The AirTag is equipped with a battery that, according to Apple, lasts about a year. Fortunately, you don’t have to throw the AirTag in the trash afterwards, because you can easily replace the battery in your AirTag. But how do you know if the AirTag battery is empty? And which battery fits in your AirTag? In this article you can read everything you need to know about replacing the AirTag battery, its lifespan and AirTag battery status.
- Replace battery
- Battery status
- Which battery?
- No bitter coating
This video from Apple shows how the battery replacement works:
Replace AirTag battery
It is very easy to open the AirTag and replace the battery yourself. This is what you need to do:
- If necessary, remove the AirTag from a case or key ring.
- Place two fingers on the shiny stainless steel side of the AirTag (the part with the Apple logo).
- Press with your fingers and turn counterclockwise.
- The lid comes loose. You can now take out the battery.
- Insert the new battery into the AirTag. The flat side (with the brand and type of battery) must be on top.
- Place the stainless steel lid on the AirTag and ensure that the protrusions fit into the notch.
- Press the lid again with two fingers and turn clockwise until it clicks into place.
A sound will sound as soon as the new battery has been inserted correctly and the AirTag has reconnected with your iPhone.
Where do I see the AirTag battery status?
A new battery in the AirTag lasts about a year. Apple assumes that a sound will be played four times and a Precise Search will be performed once per day. Apple will notify you in time via a notification on your iPhone if the AirTag’s battery is almost empty, so that you still have time to buy a new battery.
Until iOS 15.6 it was possible to check the battery status of the AirTag at any time. You do this via the Find My app:
- Open the Find My app on iPhone.
- Tap the Objects tab. Tap the AirTag whose battery status you want to view.
- Below the name and current location you will see a battery icon. This indicates the current battery charge.
Starting from iOS 15.6, Apple will only show the battery status of the AirTag when the battery is low. You will then see a red icon. It is therefore no longer possible to view the more exact battery status.
Unfortunately, it is also not possible to find out the exact battery percentage. This is also not possible with Siri or the Batteries widget.
Which AirTag battery do I need?
The AirTag uses a CR2032 coin cell battery. This is available at the supermarket and other stores where you can buy batteries. The CR2032 AirTag battery can also be purchased online and costs a few euros. You can often save extra money if you buy several at once. If you also have multiple AirTags, that is a wise choice. But one CR2032 battery is not the same, because some models with bitter coating are not suitable.
Apple: ‘Don’t use batteries with bitter coating’
Does the battery of your AirTag need to be replaced? Apple does not recommend using button cell batteries with a bitter coating. Some manufacturers (including Duracell) apply a bitter coating to their CR2032 batteries to prevent children from swallowing them. Contact with saliva creates a bad taste, which prevents children from sucking on it. Once swallowed, the batteries can cause a dangerous chemical reaction.
However, in a support document, Apple warns that bitter-coated batteries may not work in the AirTag. This has to do with the location of the coating, in relation to the contact points. In Australia, the use of CR2032 batteries has already caused a stir, prompting some retailers to remove the tracker from stores. It would be too easy to open the AirTag and swallow the battery.
Some manufacturers explicitly state this on the packaging, as you can see in the image. To be on the safe side, we recommend choosing a battery that does not have such a coating. Brands that do not cause any problems in our experience are the batteries from Varta and Panasonic. The latter is also included as standard with the AirTag by Apple. Varta has placed the coating in a place that does not bother the AirTag. Always keep the AirTag out of the reach of children.
Also read our other tips about the AirTag:
- Is it possible to use an AirTag against theft?
- This is how you find the AirTag serial number and firmware version
- Rename AirTag: Here’s how you can use it for another item
Are you still looking for a suitable accessory for your AirTag? Then read our article with the best AirTag accessories. If you still want to buy the AirTag, you can go to a large number of stores.
