Apple AirTag Battery Life: Tips to Check and Improve Performance
For people who need help remembering where they have kept their belongings or keep misplacing their wallets, keys, and other essential items, an attractive technological solution has been the launch of Apple AirTag. A lightweight, portable device, AirTag is based on Bluetooth tech that maintains a track record of your essential belongings.
Now, for those who have been using the AirTag for a while, a common problem comes up now and then is the battery life of this fantastic device. often than not, people have asked how they can make the battery life of their AirTag device last longer.
Through this article, we will discuss how you can increase the battery life for the AirTag device. We will also explain how you can check the battery level of your AirTag device and when it is the right time to consider a battery replacement.
So, if you want to learn about your AirTag’s battery life, read on.
How to Check an AirTag’s Battery Life?
To start with the first question, if you want to check the battery life of your AirTag, you should know that when the device is low on battery, you get an automatic notification on the iPhone. Hence, if you have a notification on your iPhone, your AirTag needs to be checked.
Now, to check the battery percentage, you can follow the below steps-
- Based on the Apple device your AirTag is connected to, go to the Find My app on your iPhone or iPad.
- The Find My app will show a low battery level icon if the AirTag device has a low battery.
Even though the notification says low battery, this warning appears weeks before the device ends its battery life. It should work for the next few weeks before the device battery gives up.
But as a recommendation, it is suggested that once you receive a low battery notification, it is best to replace the AirTag battery before it’s too late and before you lose your belonging and cannot track it with the AirTag.
Factors affecting AirTag battery Life?
The AirTag functions on a battery that cannot be recharged; hence, you will need to replace it once it drains out. So, it is crucial to consider the factors that can affect the life of your AirTag’s battery.
One of the most common reasons the AirTag device’s battery drains out depends on how often the device is used. Ensure you only use the device when required and do not keep it powered on mode for no reason.
Another reason that may cause your AirTag’s battery to drain fast is the temperature and humidity around the device. The AirTag must always be kept in a cool, dry place for longer battery life. over, if you are keen on using AirTag’s features like Play Sound and Precision Tracking, it can also cause faster battery drainage.
Lastly, and most importantly, always purchase an original battery from a reputed brand for your AirTag to ensure long-lasting battery life. You can read more about how long does airtag battery last here.
Tips for Maximizing AirTag Battery Life
Here are some tips to help you maximize the battery life of your AirTag device-
- Use the device only when needed, and do not always keep it in active mode.
- Whenever you activate the AirTag, add a To-Do note in your app to replace the AirTag battery.
- Set the task as a recurrence after 11 months every time. You can also tag this task as a vacation.
Now, AirTags are often activated right after they are purchased, and for things like your luggage bag, you probably only need the AirTag once your vacation starts. But you tag each time you add an AirTag to an item, for example. In that case, your luggage is added as a task (vacation); you will know when to replace the battery since the To Do list will show when the AirTag battery is low or whether it has been 12 months since you activated the tag.
How to replace the AirTag battery?
If you want to replace the battery for your AirTag device, you can do so by below steps-
- On the cover of the AirTag, locate the steel battery cover and press on it. After that, move the cover anti-clockwise and rotate it until it can’t.
- Now, remove the battery cover and then take the battery out.
- Make sure you have the lithium 3-volt coin battery available and insert it, placing the positive side of the battery upwards.
- Once you hear an indicator sound, it confirms the battery has been placed and connected successfully.
You can now put the battery cover back by aligning the three tabs on it against the AirTag’s slots and then move the battery cover and rotate it clockwise to close it properly.
Is the Battery in an AirTag Rechargeable?
Unfortunately, you cannot recharge the AirTag battery once it has drained. Yet, these AirTag batteries have a long life and can easily last up to one year, depending on the device’s usage. over, you can always replace the battery by opening the AirTag device and placing a new CR2032 lithium battery.
Do AirTags Have Batteries That Can Be Changed?
AirTags come with preinstalled coin-sized lithium batteries. Even though an AirTag battery can last up to one year, you can replace them once the battery life is over. You can easily find replacement batteries in any local electronic store near you.
How Can You Check the Charging of an AirTag Battery?
If you want to know if the AirTag battery is functioning correctly and has excellent life remaining before it needs to be replaced, you can check the charge by visiting the Find My app on your Apple device. Under the Items section in the app, you can click on the AirTag device you want to check the battery life for and look at the battery icon to check the remaining battery levels.
What Kind of Battery Powers an AirTag?
The AirTag device is powered by a CR2032 battery that is coated with lithium and is a coin-sized cell battery.
