Download Article
Update your AirTag's location with these workarounds
Download Article
Has your AirTag been displaying the same location for a while, even though you've moved it? Perhaps your AirTag is missing, and you've been trying to find it with the Find My app on your iPhone to no avail. While you can't manually refresh your AirTag's location, there are some simple troubleshooting steps you can use to fix the problem. In this article, we'll go over 9 methods to refresh your AirTag so its current location shows properly.
Things You Should Know
- Your AirTag will update its location automatically if someone with a Find My device is close to it.
- Ensure Location Services, Find My iPhone, and Bluetooth are all active on your iPhone, as your AirTag uses these services to display its location.
- If your AirTag is nearby and not refreshing, remove and re-add it to the Find My app.
Steps
Section 2 of 9:
Get Directions to Your AirTag
-
Open the Find My app. By asking the Find My app to give you directions to your AirTag, the AirTag's location may refresh. [3] X Research source
-
Select the AirTag you want to refresh.
-
Tap Find Nearby if you're close to your AirTag. If your AirTag is within Bluetooth range, you'll see this option on the screen. It has a green arrow and is next to the Play Sound button. [5] X Research source
- If you don't see Find Nearby , open your iPhone's Settings , go to Privacy & Security > Location Services , and make sure Location Services is enabled. Then, scroll down, tap Find My , and enable Precise Location . [6] X Research source
- If you still don't see Find Nearby , your AirTag isn't close enough to your iPhone. Tap Directions to locate it on a map so you can get close enough to find it. [7] X Research source
-
Follow the on-screen instructions to find your AirTag. If you don't see your AirTag on the map, move around until your phone connects to the AirTag.
Advertisement
Section 3 of 9:
Turn On Location Services
-
Open your iPhone's Settings app. AirTag relies on Location Services being on, so if Location Services got turned off on your phone you may not be able to accurately find your AirTag using Find My. [8] X Research source
-
Select Privacy & Security . You will have to scroll down a little to find this section, and the menu item has an icon of a white hand in a blue square.
Advertisement
Section 4 of 9:
Ensure Find My iPhone is On
-
Open your Settings app. AirTags also use the Find My network, so your AirTag may not work properly if you have Find My iPhone turned off. [10] X Research source
-
Tap your name at the top of the screen.
-
Tap Find My iPhone at the top of the screen. If Find My is already on, it will say On on the menu item. [12] X Research source
-
Toggle on Find My iPhone. At this point, try reopening the Find My app to see if your AirTag location has updated.
Advertisement
Section 5 of 9:
Check Bluetooth
-
Open your Settings app. AirTags utilize Bluetooth, so if your Bluetooth is turned off you may experience issues with your AirTag's location updating properly. [13] X Research source
-
Tap Bluetooth . If Bluetooth is already on, it will say On on the menu item.
-
Toggle on Bluetooth. Now that Bluetooth is on, check the Find My app to see your AirTag's updated location.
Advertisement
Section 6 of 9:
Turn Airplane Mode On and Off
-
Open your Settings app. Airplane Mode turns off all of your network connections, and it can be an easy way to refresh those connections to clear out any bugs or glitches that might be occurring that interfere with your AirTag's location.
-
Toggle on Airplane Mode. It's near the top of the screen and has a yellow icon with a white airplane. [14] X Research source
-
Toggle off Airplane Mode after a few moments. Your Wi-Fi and cellular connections should reconnect after a few seconds.
Advertisement
Section 7 of 9:
Check iPhone Connectivity
-
Open your Settings app. AirTags don't use Wi-Fi or your cellular network, but you'll need to be connected to the internet to use the Find My app to check your AirTag's location. If your connection has lapsed, you may experience issues updating your AirTag's location on your iPhone. [15] X Research source
-
Tap on Wi-Fi . If you're already connected to Wi-Fi, it will say On next to the menu item. [16] X Research source
-
Connect to a Wi-Fi network. Select any network you have access to, and enter the password if necessary. [17] X Research source
- If you can't connect to Wi-Fi, ensure cellular data is still on by tapping Cellular from the main Settings menu and ensuring Cellular Data is toggled on.
Advertisement
Section 8 of 9:
Re-add the AirTag
-
Open the Find My app. If your AirTag's location isn't refreshing, removing it from Find My and adding it again may help reset the location. [18] X Research source
- This method will only work if the AirTag is nearby, not if it's lost.
-
Select the AirTag you want to refresh.
-
Scroll up to show all of the AirTag's options.
-
Select the red Remove Item option. A screen will come up confirming what will happen when you remove the AirTag. [20] X Research source
-
Tap Remove at the bottom of the screen.
-
Add the AirTag back once it has been fully removed. Add the AirTag back to your device to see if it helps with the location not updating. [22] X Research source
Advertisement
Section 9 of 9:
Replace the Battery
-
Unscrew the battery cover. Press down on the stainless steel battery cover on your AirTag and rotate counterclockwise. [23] X Research source If your AirTag battery is low, it may have trouble updating its location properly.
- This method can only be completed if the AirTag is with you, not if it's missing.
-
Lift the cover and remove the battery. [24] X Research source
-
Insert a new CR2032 lithium 3V coin battery into the AirTag. Make sure to use a battery that doesn't have a bitterant coating, as these batteries may not work in your AirTag. [25] X Research source
-
Replace the cover. Make sure the tabs on the battery cover align with the slots on your AirTag, then rotate the cover clockwise until it stops moving. [26] X Research source
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
References
- ↑ https://www.apple.com/airtag/
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/mark-an-item-as-lost-iph1b451b75f/ios
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/locate-an-item-ipha779f0c10/ios
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/104978
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/104978
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/109021
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/109021
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102648
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102647
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102648
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102648
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102648
- ↑ https://www.apple.com/airtag
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/108785
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/111107
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/111107
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/111107
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/remove-an-item-iph869abb075/ios
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/remove-an-item-iph869abb075/ios
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/remove-an-item-iph869abb075/ios
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/remove-an-item-iph869abb075/ios
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/add-an-airtag-iphf666e9559/ios
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102600
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102600
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102600
- ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/102600
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 165,679 times.
Advertisement