The battery tab is a plastic strip that keeps your AirTag from draining before you buy it
When you open a new AirTag, you'll find a small plastic tab tucked under the stainless steel back. That tab blocks the battery from making contact with the device, so the AirTag stays dormant during shipping and storage. Pulling it out completes the circuit and wakes the AirTag up. Once you pull the tab, you have a few minutes before the AirTag starts looking for your iPhone.
The tab is straightforward to miss because it's thin and sits flush against the battery compartment. Look at the back of the AirTag — you'll see a small notch or lip on the edge of the metal casing. That's where the tab connects. A gentle tug pulls it straight out. You don't need tools or force.
Key Takeaways
- The battery tab is a plastic strip that prevents the AirTag from activating before you open it; pulling it out wakes the device.
- After you pull the tab, your iPhone will detect the AirTag within a few minutes and prompt you to set it up through the Find My app.
- You hold your iPhone near the AirTag to complete the connection, and the app walks you through naming it and choosing what to track.
- If your AirTag doesn't appear in Find My after five minutes, try restarting your iPhone or removing and reinserting the battery.
What happens when ready after you pull the tab
The moment the tab comes out, the AirTag powers on. Your iPhone's Find My app will detect it within a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on how close you are and whether Bluetooth is on. You don't have to do anything — just keep your iPhone nearby.
When the AirTag shows up in Find My, a notification appears on your screen asking if you want to set up this AirTag. Tap "Set Up" to begin. The app will ask you to hold your iPhone close to the AirTag so it can confirm the connection and read the device's unique identifier.
How to complete the setup in Find My
Once you tap "Set Up," the Find My app opens to a pairing screen. Hold your iPhone within a few inches of the AirTag — the app doesn't need to see it, just be close enough for Bluetooth to work reliably. The app will show a checkmark when the connection is confirmed.
Next, you name the AirTag. The app suggests names based on what you're tracking — "Keys," "Wallet," "Backpack" — but you can type anything you want. Choose something you'll recognize when you search for it later. After you name it, the app asks which category it belongs to: Keys, Wallet, Backpack, Bag, AirPods, or Other. This helps Siri and Find My organize your items.
The final step is choosing whether to enable notifications. If you turn on notifications, your iPhone will alert you if you leave the AirTag behind or if someone else's AirTag is traveling with you. You can change these settings later in Find My, so don't worry about getting it perfect right now.
Why your AirTag might not show up after pulling the tab
If five minutes pass and Find My hasn't detected your AirTag, check that Bluetooth is on. Open Settings, tap Bluetooth, and make sure the toggle is blue. If Bluetooth is already on, try turning it off and back on again. This refreshes the connection and often fixes detection problems.
Another common issue is that the battery tab pulled out partway instead of all the way. The tab should come out completely in one piece. If you feel resistance, stop and look at the notch — make sure you're pulling straight out, not at an angle. Once it's fully out, wait another minute for the AirTag to power up.
If the AirTag still doesn't appear, restart your iPhone. Hold the power button until "Slide to Power Off" appears, swipe to turn it off, wait ten seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on. After your iPhone restarts, open Find My and try again.
What to do if you lose the battery tab
The battery tab is small and straightforward to misplace, but losing it doesn't break your AirTag. The tab's only job is to prevent the battery from activating before you buy it. Once it's out, you don't need it anymore. You can throw it away or recycle it.
If you pull the tab but then decide you want to store the AirTag for a while, you can remove the battery instead. Press down on the stainless steel back and rotate it counterclockwise until it pops out. The battery is a standard CR2032 coin cell, the same type used in watches and calculators. You can buy replacements at any drugstore or electronics store for a few dollars.
How to replace the battery later
AirTags use a CR2032 battery that lasts about a year with normal use. When the battery runs low, Find My sends you a notification. To replace it, hold the AirTag with the stainless steel back facing up, press down, and twist counterclockwise until the back pops off. The battery sits in a small metal holder. Lift it out, drop in a new CR2032 battery with the positive side facing up, and twist the back on clockwise until it clicks.
The AirTag doesn't need to be set up again after you replace the battery. It remembers your iPhone and will reconnect automatically once the new battery is installed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set up an AirTag without an iPhone?
No. AirTags work only with Apple devices running iOS 14.3 or later, iPadOS 14.3 or later, or macOS 11.1 or later. You need one of these devices to pull the tab and complete setup. Android phones cannot set up or use AirTags.
What if I pull the tab but don't set up the AirTag right away?
The AirTag will stay powered on and will broadcast its location to the Find My network even if you don't set it up. However, you won't be able to track it or receive notifications until you complete setup in the Find My app. Set it up as soon as you can so you can name it and enable the features you want.
Does pulling the tab make a sound or show a light?
No. Pulling the tab is silent and produces no visual feedback. The only way to know the AirTag is powered on is to wait for it to appear in Find My or to feel the battery making contact inside the device.
Can I pull the tab and then put the AirTag back in its box?
Yes, but the battery will continue to drain while the AirTag is powered on. If you want to store it for weeks or months, remove the battery instead of leaving the tab out. You can reinstall the battery and set up the AirTag whenever you're ready to use it.