When You Need an AirTag Battery Replacement
If you receive a notification on your Apple device connected to the AirTag confirming its battery level is low, it is time to replace the battery. Although, it has been confirmed that the AirTag low battery notification is not a high-priority alert, and the device’s battery can further work for several months after you receive such a notification. But it will eventually disable essential features on your AirTag as the battery level goes down further.
Conclusion
When used efficiently, AirTag is an interesting technology. But it is crucial to keep a check on the device’s usage to avoid battery draining before the stipulated duration. You can always manage your tagged items and ensure only essential items are tagged for regular usage. For items that are utilized occasionally, you should tag them with your AirTag when in use.
I hope this article was helpful, and that you are able to manage your AirTag’s battery levels better after going through the above content and can secure the battery without replacement, for a longer duration.
About Author
Himanshu Saxena is a tech writer who’s been writing for publications like The Next Web, App Annie, and more for the past seven years. When he’s not writing about apps or software, he likes to explore new places and cultures around the world.
Apple AirTag Battery Life: When Should You Replace the Battery?
Your Apple AirTag uses a common CR2032 battery, which means when the remaining charge gets low, you can replace the battery. Apple estimates that an AirTag battery should last more than a year. In this article, we’ll tell you how to determine if your AirTag’s battery needs to be replaced and how to replace the battery with a new one.
What determines the AirTag battery life?
The battery life of an AirTag depends on the expected battery life of the CR2032 battery it uses. It also depends on how much “work” the AirTag is doing. A CR2032 can last 4 or 5 years if it only gets used only intermittently, such as in a key fob.
When should you replace an AirTag battery?
You will, of course, want to replace the battery in your AirTag before the remaining charge gets too low. Unfortunately, there is no way to check the remaining charge from your iPhone. When the AirTag’s battery is low, you will get an alert on your iPhone, but there isn’t much information on exactly how much charge is left.
How to check the battery charge left in an AirTag
There is no way to check the AirTag battery from your iPhone (other than the notification you get when it is low). If you want to test the battery directly, you could take the battery out and use a universal battery tester or multimeter.
Choosing when to replace the battery
- You can wait until you get an “AirTag Battery is Low” notification on your iPhone. If you miss the notification, you will also see a message in Find My when you select your AirTag.
- You can change the battery when your AirTag is one year old. Most sources agree that Apple’s estimation of “more than a year” has been true.
- You can test your AirTag’s button battery with a battery tester or multimeter.
How to replace the battery in an Apple AirTag
When you decide to replace the battery, the process is pretty simple. Apple warns that batteries that have a bitterant coating (to deter children from swallowing them) may not work well in an AirTag. To replace an AirTag’s battery:
- With the AirTag white side down and silver stainless steel side up, press and turn the silver side counterclockwise until it is free from the rest of the AirTag.
- Remove the silver part of the AirTag cover and the battery.
- Put in a new CR2032 battery with the side up. The AirTag should make a sound.
- Put the silver cover back on. There are three tabs on the bottom side of the silver cover piece that should fit into three slots.
- Turn the silver cover piece clockwise until it is secured.
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Dr. Stacey Butler is a tech writer at macReports covering news, how-tos, and user guides. She is a longtime Mac and iPhone user and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. Here is her LinkedIn profile. Email Stacey Butler.
Apple AirTag Review
We tested an Apple AirTag and found it works best for tracking items, but it has some other uses too.
SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review. We may earn money when you buy through our links.
Apple AirTags worked well when we tested them and earned two thumbs up for tracking items like keys, purses, and luggage. They can also be used to track kids, pets, and cars, but that’s where things get a little sticky since AirTags don’t do a good job of tracking things in motion. We’ll explain what to expect from Apple AirTags no matter how you want to use them.
For even more details, check out our Apple AirTag FAQs.
Two women have filed a class action lawsuit against Apple with the claim that AirTags made it easier for them to be stalked and harassed. There have been a slew of headlines since AirTags launched about bad actors using the devices for nefarious purposes.
Earlier this year, Apple instituted new safeguards to alert people when AirTags are near them, and the company is also working with law enforcement on crime issues related to the devices.
Learn more about the risks of AirTags and how to keep them safe on our YouTube channel.
Apple AirTags vs. best GPS trackers
Apple AirTags have a longer battery life and way more affordable price tag than our favorite GPS trackers. But AirTags really have no other features besides location tracking. GPS trackers usually have geofencing alerts and scheduled location updates, whereas AirTags only show their location on demand.
