AirTags Not Working? Here's The Fix!

David and David explain what to do when AirTags are not working or connecting to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod. AirTags are designed to connect seamlessly to your Apple device, but sometimes things can go wrong.

1. Introduction [0:00]
2. Make Sure Your Device Is Connected To The Internet [0:12]
3. Turn Bluetooth Off and Back on [0:27]
4. Make Sure Your AirTag Is Within Range Of Your Device [0:39]
5. Make Sure The "Find My" App Is Installed [0:51]
6. Restart Your Device [1:15]
7. Update iOS or iPadOS [1:39]
8. Clean Your AirTags [2:13]
9. Reset Your AirTag [3:49]
10. Reset Network Settings [4:32]
11. Replace Your AirTags Battery [5:15]
12. Contact Apple [5:42]

If AirTags are not working on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod, make sure your device is running iOS 14.5 or iPadOS 14.5, connected to the internet, connected to Bluetooth, and in range of your AirTag. Location Services and two-factor authentication both need to be turned on.

AirTags won't work if the Find My app isn't installed on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod, so make sure it is. Restarting your device and updating it can also fix the problem when your AirTag is not working.

It's possible your AirTag won't connect to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod because the small plastic tab your AirTag came packaged in hasn't been removed. You can get a better look at this when you open up your AirTag to reset it.

The final at-home fix is Reset Network Settings, which erases and restores all Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Cellular, and VPN settings to factory defaults.

Get Social With Payette Forward:

[tomd]

The 5-time batt replace worked! I never would have guessed that in a million years. Thanks guys

[jascam]

Before you toss away the little hockey pucks out of frustration, remember they show up under ITEMS not devices on the Find My App on iPhone. However still trying to find them on my iMac iCloud.

[TxJJ]

I had little hope for the 5 times battery suggestion but IT WORKED! My son told me to check YouTube for a fix before buying new ones. Thanks for saving me $99 for a new 4 pack.

[MM-jykw]

You guys are great! I, a 70-year-old grandma was able to follow and fix my tag. Thanks a million!

[kengrimmer]

Well explained and worked like a charm after removing the battery 5 times! Thank you gentlemen!!

[ezekiel]

Removing the battery and re-inserting it 5 times to reset the device worked for me after nothing else would, thank you!

[AbodeArchitecture]

Thanks! The reset / 5 times battery in and out at 5:00 minutes worked for me, but I had to do it like 8 or 9 times

[shelbyowens]

I have a question. I got a air tag for my sons backpack. And because he’s only five and new to riding the bus. I wanted to watch the bud route. And his location wasn’t loading at first it was loading every five minutes. Then it got up to 12 minutes. What should I do?

[rippsu]

Will this work if the message saids to your Apple ID cannot add another AirTag until one or more have been removed? I’ve never actually synced one before so I’m not sure where this is coming from and this device is fresh out the box

[PayetteForward]

Update: In addition to everything in the video, we wanted to mention a couple more things to check:
1. Two-Factor Authentication needs to be turned on for your Apple ID for AirTags to work. To turn on Two-Factor Authentication on your iPhone, go to Settings -> (Your Name) -> Password & Security, and tap "Turn On Two-Factor Authentication".
2. Location Services also needs to be turned on for the "Find My" app. To check that, go to Settings -> Privacy -> Location Services -> Find My, and make sure "While Using This App" is selected. Turn on the "Precise Location" switch, too!

[billiejoallen]

THANK YOU!!! I fought with mine for hours, then I watched this Worked immediately...

[digitalbreakthroughs]

I don’t know how you figured out that removing the battery 5 times reset it, but it worked! Thank you!

[jamesholmanfilm]

Resetting by reinserting the battery five times worked a treat. Thanks!

[sbutler]

Great video! Unfortunately, instructions didn't work for me. I had given an AirTag to my husband. He decided he didn't want to use it any more, so he gave it back to me. We thought we had removed it from his AppleID but even though we couldn't see it any more and we did the factory reset, the AirTag failed to pair with my iPhone. So I ended up pairing it with his iPhone again, then removing it from his iPhone, and I could pair it with mine immediately afterwards. It took me last night and today to figure out that this was the solution. Hope it helps someone here! Keep up the great work gentlemen!

[moeh]

Thank you so much. I replaced my AirTag battery yet my iPhone didn’t recognize it. Tried few other steps & they all failed, but that reset brought it back alive. Many thanks.

[shaunbailey]

Five time battery replace worked on two tags that stopped working at the same time when trying to reconnect. Thanks guys. Super helpful

[milianahernandez]

removing the battery 5 times worked for me! thank you so much!

[jasmoo_bmo]

The only source that I found that mentioned resetting by taking the battery out 5 times and it worked. I tried cleaning it like other videos mentioned but I was already hearing the chirp before I cleaned so that wasn't the issue. Thanks for being thorough with all the tips!

[gkradar]

Oh my gosh! You both are frustration saver. I let the battery totally die before I changed it. Then it did not find it! I followed your instructions step by step, and the removing the battery 5 times did it! Thank you very much!! YOU ARE A LIFE SAVER! Thanks

[Universe]

Resetting by removing the battery, then putting it back on five times worked thank you guys