someone else see where my AirTag is?

Only the person who set up the AirTag can see its location in the Find My app. If you assigned it to yourself, only you can see it. If you assigned it to a family member, only that person can see it. No one else has access to the location data.