Compare the best gps trackers
Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.Costs an additional 10/mo.
Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
Most affordable tracking device
Apple AirTags are incredibly affordable, especially compared to GPS trackers. Bluetooth trackers always cost less than GPS trackers anyway, but AirTags go a step further with no monthly fees, period.
Even the one-time purchase price of about 30 is as good as it gets.
You do need an iPhone to set up an AirTag, and those don’t come cheap. But if you’re already an iPhone user, AirTags are super budget-friendly.
How Apple AirTags track things
We go into more detail about how AirTags work in our Apple AirTag FAQs. Here’s the quick explanation:
Apple AirTags anonymously connect to any nearby Bluetooth-enabled device that’s also part of Apple’s Find My network—about 1.8 billion devices worldwide.
The AirTag’s location is estimated based on the GPS location of those devices. It shows up in the Find My app as a pin on the map.
You’d be able to see that you left your wallet in your car, for example, and not at your friend’s house. But if you still couldn’t find your wallet in your car, you could use the Find My app to make the AirTag beep. The sound would help you know which part of the car to rummage through.
And if that still didn’t work—and you’re lucky enough to have an iPhone 11 or later—you could use the Precision Finding tool to turn your phone into a compass. Just follow the arrow until the distance reaches zero, and you should be right on top of the lost item.
Bluetooth is too slow for items in motion
Bluetooth tracking technology is a catch-22 for AirTags. On the one hand, it’s the reason these quarter-sized gadgets are so affordable and can run for nearly a year on one battery. On the other hand, Bluetooth connections are relatively slow—and that means an AirTag can’t reliably connect to devices in the Find My network when it’s moving 65 miles an hour down the freeway, for example.
Other uses for Apple AirTags
You’re not at a total loss if you’re hoping to use AirTags to track cars, pets, or kids. You just need to understand the limitations of each use.
Tracking vehicles with AirTags: Okay for short trips
AirTags aren’t set-it-and-forget-it devices for tracking your teenage driver or trucking fleet, but they work okay for shorter trips in urban areas.
For starters, AirTags beep when separated from your iPhone for more than 8 to 12 hours. That’s a safety feature to prevent people from being tracked without their knowledge. But even if the driver gives you permission to use an AirTag, that beeping can’t be turned off. And it would be pretty annoying—but you could try putting the AirTag in the trunk and see if it’s tolerable.
Then there’s the issue of tracking things in motion. You’ll get location updates when the vehicle slows down or stops and is around other slow-or-stopped Find My devices. So you might get location updates at each red traffic light or whenever the car stops to get gas. But if the car doesn’t stop for hours or gets stranded in the middle of nowhere, you’re less likely to get an update.
For more accurate vehicle tracking, check out our recommended vehicle GPS trackers. While they do have monthly fees, you get a lot more value than with an AirTag.
Tracking pets with AirTags: Good in most cases
AirTags should work well for tracking pets as long as you don’t live in a remote area or on a huge farm. For example, if your farm dog decides to camp out with the cows for the night, there’s probably not a Find My device within 33 feet, so the AirTag couldn’t send a location update.
AirTag’s long battery life makes it ideal for attaching to your pet’s collar—you won’t have to take it off to charge, which could leave your pet vulnerable if they choose that moment to wander off. And the beeping shouldn’t be an issue since your pet probably hangs out within 33 feet of you within an 8-hour time span.
The only other time an AirTag would let you down is if your pet gets scared and runs off in a panic. The AirTag might not send a location update until they stop for a breather. You wouldn’t be able to track them in real-time, but it would be better than nothing.
You can find all kinds of colorful silicone collar attachments for Apple AirTags to keep them snug. And if you need a tracker that’s more reliable in the countryside, check out our favorite GPS dog collars and pet trackers.
Tracking kids with AirTags: Good complement
We consider AirTags a secondary layer of protection for kids. GPS trackers have fewer limitations than AirTags but can have a margin of error of about 16 feet. Imagine all the hiding places your child could find within a 16-foot radius—especially in a crowded area.
That’s when it would be helpful to use the Find My app to hone in on your child’s location. Otherwise, AirTags lack safety features like geofences and emergency buttons, so we don’t recommend them as your primary kid tracker. Check out our list of the best kids GPS trackers instead.
Do AirTags need to be charged?
Apple AirTags is an impressive, Smart, and capable Bluetooth item tracker. The Bluetooth low-energy key finder is a capable tracking tag that has been lauded for its accuracy for those in Apple’s ecosystem. However, you might ask yourself if you need to charge these little button-sized item trackers or how often airtags need to be charged.
