How to Replace an AirTag Battery

Apple’s AirTag is a great way to track lost or stolen items, and the battery inside the AirTag lasts for a good long time. (I got more than a year out of my AirTag’s first battery.) However, all good things must come to an end and your AirTag’s battery life is one of them. Luckily, it only takes a few moments to replace the battery. In this article, I’ll show you how to tell when your AirTag’s battery needs to be replaced, and how to replace it.

How to Find Out if Your AirTag Needs to Have the Battery Replaced

When your AirTag battery is very low and needs to be replaced, a notification will appear on your iPhone, as shown on the left-hand screenshot, seen below:

You can also use the Find My app to check if your AirTag battery needs to be replaced:

1. Open the Find My app.
2. Tap the Items tab.
3. Tap the AirTag whose battery level you wish to check.
4. If the charge is very low, Low Battery appears under the name of your AirTag, as seen above on the right-hand of the screenshot.

How to Replace Your AirTag Battery

Replacing your AirTag’s battery is easy and it should only take a few moments. Here’s how:

1. Press down on the battery cover of your AirTag and rotate counterclockwise until the cover stops rotating, as shown in the animation above.
2. Remove the cover and battery.
3. Insert a new CR2032 lithium 3V coin battery (available at most electronic stores, drug stores, and department stores) with the positive side facing up. You’ll hear a sound indicating that the battery is connected.
4. Replace the cover, making sure that the three tabs on the cover align with the three slots on the AirTag.
5. Rotate the cover clockwise until it stops.

Warning: Keep these items away from small children. The AirTag, the battery cover, and the battery might present a choking hazard or cause other injuries to small children.

Apple suggests using a bitterant-coated CR2032 battery, like the Duracell 2032 Lithium Coin Battery with Bitter Coating. Look for packaging that states “Compatible with Apple AirTag,” as some CR2032 batteries with bitterant coatings might not work with AirTag or other battery-powered products.

(Images courtesy of Apple)