AirTag won’t reset after replacing the battery

My Air Tag will not reset after replacing the battery. I have:


1) removed the Air Tag from my phone

2) replaced the battery using Apple guidance on appropriate batteries, i.e, no bitter coating

3) A) placed the battery into Air Tag:

B) pushed battery into Air Tag using the cover until hearing a beep

C) removed the battery

4) Repeated step 3 dozens of times always receiving the same beep

5) cleaned the contacts on the air tag (carefully and using appropriate techniques)

6) repeated step 3 dozens of times more still receiving the same beep


On my iPhone I have also turned off/on location services, Bluetooth, wi-fi, and cellular. I’ve shut down and restarted my iPhone. I have the most current iOS version.


Any thoughts?

iPhone 11 Pro Max

Posted on Sep 13, 2022 1:15 PM

Reply
3 replies

Sep 16, 2022 11:13 AM in response to rljisu

Hi rljisu,


Thank you for using the Apple Support Communities! To reset the AirTag, you'll want to follow the steps in the article below precisely in order:


How to reset your AirTag


  1. Press down on the polished stainless steel battery cover of your AirTag and rotate counterclockwise until the cover stops rotating.
  2. Remove the cover and the battery.*
  3. Replace the battery.
  4. Press down on the battery until you hear a sound. This sound means that the battery is connected. 
  5. When the sound finishes, repeat the process four more times, removing and replacing the battery, then pressing down on the battery until you hear a sound. You should hear a sound each time you press on the battery, for a total of five sounds. The fifth sound is different from the previous four. This indicates that the AirTag is now ready to pair.
  6. Replace the cover by aligning the three tabs on the cover with the three slots on your AirTag.
  7. Press down on the cover.
  8. Rotate the cover clockwise until it stops rotating.


Hope this helps!

Have a great day.



Sep 16, 2022 2:18 PM in response to Lissy_12

Lissy, thank you for your response. It appears you may not have actually read my entire post. I’ve already tried all the steps you’ve provided. My Air Tag will NOT reset, the beeping sound—indicating the battery is connected, as you stated—does not change on the 5th time I replace the battery . . . nor the 35th time.


Do you have a different suggestion?

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

AirTag won’t reset after replacing the battery

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.