By now, most people have heard about Apple’s new AirTag, a so-called tracker that helps you locate an item, be it keys, a wallet, a piece of luggage, or a backpack. But this powerful tracking technology is only as strong as its battery. Without a working battery, an AirTag is little more than a small plastic disc.
This guide will take you through most of the questions you may have about AirTag batteries. We will explain what kind of battery it takes, how to check the battery level of the AirTag, and give you a step-by-step guide to replacing the battery on your AirTag. We’ll also take a closer look at the technology the battery supports, so you can see just how important it is to keep it up and running.
What Is an Apple AirTag?
The Apple AirTag is a tiny, circular tracking gadget meant to be fastened to your items. This is its main purpose—to help you find lost things. Unlike traditional GPS trackers, which need a SIM card and a data plan, the AirTag works by communicating with a global network of hundreds of millions of Apple devices.
For instance, you can essentially give your keys a digital voice by attaching an AirTag to them. That voice can “cry out” for help if it becomes lost, and any nearby iPhone, iPad, or Mac can listen for that call and →report its secure location back to you.
The entire process is grounded in privacy. All communication is end-to-end encrypted and anonymous, so no one — not even Apple—can see the location of your AirTag or associate its location with you.
How Do AirTags Work?
Apple’s AirTag is a must-have accessory for anyone who is constantly misplacing their keys, wallet, or luggage. This small, sleek disk brings remarkable peace of mind, but its inner workings may as well be magical. How can such a little device, one without its own GPS chip, locate your lost items from across a city or even across the country?
The solution doesn’t just lie within the AirTag, but also in the reach of Apple’s expansive ecosystem. This article will explain exactly how AirTags are designed to work. We’ll dissect the advanced interaction of Bluetooth, Ultra-Wideband (UWB), and the massive find-my-device crowdsourced network to explain the technical wizardry that enables AirTag tracking.
How Do AirTags Work? The Magic of Find My Network
The AirTag’s connection to the Find My network is essential to its functionality. Imagine this network as a giant, global search party — consisting of every active iPhone, iPad, and Mac — spread out across the world. The AirTag is just the beacon through which this search party can locate whatever wayward belonging of yours it is tracking. The technology is based on three main components:
1. The Bluetooth Signal: A Consistent, Anonymous Ping
But an AirTag doesn’t come with a GPS chip or its internet connection. Rather, it’s designed to just keep whispering the same, low-power Bluetooth message nonstop. This signal is a bit like a noiseless cry for help, and has a never-repeating identifier that circulates.
By functioning on Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), the AirTag can maintain a charge for up to a year before it needs to be refueled. This “ping” is the initial and most important step in the tracking process. When you are within Bluetooth range (about 30 to 40 feet), you can use your iPhone’s Find My app to make the AirTag play a noise from its built-in speaker, helping you find it yourself, like under a couch cushion or in a dirty room.
2. The Find My Network: A Locating System by the Crowd
This, too, is where the magic begins. When your AirTag is out of range of your Bluetooth, it needs the assistance of the Find My network.
If someone with an iPhone passes by your lost keys in a coffee shop, their iPhone will register your AirTag’s anonymous Bluetooth signal. The other person’s iPhone will then send the location to Apple’s servers using its own GPS and internet connection, and it will do so anonymously and securely. And that location is shared with your Find My app as a pin on your map.
Key points about this process:
- It’s Anonymous: The individual whose iPhone picked up your AirTag never learns that they helped track down your lost stuff, and you never receive their information. There’s no unveiling here; it’s silent and private and behind the scenes.
- It’s Encrypted: The location data is end-to-end encrypted. Only the AirTag’s owner can see its location.
- It’s Huge: Two-plus billion active Apple gizmos are everywhere, so the Find My network is super thick; even in densely populated areas, it’s a near certainty your lost item will encounter a network-connected device rather quickly.
3. UWB and Precision Finding: Pinpointing the Exact Location
For people who have an iPhone 11 or better, AirTag technology offers a more advanced option called Precision Finding. These iPhones feature Apple’s U1 chip, which takes advantage of Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology.
That’s because it is based on ultra-wideband (UWB), a short-range radio technology capable of producing a level of positioning and directionality precision that is loads better than furry old Bluetooth. You can turn on Precision Finding when you are within about 30 feet of your AirTag. Then your iPhone screen will display an arrow pointing toward the AirTag, along with the distance to the AirTag. Approach, and your phone will buzz (a haptic cue) ever more intensely.
