Key Takeaways

• You'll need an iPhone or iPad to set up your AirTag for the first time. The process is similar to setting up AirPods.
• You can use the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to locate or control your AirTags. Apple Watch users can use the Find Items app instead.
• The Precision Finding feature helps you pinpoint the location of a missing AirTag that's nearby with visual and audio cues.

Apple's AirTags can help you keep tabs on almost any of your belongings. If you recently bought one and you're not sure where to start, read on, as we'll help you set up your AirTag with your iPhone and make the most of it.

What Is an AirTag?

An AirTag is a Bluetooth tracking device roughly the size of a bottle cap. The small disc can be attached to objects you might lose. Some of the best items you can attach an AirTag to include keys, remote control, wallet, and more.

Your iPhone will help you find any lost item with an AirTag attached. It does this by guiding your iPhone to the tracker if it's nearby, or showing you the location of the tracker on a map if it is further away.

All AirTags are water-resistant and come with built-in safety features. That makes them an ideal solution for iPhone users who want to keep tabs on their belongings.

Setting Up an AirTag With Your iPhone

One of the best features of the AirTag is its easy setup process. It's pretty similar to setting up your AirPods.

First, make sure that you've unwrapped the new AirTag from the protective plastic. Doing this will pull out the plastic tab that lets the AirTag turn on. You'll know you've done this when your AirTag plays a chime.

Next, just bring a new AirTag near your iPhone. Then, a pop-up will appear at the bottom of the screen, asking you to connect to the AirTag.

Once connected, you can choose a name for the AirTag, which also assigns a matching emoji to represent it in the Find My app. Next, you need to register the AirTag to your Apple ID account to complete the setup process.

Using an AirTag With Find My

When it comes to using your AirTag, there's no real work you need to do. The devices work automatically in the background. Each AirTag will refresh its location in the Find My app every time your iPhone comes near it or when it's near a Find My network device.

What makes the tracker so powerful is the Apple Find My network, which safely and securely links more than 1 billion Apple devices on the planet together.

If you want to see your AirTag's location, you just need to open the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. You'll see your AirTags under the Items section on the bottom bar. You can also use the similar Find Items app on your Apple Watch.

The app will display your AirTags on a map, along with your current location and a list. From here, tapping on an AirTag's name will give you the options of finding it, playing a sound, enabling Lost Mode, or removing it from your Apple ID. You can even share your AirTag's location with others.

You control everything about the AirTag from the Find My app. On the device itself, you'll only need to change the battery when it runs out, which Apple says is roughly once per year. Once you've put an AirTag somewhere, you can pretty much forget about it until you need to find it.

Using Your AirTag's Precision Finding Feature

If you have an iPhone 11 or later, you can also take advantage of the Precision Finding feature. As the name suggests, the feature will provide specific instructions on locating your AirTag when it's missing. You'll need to be in the Bluetooth range of the tracker, though.

When it's time to locate the AirTag, open the Find My app and head to the Items section. Pick the AirTag you want to find and then select Find Nearby. On your iPhone's screen, you will see both distance and direction information like "5 ft to your right."

If the on-screen instructions aren't enough, you can press the speaker icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen to make your AirTag play a chime. This audio cue is handy if your AirTag is stuck between your sofa cushions or hiding under a pile of documents, for example.

Changing Your AirTag's Battery

Unlike many other Apple products, AirTags come with a replaceable battery. This is a CR2032 battery, the same one many other Bluetooth trackers and watches use. Replacing your AirTag's battery is a simple and quick process.

When you need to change the battery on your AirTag, just push down and twist the metal section of the device to open it up. It's similar to the child safety cap on most medicine bottles. The metal part pops off, allowing access to the battery inside.

You can simply tip the battery out from the AirTag's case and put the new one in with the positive (+) side facing towards you. The AirTag will play a chime when you twist the metal back cover to its original position, confirming that the battery works.

Now that you've learned the process of using an AirTag down to a tee, it's time to start using yours. The next time you misplace your keys, you'll be able to find them much easier than ever before.