Remove the tab, then open Find My on your iPhone

When you first unbox an AirTag, a small plastic tab sits under the battery to keep it from draining during shipping. Pulling that tab activates the AirTag, but it does not automatically connect to your iPhone — you need to complete a pairing step in the Find My app.

Start by pulling the tab straight out from the bottom of the AirTag. You will hear a sound confirming the battery is now active. Then unlock your iPhone and open the Find My app (it comes built in on all recent iPhones). If you do not see Find My on your home screen, swipe left to reach your app library and search for it there.

Make sure Bluetooth is turned on. You can check this in Settings > Bluetooth, or swipe down from the top right of your screen to open Control Center and tap the Bluetooth icon to turn it on if it is off.

Key Takeaways

  • Pull the plastic tab from the bottom of the AirTag to activate the battery, and you will hear a confirmation sound.
  • Open the Find My app on your iPhone and tap the plus icon to start pairing a new AirTag.
  • Hold the AirTag near your iPhone during setup so Bluetooth can detect it within a few seconds.
  • Name your AirTag something descriptive (like "Keys" or "Wallet") so you can identify it later in the Find My app.
  • The entire pairing process takes less than a minute once you have the Find My app open.

Tap the plus icon and hold the AirTag near your phone

In the Find My app, tap the plus icon in the top right corner (or the plus sign next to "Items" if you are on the Items tab). Select "Add AirTag" from the menu that appears.

Hold the AirTag close to your iPhone — within a few inches works best. Your phone will search for the AirTag using Bluetooth. This usually takes just a few seconds. When your iPhone detects it, you will see the AirTag appear on your screen with a large image and a "Connect" button.

Tap "Connect" and wait for the pairing to finish. Your iPhone will confirm the connection and move to the naming screen.

Name your AirTag and choose where to place it

After pairing, the Find My app asks you to name the AirTag. Choose something specific so you can tell it apart from other AirTags if you have more than one — "Keys," "Wallet," "Backpack," or "Car" are common choices. You can change the name later if you want.

Next, you will see a list of emoji and color options to represent your AirTag visually in the app. Pick whichever one appeals to you — this is purely for display and does not affect how the AirTag works.

The app then asks where you plan to put the AirTag. Select the item type that matches what you are tracking. This helps Siri and the Find My app give you better suggestions when you ask to find your keys or wallet.

What happens if pairing does not work

If the AirTag does not appear after holding it near your iPhone for 10 seconds, try moving it slightly closer or farther away — sometimes the sweet spot for Bluetooth detection is not exactly where you expect. Make sure Bluetooth is still on and that you are not in airplane mode.

If the AirTag still does not show up, try restarting your iPhone. Turn it off completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Then open Find My again and repeat the pairing steps. A restart often clears temporary Bluetooth issues.

If you see an error message saying the AirTag is already paired, it may have been set up on a different Apple account. You can unpair it by opening Find My, tapping the AirTag, scrolling down, and selecting "Remove Item." Then try pairing again.

Using your AirTag after setup is complete

Once pairing is done, your AirTag will appear in the Find My app under the Items tab. You can tap it anytime to see its last known location on a map. If the AirTag is nearby and you want to find it physically, tap "Find" and your iPhone will play a sound to help you locate it.

The AirTag will continue to work in the background, updating its location whenever it is near another Apple device running Find My. If you lose the item your AirTag is attached to, you can mark it as lost in the Find My app, and Apple will notify you if anyone's device detects it.

The battery inside an AirTag lasts about a year under normal use. When it runs low, the Find My app will send you a notification. Replacement batteries are standard CR2032 coin cells, which you can buy at most drugstores and swap in yourself by twisting the back of the AirTag open.

Pairing multiple AirTags to the same iPhone

If you want to track more than one item, you can pair as many AirTags as you want to a single iPhone. Just repeat the process: pull the tab on the new AirTag, open Find My, tap the plus icon, and hold the new AirTag near your phone.

Each AirTag will appear as a separate item in your Find My app with its own name and location. You can manage them all from one place, and they will not interfere with each other.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pull the tab every time I use the AirTag?

No. You only pull the tab once, when you first unbox the AirTag. The battery stays active after that until it runs out, which takes about a year. You do not need to do anything else to keep it working.

What if I lost the plastic tab before I could pull it?

If the tab is already gone, the AirTag battery is already active. Open Find My, tap the plus icon, and hold the AirTag near your iPhone to pair it. The process works the same way whether you pulled the tab yourself or it was already removed.

Can I pair an AirTag with an Android phone?

No. AirTags only work with iPhones, iPads, and other Apple devices. Android phones cannot pair with or track AirTags. If you need to track items with an Android phone, you will need a different tracking device designed for Android.

How long does pairing usually take?

The entire process from pulling the tab to finishing setup takes less than a minute. The actual Bluetooth pairing happens in just a few seconds once you hold the AirTag near your iPhone.

Can I pair an AirTag that someone else already set up?

If an AirTag is already paired to another Apple account, you will need to remove it from that account first. Ask the person who set it up to open Find My, select the AirTag, and tap "Remove Item." After that, you can pair it to your own iPhone.