This feature turns the hot-cold sound game into looking at a precise, on-screen indicator leading you right to your item.
Core AirTag Functions and Features
In addition to the technical underpinnings, AirTags come with a set of user-friendly features via the Find My app.
Easy Setup and Pairing
An AirTag works the same way Apple AirPods do: It is easy to set up. Simply bring the AirTag close to your iPhone, and a notification will appear on your screen. You then have the option to name (say “Car Keys,” “Backpack”) your AirTag and associate it with your Apple ID.
Lost Mode
If you are convinced your item is lost, you can turn on Lost Mode. This does several important things:
- It effectively locks your AirTag to your Apple ID, so no one else can pair with it.
- You’ll be notified immediately when your AirTag is detected on the Find My network.
- You can leave your phone number and a message. If someone discovers your AirTag, they can tap it with their phone (any smartphone that is) — iPhone or NFC-capable Android — and see the contact information you entered in so they can get in touch.
Sharing an AirTag
As long as they have an Apple ID or are a member of your Family Sharing group, you can simultaneously share the location of an AirTag with up to five additional users. This is great for a communal object like a set of car keys or the family pet’s collar. Anyone you share it with can then see where it’s located and use Precision Finding.
Privacy and Anti-Tracking Measures
Apple has built strong privacy safeguards into the AirTag system to prevent it from being misused. If you don’t notice or get the alert that an unknown AirTag is traveling with you as you go about your day, your iPhone will do some behind-the-scenes work to combat unwanted tracking.
If it does, you’ll get an alert on your iPhone that reads “AirTag Found Moving With You.” You can then launch the Find My app to see if that AirTag has been with you and ask to make it play a sound. If you happen to locate an AirTag you don’t recognize, you can check the serial number and receive an option to disable it.
And even if you don’t own an iPhone, AirTags will emit a little sound so long as they have been separated from their owner for three days or more and are constantly in motion to alert anyone nearby that might hear it.
What kind of battery does AirTag use? The CR2032
Your Apple AirTag is given life by a standard CR2032 battery. This is the very common CR2032 type 3V lithium coin cell battery. Sometimes called a button battery, this CR2032 is often used for watches, car remote key fobs, LEDs, and other small electronics. You’ve probably seen a 2032 battery before — they’re common in car key fobs, small remote controls, and watches.
The battery used in that Keyer, a CR2032, was selected for its long life and consistent output of power, as well as its working very well even in very low and very high temperatures.
Important Warning: Avoid CR2032 Batteries with Bitterant Coatings
One thing that you should pay attention to when you are looking for a replacement CR2032 battery is if there is a bitterant coating. In response, some manufacturers coat their coin batteries with a non-toxic bitterant to discourage accidental ingestion by children.
Apple specifically says that the CR2032 batteries covered in these substances may not be AirTag compatible. The coating could prevent the battery from touching the interior of the apparatus. When you’re shopping for an AirTag battery pack, just check the package for warnings or notes about working with the Apple AirTag. If there is a reference to a bitter coating, opt for another brand.
Where Can I Get CR2032 Batteries and Cost?
Fortunately, there are easy Apple AirTag battery replacements you can find, and they are quite cheap to buy. CR2032 lithium 3V coin battery packs can be bought at:
- Online retailers like Amazon
- Supermarkets and grocery stores
- Electronics stores
- Drugstores and pharmacies
The battery price of AirTag is pretty fair. The cost of maintaining your AirTag is very low because you can typically buy a multi-pack of premium batteries for a few dollars.
How to Verify the AirTag Battery Level
But before you run out and buy a new battery, it’s nice to know just how dead the one in your car (or motorcycle) might be. Your iPhone will inform you when the battery on your AirTag gets low, so it’s not something that you need to worry about, but if you would like to check it, you can always do so. Here’s how to use the Find My app to check the battery life:
- Launch the Find My app from your iPhone or iPad.
- Click on the “Items” tab found at the bottom of the screen.
- Pick the AirTag you want to find from the list.
If the battery is low or dead, you will see an icon or warning that says “Low Battery” directly below the name of the AirTag. You’re still good if there is no icon.
It is important to notice these signs so you can change the battery before it wears out, and you never lose track of accuracy.
How Long Do AirTag Batteries Hold a Charge?
