AirTag
AirTag is a tracking device developed by Apple. AirTag is designed to act as a key finder, which helps people find personal objects such as keys, bags, apparel, small electronic devices and vehicles. To locate lost or stolen items, AirTags use Apple's crowdsourced Find My network, estimated in early 2021 to consist of approximately one billion devices worldwide that detect and anonymously report emitted Bluetooth signals.
AirTags are compatible with any iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch device capable of running iOS/iPadOS 14.5 or later, including iPhone 6S or later. Using the built-in U1 chip on iPhone 11 or later, users can more precisely locate items using ultra-wideband technology. AirTag has been available since 2021.
An updated model with the U2 chip, upgraded Bluetooth, and a louder speaker was released in January 2026. It has enhanced range for precision detection with iPhones equipped with a U2 chip such as the iPhone 15/Pro or later, and also allows an Apple Watch with a U2 chip such as the Apple Watch Series 9 or later, or Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later, to precisely locate items. The second generation AirTag is compatible with devices running iOS/iPadOS/watchOS 26.2.1 or later.
History
The product was rumored to be under development in April 2019. In February 2020, it was reported that Asahi Kasei was prepared to supply Apple with tens of millions of ultra-wideband parts for the rumored AirTag in the second and third quarters of 2020, though the shipment was ultimately delayed. On April 2, 2020, a YouTube video on Apple Support page also confirmed AirTag. In Apple's iOS 14.0 release, code was discovered that described the reusable and removable battery that would be used in the AirTag. In March 2021, Macworld stated that iOS 14.5 beta's Find My user interface included "Items" and "Accessories" features meant for AirTag support for a user's "backpack, luggage, headphones" and other objects. AppleInsider noted that the beta included safety warnings for "unauthorized AirTags" persistently in a user's vicinity.In May 2024, Bloomberg reported that Apple was preparing a new version of the AirTag, codenamed B589.
Features
AirTags can be interacted with using the Find My app. Users may trigger the AirTag to play a sound from the app. iPhones equipped with the U1 or U2 chip can use "Precision Tracking" to provide direction to and precise distance from an AirTag. Precision Tracking utilizes ultra-wideband.AirTags are not satellite navigation devices. AirTags are located on a map within the Find My app by utilizing Bluetooth signals from other anonymous iOS and iPadOS devices out in the world. To help prevent unwanted tracking, an iOS/iPadOS device will alert their owner if someone else's AirTag seems to be with them, instead of with the AirTag's owner, for too long. If an AirTag is out of range of any Apple device for a random duration between 8 and 24 hours, it will begin to beep to alert a person that an AirTag may have been placed in their possession.
Users can mark an AirTag as lost and provide a phone number and a message. Any iPhone user can see this phone number and message with the "Identify Found Item" feature within the Find My app, which utilizes near-field communication technology. Additionally, devices with NFC capabilities can identify an AirTag with a tap, which will redirect to a website containing the message and phone number.
AirTag requires an Apple Account and iOS or iPadOS 14.5 or later. It uses the CR2032 button cell battery, replaceable with one year of battery life. The maximum range of Bluetooth tracking is estimated to be around 30 meters. The water-resistance of an AirTag is rated IP67 water and dust; an AirTag can withstand 30 minutes of water immersion in standard laboratory conditions. Each Apple Account is limited to 32 AirTags.
Firmware version history
Apple does not provide a way for users to force an AirTag to carry out a firmware update. Firmware updates may happen automatically whenever an AirTag is in Bluetooth range of the paired iPhone and both devices have sufficient battery.| Version | Build | Release date | Release notes |
| Initial version at launch | |||
| rowspan=3 | 1A276d | Modifies the time period before an AirTag will play a sound after being separated from its owner. Originally three days, the update shortens the period to a randomized window ranging from eight to 24 hours. | |
| 1A287a | - | Modifies the time period before an AirTag will play a sound after being separated from its owner. Originally three days, the update shortens the period to a randomized window ranging from eight to 24 hours. | |
| 1A287b | - | Modifies the time period before an AirTag will play a sound after being separated from its owner. Originally three days, the update shortens the period to a randomized window ranging from eight to 24 hours. | |
| rowspan=4 | 1A291a | Unknown | |
| 1A291c | - | Unknown | |
| 1A291e | - | Unknown | |
| 1A291f | - | Unknown | |
| 1A301 | Tuning the unwanted tracking sound to more easily locate an unknown AirTag. | ||
| 2A24e | |||
| 2A36 | Resolves an issue with the accelerometer not activating in certain scenarios. | ||
| 2A61 | Bug fixes and other improvements. | ||
| 2A73 | March 19, 2024 | No declared release notes. |
Applications
Tracking checked luggage
AirTags have become extremely popular among travelers to track checked luggage on flights and empower them when luggage is lost by carriers. In response, Lufthansa stated that AirTags were not permissible in luggage checked with the carrier. The carrier backtracked after a risk assessment by German risk authorities following widespread criticism and accusations that it was seeking to avoid accountability. The Federal Aviation Administration has ruled that storing AirTags in checked luggage is permitted and not a safety hazard as they contain less than 100 mg of lithium.Theft prevention and recovery
AirTags have been used to track stolen property and assist police in recovering them for return to their rightful owners. In February 2023, a North Carolina family discovered that their car had been stolen. In coordination with local police, they utilized an AirTag placed in the vehicle to locate the car and were able to recover their property. Police were reportedly elated at the ease at which they were able to arrest the criminals and recover the property by using the AirTag.Criticism
Use by stalkers
Despite Apple's inclusion of technologies to help prevent unwanted tracking or stalking, The Washington Post found that it was "frighteningly easy" to bypass the systems put in place. It has been described as "a gift to stalkers". Concerns included the built-in audible alarm taking three days to sound, and the fact that most Americans had Android devices that would not receive alerts about nearby AirTags that iPhone devices receive. AirTags cannot have most of their components replaced correctly, but it has been found that AirTags with their speakers forcibly removed from the rest of the components were being used to track people. The AirTag cannot detect this change, making it harder for people to find out that an AirTag had been stalking them. AirTags with their speakers removed have been found for sale on sites such as eBay and Etsy. In January 2022, BBC News spoke to six women who stated that they had found unregistered AirTags inside belongings such as cars and bags.In late 2021, Apple released an app called Tracker Detect on the Google Play Store to help users of Android 9 or later to discover unknown AirTags near them in a "lost" state and potentially being used for malicious tracking purposes. The app does not run in the background.
In February 2022, Apple added a warning for users setting up their AirTag, notifying them that using the device to track people is illegal and the device is only meant for tracking personal belongings. The AirTag chirps within 8 to 24 hours if it has been separated from the device it is paired with.