Where to find your AirTag battery status

Your iPhone shows your AirTag battery level in the Find My app. Open Find My, tap the Items tab at the bottom, select your AirTag from the list, and look at the battery percentage displayed under the AirTag's name. This is the fastest way to check — the battery reading updates whenever your iPhone connects to that AirTag or receives a location update from it.

If you have multiple AirTags, each one shows its own battery percentage in the same Items list. The battery icon next to each AirTag name also gives you a quick visual: a full green circle means good battery, and a yellow or red circle means the battery is running low.

Android users cannot see AirTag battery status through any app. If you use an Android phone, you will need to check the battery by looking at the physical AirTag itself or by borrowing an iPhone to open Find My.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Find My app on your iPhone, tap Items, and select your AirTag to see the exact battery percentage.
  • The battery icon next to each AirTag name shows at a glance whether the battery is healthy, low, or critically low.
  • Battery readings update when your iPhone connects to the AirTag or receives a location ping from it, so the number may lag by a few hours.
  • AirTag batteries last roughly one year of normal use before you need to replace them with a standard CR2032 coin cell battery.

What the battery icons mean

Find My uses three battery states to show you at a glance how much charge your AirTag has left. A green circle with a full battery icon means your AirTag has plenty of charge. A yellow circle with a half-full battery icon means the battery is getting low but still working — you have time to plan a replacement. A red circle with an empty battery icon means the battery is critically low and may stop working within days.

The exact percentage matters less than the color. If you see yellow or red, order a CR2032 battery now so you have it on hand when the AirTag stops responding. Waiting until the AirTag goes dead means you lose tracking until you replace the battery.

When battery readings update

The battery percentage in Find My does not update in real time. Instead, it refreshes when your iPhone last connected to the AirTag or received a location update from it. If you check the battery and then immediately check again without moving the AirTag or opening Find My again, you will see the same number.

This means the battery percentage you see may be a few hours old, especially if the AirTag has not moved recently. If you see a low battery warning but the AirTag still works fine, the actual battery level is probably slightly lower than what Find My shows. Do not wait for the percentage to hit zero before replacing the battery.

How long AirTag batteries last

A new CR2032 battery in an AirTag typically lasts around one year under normal use. Normal use means the AirTag is in your bag, on your keys, or attached to an item you carry regularly — not constantly being tracked or pinged. If you use Find My to locate your AirTag frequently, the battery will drain faster.

The battery life also depends on how often the AirTag sends location updates. An AirTag on your keys that you carry every day will last longer than one in a car you only drive once a week, because the car AirTag sends fewer updates. Once the battery hits red, plan to replace it within a few days.

Replacing your AirTag battery

To replace the battery, hold the stainless steel back of the AirTag and twist the white plastic battery cover counterclockwise until it comes loose. The old CR2032 battery will fall out. Drop in a new CR2032 battery with the positive side facing up, then twist the cover back on clockwise until it clicks.

After you replace the battery, Find My will update the battery percentage within a few minutes. You do not need to unpair or re-pair the AirTag — it will reconnect automatically. If Find My still shows a low battery after you have replaced it, force-close the Find My app and open it again to refresh the reading.

Troubleshooting a stuck battery reading

Sometimes Find My shows a low or dead battery even though you just replaced it. This usually means the app has not refreshed yet. Close Find My completely by swiping up from the bottom of the screen (or using the app switcher), wait 10 seconds, and open it again. The battery percentage should update within a minute.

If the battery still shows as dead after you have replaced it and refreshed the app, the AirTag may not be connecting to your iPhone. Move the AirTag closer to your iPhone and wait a few seconds. If it still does not connect, the AirTag itself may have a hardware problem — try removing and reinserting the battery to make sure it is seated properly, then try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my AirTag battery on my Mac or iPad?

Yes. Open Find My on your Mac or iPad, click or tap the Items tab, select your AirTag, and the battery percentage appears in the details panel. The process is the same as on iPhone.

What type of battery does an AirTag use?

AirTags use a CR2032 coin cell battery, which is a standard battery you can buy at any pharmacy, grocery store, or electronics retailer for a few dollars. Do not use a rechargeable CR2032 — use a standard alkaline one.

Will my AirTag stop working immediately when the battery dies?

No. When the battery gets very low, the AirTag will stop sending location updates, but it may still respond to Find My pings for a short time. Once the battery is completely dead, the AirTag will not respond at all until you replace the battery.

Does the battery percentage in Find My ever show 0%?

Rarely. Most of the time, Find My will show a red battery icon and a very low percentage, then stop updating once the AirTag stops responding. If you see 0%, the battery is dead and the AirTag will not work until you replace it.

How do I know if my AirTag battery is fake or defective?

If a new battery shows as dead in Find My within a few days, remove it and reinsert it to make sure it is seated properly. If it still shows dead, try a different battery from a different package to rule out a defective cell. If the second battery also shows dead immediately, the AirTag itself may be faulty.