Set up your AirTag using your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

: June 7, 2024
: Apple

Table of Contents

Set up your AirTag using your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Set up your AirTag using your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

With AirTag, you can keep track of everyday items like your keys or a backpack. Learn how to set up your AirTag with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

What you need

An iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 14.5 or iPadOS 14.5 or later and two-factor authentication turned on.
Find My turned on.
Bluetooth turned on.
A strong Wi-Fi or cellular connection.
Location Services turned on: Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services.
To be able to use Precision Finding and to see the most accurate location for your AirTag, turn on Location Access for Find My. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services, then scroll down and tap Find My. Check While Using the App or While Using the App or Widgets. Then turn on Precise Location.

If you have a Managed Apple ID, you can’t set up an AirTag.

Set up your AirTag

Make sure that your device is ready for setup.
If your AirTag is new, remove the wrap around the product and pull out the tab to activate the battery. Your AirTag will play a sound.
Hold your AirTag near your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, then tap Connect.* If you have multiple AirTags and see “More than one AirTag detected”, make sure that only one AirTag is near your device at one time. Need help connecting your AirTag?
Select an item name from the list, or select Custom Name to name your AirTag and choose an emoji. Then tap Continue.
To register your AirTag with your Apple ID, tap Continue again.
Tap Done.

Now you can attach your AirTag to your item and see it in the Find My app.

You can also set up your AirTag in the Find My app. Tap the Items tab, then tap Add Item.

Change the name of your AirTag

Open the Find My app, then tap the Items tab.
Tap the AirTag whose name or emoji you want to change.
Scroll down and tap Rename Item.
Select a name from the list or select Custom Name.
Type a custom name for your AirTag and select an emoji.
Tap Done.

If you can’t set up your AirTag

Make sure that your device is ready for setup.
If the setup animation disappeared, press the side button or Sleep/Wake button on your iPhone to put your device to sleep. Then wake and unlock your iPhone. Wait up to 15 seconds, and the animation should reappear.
If you have multiple AirTags to set up, make sure that only one is near your device at one time.
Remove and then replace the battery in your AirTag.*
If your AirTag still won’t connect to your device, reset your AirTag.

Learn what to do if you see a message that says the AirTag is connected to another Apple ID.

* Warning: AirTag, the battery cover, and the battery might present a choking hazard or cause other injury to small children. Keep these items away from small children.

Learn more about using your AirTag with Find My

Setting up multiple AirTags? To confirm which AirTag you just connected, play a sound using the Find My app after you register it with your Apple ID. Learn more about how to use the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac.
Learn how to locate a lost or missing item.
Learn how to remove an AirTag from your Apple ID so that someone else can use it.

Published Date: July 09, 2021