AirTag shows "no signal" on Find My

First time using air tag. Put in on my cats collar. My cat is barely 20 ft away from me, but find my is showing “no signal”. Before buying airtag, I read that outdoor distance range is around 100ft.

what seems to be the problem? I tried to remove and add the airtag, but its still the same.

Posted on Nov 12, 2025 4:08 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 12, 2025 7:30 AM

AirTags are not good pet-trackers - unless of course the pet (in this case, your cat) also carries an iPhone...


AirTags have no means by which to independently establish or transmit their location. AirTag is entirely reliant upon other Apple devices detecting the presence of an AirTag in their vicinity - and anonymously relaying their own location (this typically being within 30m/100' of the detected AirTag) to Apple's Find My servers.


iPhone and other Apple devices participating in Apple's Find My network silently "listen" for AirTag beacon signals using BTLE. When detected, the unique AirTag code along with the detecting-device location is relayed to Apple. Recent model iPhones also incorporate a UWB (UltraWideBand) radio - and use this when in close proximity to the owner's AirTag for short-range precision location.


As for your AirTag, ensure that it has a fresh CR2032 "Airtag compatible" battery installed.

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 12, 2025 7:30 AM in response to fairy243

AirTags are not good pet-trackers - unless of course the pet (in this case, your cat) also carries an iPhone...


AirTags have no means by which to independently establish or transmit their location. AirTag is entirely reliant upon other Apple devices detecting the presence of an AirTag in their vicinity - and anonymously relaying their own location (this typically being within 30m/100' of the detected AirTag) to Apple's Find My servers.


iPhone and other Apple devices participating in Apple's Find My network silently "listen" for AirTag beacon signals using BTLE. When detected, the unique AirTag code along with the detecting-device location is relayed to Apple. Recent model iPhones also incorporate a UWB (UltraWideBand) radio - and use this when in close proximity to the owner's AirTag for short-range precision location.


As for your AirTag, ensure that it has a fresh CR2032 "Airtag compatible" battery installed.

AirTag shows "no signal" on Find My

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