How to Connect an AirTag to Your iPhone

Connect your AirTag in three steps

To connect an AirTag to your iPhone, you need to unlock your phone, hold the AirTag close to it, and tap the notification that appears. Your iPhone will ask you to name the AirTag (like "Keys" or "Wallet"), then confirm. The whole process takes about one minute. After that, the AirTag is linked to your Apple ID and will show up in the Find My app on your iPhone.

You need an iPhone 11 or newer, or an iPhone XS or XS Max with the latest iOS installed. If you have an older iPhone, AirTag will not connect. You also need to be signed into iCloud on your iPhone — if you are not sure whether you are, go to Settings, tap your name at the top, and look for "iCloud" in the menu.

Key Takeaways

Hold a new AirTag close to your unlocked iPhone and tap the notification that appears to start the connection.
Your iPhone will ask you to name the AirTag and choose which device to track it from — pick the iPhone you are holding.
After connection, the AirTag appears in the Find My app, where you can make it play a sound or see its location on a map.
You need an iPhone 11 or newer, or an iPhone XS/XS Max with the latest iOS version, and you must be signed into iCloud.

What you need before you start

Check that your iPhone model supports AirTag. The compatible models are iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12 series, iPhone 13 series, iPhone 14 series, iPhone 15 series, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max. If you have an iPhone X, iPhone 8, or older, AirTag will not work with your phone.

Make sure your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS. Go to Settings, scroll down and tap General, then tap Software Update. If an update is available, tap Download and Install. Wait for the update to finish before you try to connect the AirTag.

Confirm you are signed into iCloud. Open Settings, tap your name at the very top of the screen, and look for "iCloud" in the menu. If you see your name and email address, you are signed in. If you see "Sign in to your iPhone" instead, tap it and enter your Apple ID and password.

Step-by-step connection process

Step 1: Remove the plastic tab from the AirTag. The AirTag comes with a small plastic tab under the battery. Flip the AirTag over, press down on the stainless steel back, and twist it counterclockwise until it comes off. Remove the plastic tab from inside. Put the back on and twist it clockwise until it clicks. The AirTag is now powered on.

Step 2: Unlock your iPhone and hold the AirTag nearby. Unlock your iPhone with Face ID or Touch ID. Hold the AirTag within a few inches of the top of your iPhone. Within a few seconds, a notification will pop up on your screen that says "Set up AirTag?" or shows the AirTag's serial number. Tap the notification.

Step 3: Name your AirTag and confirm the device. Your iPhone will show a text field and ask you to name the AirTag. Type a name like "Keys," "Wallet," "Backpack," or "Dog Collar" — anything that helps you remember what you are tracking. Tap Next. The screen will ask which device you want to track this AirTag from. Your current iPhone should already be selected. Tap Continue.

Step 4: Wait for setup to finish. Your iPhone will connect to iCloud and link the AirTag to your Apple ID. You will see a checkmark and a message that says "Your AirTag is set up." Tap Done. The AirTag now appears in the Find My app.

What to do if the notification does not appear

If you do not see the setup notification after holding the AirTag near your iPhone, the battery may not be making contact. Flip the AirTag over, remove the stainless steel back again, and check that the plastic tab is completely gone. Sometimes it sticks to the battery. Remove it if it is still there, put the back on, and try again.

If the notification still does not appear, restart your iPhone. Press and hold the side button and one of the volume buttons until the power-off slider appears. Drag the slider to turn off your phone. Wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears. Once your iPhone restarts, unlock it and hold the AirTag close again.

If you still see nothing, check that you are signed into iCloud. Open Settings, tap your name, and confirm your Apple ID email is showing. If you are not signed in, tap iCloud, enter your Apple ID, and sign in. Then try the connection again.

Finding and using your AirTag after connection

Once your AirTag is connected, open the Find My app on your iPhone. Tap the Items tab at the bottom. You will see your AirTag listed by the name you gave it. Tap it to see its location on a map. If the AirTag is nearby, you can tap Play Sound to make it beep so you can find it quickly.

If your AirTag is far away or lost, you can mark it as Lost in the Find My app. Tap the AirTag, scroll down, and tap Mark as Lost. Turn on notifications so you get an alert if someone with an iPhone walks near your AirTag. You can also leave a phone number or email address that will show on the AirTag's lock screen if someone finds it.

Your AirTag will stay connected to your iPhone as long as you are signed into the same iCloud account. If you sign out of iCloud or reset your iPhone, the AirTag will disconnect and you will need to set it up again.

Connecting multiple AirTags to the same iPhone

You can connect as many AirTags as you want to your iPhone. Each one will appear in the Find My app with its own name. To add another AirTag, remove the plastic tab from the new one, hold it near your unlocked iPhone, and tap the setup notification. Name it something different from your first AirTag so you can tell them apart.

If you have multiple AirTags and want to find a specific one, open Find My, tap Items, and tap the AirTag you are looking for. The map will show only that AirTag's location. You can also tap Play Sound to make just that AirTag beep.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I connect an AirTag to someone else's iPhone?

No. An AirTag connects to the iCloud account that is signed into the iPhone. If you want someone else to track the AirTag, they need to have access to the same iCloud account, or you need to remove the AirTag from your account and let them set it up on theirs. You can remove an AirTag by opening Find My, tapping Items, tapping the AirTag, scrolling down, and tapping Remove Item.

What if my iPhone does not have NFC?

All iPhones that support AirTag have NFC built in. You do not need to turn on NFC or do anything special — just hold the AirTag near your phone and the setup notification will appear automatically. If you have an older iPhone without NFC, it will not support AirTag at all.

Do I need to be on Wi-Fi to connect an AirTag?

You do not need Wi-Fi to start the connection, but your iPhone needs to be able to reach iCloud to finish it. If you are on cellular data, that is fine. If you are completely offline, the setup will not complete. Make sure you have either Wi-Fi or cellular data turned on before you try to connect.

What happens if I lose the AirTag after I connect it?

Open the Find My app and tap Items. Tap your AirTag and you will see its last known location on a map. If it is nearby, tap Play Sound to make it beep. If it is far away, tap Mark as Lost and turn on notifications. Other iPhones in the Find My network will detect your AirTag and send you its location anonymously.

Can I connect an AirTag to an iPad instead of an iPhone?

Yes, if your iPad is running iPadOS 14.3 or newer. The process is the same — hold the AirTag near your unlocked iPad and tap the setup notification. The AirTag will appear in the Find My app on your iPad and any other Apple device signed into the same iCloud account.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.