Do Apple AirTags Need to Be Charged? Will AirTags Need to Charged?
You do not have to charge Apple AirTags item locators. Apple has proposedly designed your AirTags with user-replaceable CR2032 batteries. Hence, your Bluetooth Smart Home Accessory Tracker need not be charged. The Apple AirTag battery will die and you will need to buy new batteries and swap out the old ones.
So, if you’re wondering “do I need to charge my AirTag or how often do airtags need to be charged”, then it’s simply a matter of changing batteries. Nothing more!
Beat Curiosity “CR2032 batteries are the most common battery coin providing long-lasting, reliable power for various devices. They are used to power small electronic devices such as calculators, wristwatches, various medical devices, fitness appliances, toys, etc.
How long does AirTag battery last?
Apple claims that the AirTag’s battery life should last about one year.
Do AirTags tell you when battery is low?
Yes! When your AirTag battery is very low, a notification appears on your iPhone. Here’s how you can tell when battery is low:
- Open the Find My app
- Tap the Items tab
- Tap the AirTag whose battery charge you want to check
- If the charge is very low, Low Battery appears under the name of your AirTag
Is An AirTag Battery Rechargeable? How often do I need to charge my AirTag?
An AirTag battery isn’t rechargeable. The absence of a charging port means your only option is to replace the battery when it dies. There is absolutely no need or way to charge an AirTag because Apple designed them with user-replaceable CR2032 batteries
How To Change The Battery On An AirTag – Replace the battery in an AirTag
Now question that “Does the AirTag need to be charged” is answered, we need to figure out how to change the battery on an AirTag or replace the AirTag once it loses its cool.
Here’s how you can change the battery of your Bluetooth attachment locator
- Press down on the polished stainless steel battery cover of your AirTag and rotate counterclockwise until the cover stops rotating
- Remove the cover and battery
- Insert a new CR2032 lithium 3V coin battery (available at most electronic and drug stores) with the positive side facing up. You’ll hear a sound indicating that the battery is connected
- Replace the cover, making sure that the three tabs on the cover align with the three slots on the AirTag
- Rotate the cover clockwise until it stops
What is a bitterant coating on a CR2032?
Bitterant is a chemical used to make things taste and smell bitter and found on some small batteries like a CR2032
Final Thoughts On Do AirTags Require Charging
So, in conclusion. Do you have to charge AirTags or do airtags ever need to be charged? No, you do not. An AirTag’s battery life doesn’t last forever. However, it will last about one year from the time of activation.
Unlike other Apple products, an AirTag’s battery can’t be charged or ever need to be charged. It only requires battery replacement which is a simple and easy process.
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How to check and replace AirTag battery
Apple AirTag comes with a user-replaceable CR2032 coin cell battery. Although Apple touts that the tracker should last ‘over a year,’ using features like Precision Finding and Lost Mode may shorten its battery life. The good news? You can change or replace the AirTag battery with CR2032 which is readily available at most drugstores and big-box retailers.
While changing the battery is simple, let’s not be hasty! First, you must ensure that the battery actually needs replacement. In this article, I have explained the steps to check and replace along with the tips that will help you track your AirTag’s battery.
How to check AirTag battery life
Although it does not show you the exact percentage, it should give you a fair idea of how much juice is left on your tracker. If it is critically low, you would see the battery symbol filled with a red-colored bar.
Don’t worry; you won’t have to repeat this. Find My app will notify you as soon as your AirTag’s battery goes low.
Changing an AirTag’s battery is pretty simple and shouldn’t take much of your time When you have grabbed a new coin cell battery.
How to replace your AirTag battery
As soon as you replace your Tag’s battery, you’ll hear a chime confirming that the new battery is in place. You can now continue using AirTag as you normally would.
If you still see a red battery bar for your AirTag on your iPhone’s Find My app, even after replacing it with a new CR2032 battery, you may try resetting your AirTag.
Tips to maximize and track AirTag battery life
Even though there’s no battery saving mode on your AirTag, you can try the following steps to check your AirTag’s battery so that it does not run out when you need it the most.
- Take out the battery when you don’t need it.
- Set a reminder for every monthTo do this, simply summon Siri and ask her to set a reminder to “Check AirTag battery life on (say 1st or any date of your choice) of every month.” The app on your iPhone will now send you a notification for the same. Additionally, you can set the priority alert to ‘High’ so that the reminder stays on your screen until you check its battery.
Additional tip: Keep a spare CR2032 battery when you’re on vacation.