According to reports, AirTag batteries last between a year and 18 months. That lifespan can change based on a few factors, including how often you use the “Play Sound” feature and how often it updates its location. Luckily, for the time that does come, replacing it is easy.
How to Change an AirTag Battery: Step-by-Step Guide
It is easy to change the AirTag battery, so this is something every AirTag user should know how to do. You don’t need any fancy tools. Here’s how you can perform a clean AirTag battery replacement:
- Open the AirTag: Lay the AirTag on a flat surface with the white plastic side facing downward. Hold your finger on the shiny stainless steel battery cover. Push down while you turn the cover off to the left.
- Take out the Old Battery: The cover will snap open. Just flip the AirTag upside down, and the old CR 2032 battery slides out.
- Insert the New Battery: Carefully place the new CR2032 battery into the holder with the positive (+) up touching it. So it ought to be like super easy to see the text on the battery when it’s in there, right?
- Close the AirTag: Match the three tabs on the battery cover to the three slots on the AirTag. Place the cover back on.
- Lock the Cover: Push the cover until it makes a slight sound, then turn the cover to the right to the end. The AirTag should make a sound to confirm that the battery has been attached and the device is active.
That’s it! Congratulations! You have now finished the AirTag battery replacement.
Workaround: What if AirTag For A New Battery doesn’t work?
If you’ve removed the battery and replaced it but your AirTag still isn’t making noise or appearing in the Find My app, here are things to try:
- Bitterant Film: This is a common one. Check again that your new battery does not have an anti-ingestion coating.
- Battery Position:The positive (+) end should be outwards
- Bad Battery: This is unlikely, but it could be a bum battery. Try another one from the pack.
- Dirty Contacts: Wipe the battery contacts inside the AirTag with a clean, dry cloth before installing the new battery.
Dealing with these standard problems typically solves any problems related to the AirTag battery not working.
How AirTags Work: The Technology That Makes Them Work on the Thickness of a Battery
To understand why a functioning battery is so crucial, it helps to know the technology it enables. AirTags are not just basic Bluetooth beacons; they are a nuanced piece of hardware that uses Apple’s entire ecosystem to work.
The Find My Network
At the heart of the AirTag’s capability is Apple’s massive Find My network, which is an encrypted, anonymous network made up of hundreds of millions of active iPhones, iPads, and Macs around the world. The chip of your AirTag that speaks to this network is kept powered by its battery.
Bluetooth as a Proximity Detector
The AirTag perpetually emits a secure, low-energy Bluetooth signal. When it’s in the vicinity of another person’s Apple device, that device will spy on your AirTag, catch a snippet of your signal, note the GPS location of the passing device, and securely transmit this information to you via iCloud. To preserve everyone’s privacy, the entire process is encrypted and anonymous.
Ultra-Wideband (UWB) for Precision Finding
For iPhone 11 and later, there is also a U1 chip that uses Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology. This allows for a feature called Precision Finding. As you get closer to an AirTag, say, your iPhone can give you precise, turn-by-turn instructions, including the distance to, haptic feedback, and on-screen arrows guiding you straight to the vicinity and location of the item.
GPS from Passing Devices
Many people mistakenly believe that AirTags have GPS, but they do not. They do not. Instead, they sneakily “borrow” the GPS location from any nearby Apple device on the Find My network that picks up their signal. And that is why a working battery is crucial — so that the AirTag can repeatedly push out that Bluetooth ping, hoping for a nearby gadget to give the AirTag its whereabouts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are the answers to a few of the most frequently asked questions about AirTag battery and functionality.
What type of battery does the AirTag use?
How long do AirTag batteries last?
Could I swap out the CR2032 with a CR2025 in an AirTag?
Is there an AirTag + Energizer CR2032 in the equation?
Can AirTags follow my luggage as it travels?
Does the AirTag work with Android?
Conclusion: The Small Battery with a Big Job
Apple AirTag design. It’s a pretty aluminum case, the fact that it’s small enough to tuck into tight spaces, and it barely weighs a thing. The real unsung hero of the Apple AirTag is the battery. The little $2 CR2032 battery, which runs the complicated tech that tethers your items to everything else in the world, allowing you just a bit more peace, whether you lost your keys in the couch cushions or your bag in the country.
By learning how to check, replace, and troubleshoot your AirTag’s battery, you can keep your tracker ready whenever you need it. If you’re willing to keep a pack of non-coated airtag batteries on stand-by, it’s a small price for something as powerful and dependable as the tracking the AirTags offer.
