The battery comes out from the back, and you swap it for a fresh CR2032 coin cell

An AirTag battery replacement takes about 30 seconds. Hold the AirTag with the white side facing you. Press down on the stainless steel back cover and twist it counterclockwise until it stops — it will come free in your hand. The old CR2032 battery will either fall out or sit loose in the cover. Drop in a new CR2032 (battery positive side facing up), then press the cover back onto the AirTag and twist clockwise until you hear a click.

That click tells you the cover is seated properly and the battery contact is making a connection. If you do not hear it, untwist and try again. The AirTag will not work if the cover is not fully seated, even if the battery is fresh.

Key Takeaways

  • AirTags use a CR2032 coin cell battery that you can buy at any pharmacy, grocery store, or electronics retailer for two to five dollars.
  • The battery lasts about one year under normal use, and your iPhone will send you a notification when it is running low.
  • You do not need tools — the cover twists off by hand, and the battery slides in without force.
  • The positive side of the battery faces up when you install it, and the cover must click when you twist it back on or the AirTag will not power on.

What kind of battery does an AirTag take

An AirTag uses a CR2032 lithium coin cell battery. This is a standard battery size you can find at any drugstore, supermarket, or electronics shop. A pack of two or four costs between two and five dollars. Do not buy rechargeable CR2032 batteries — they have a lower voltage and may not work reliably in an AirTag.

The battery lasts roughly one year if you use the AirTag normally. If you have an iPhone, your device will notify you when the battery is low. You do not have to wait for the warning to replace it, but the warning tells you when to start looking for a fresh battery.

How to remove the old battery

Hold the AirTag so the white plastic side faces you and the stainless steel back is toward your palm. Place your thumb on the steel back cover. Press down firmly and twist the cover counterclockwise. It will rotate about a quarter turn before it stops and comes free.

The old battery will either drop out into your hand or stay sitting in the cover. If it stays in the cover, pick it out and throw it away. Do not force the battery out — if it does not come free easily, the cover may not be fully off yet.

How to install the new battery

Take your new CR2032 battery and look at both sides. One side is flat and marked with the battery type and voltage. The other side is slightly raised. The raised side is the positive terminal. Hold the AirTag with the white side facing you again, and drop the battery into the steel cover with the positive side facing up — toward the white plastic, not toward the metal.

Now press the steel cover back onto the AirTag and twist it clockwise. Keep twisting until you feel and hear a distinct click. That click means the cover is fully seated and the battery is making contact. If you do not hear a click, untwist the cover and check that the battery is sitting flat and the positive side is facing up, then try again.

What to do if the battery does not fit or the cover will not close

If the cover will not twist back on, the battery may be upside down. Untwist the cover, flip the battery so the positive side faces up, and try again. If the battery still does not fit, make sure you are using a CR2032 and not a different coin cell size — a CR2025 or CR2016 will be too thin.

If the cover twists on but you do not hear a click, the battery may not be sitting flat in the well. Untwist the cover, lift the battery out, and look inside the steel cover. You should see a small metal contact in the center. Make sure the battery is centered over that contact, then try again. A battery that is off-center will not make a good electrical connection.

How long a new battery lasts and when to replace it

A fresh CR2032 battery in an AirTag lasts about one year under normal use. "Normal use" means the AirTag is in your bag or on your keys and you check its location a few times a week. If you check your AirTag's location many times per day, the battery may last eight or nine months. If you rarely use it, it may last longer.

Your iPhone will send you a notification when the battery is low. You do not have to replace it when ready — the AirTag will continue to work for a few weeks after the low-battery warning. But once you see the warning, pick up a fresh CR2032 so you have it on hand when the old one finally dies.

Where to buy CR2032 batteries

CR2032 batteries are sold almost everywhere. Pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens stock them near the checkout or in the health and beauty section. Grocery stores carry them in the pharmacy or electronics aisle. Target, Walmart, and other big-box retailers sell them in the electronics or pharmacy section. You can also order them online from Amazon or other retailers.

Prices range from two to five dollars for a single battery or a pack of two to four. Store brands are the same as name brands — a CR2032 is a CR2032. Buy whatever is cheapest and in stock. Avoid rechargeable versions, which have lower voltage and may not work in an AirTag.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a rechargeable CR2032 battery in my AirTag?

Rechargeable CR2032 batteries have a lower voltage than standard lithium CR2032 cells and may not power an AirTag reliably. Stick with standard, non-rechargeable CR2032 batteries. They cost the same and last much longer in an AirTag.

What happens if I put the battery in upside down?

If the battery is upside down, the AirTag will not power on. You will not damage the AirTag or the battery. straightforward untwist the cover, flip the battery so the positive side faces up, and twist the cover back on until you hear a click.

Do I need to erase my AirTag before replacing the battery?

No. Replacing the battery does not erase any data or settings. Your AirTag will reconnect to your iPhone as soon as the new battery is installed and the cover is fully seated.

How do I know which side of the battery is positive?

The positive side of a CR2032 is the side with the raised bump in the center. The negative side is flat. When you install the battery, the raised positive side should face up toward the white plastic part of the AirTag, not toward the metal back cover.

Can I replace the battery myself or do I need to go to Apple?

You can replace the battery yourself in about 30 seconds with no tools. Apple does not offer battery replacement service for AirTags — the design is meant for user replacement. Buying a CR2032 battery and doing it yourself is the only option.