Check battery percentage in the Find My app

Open the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Tap or click the Items tab at the bottom of the screen. Select the AirTag you want to check. At the top of the details screen, you will see the battery percentage displayed next to a battery icon. That number is your current charge level.

The battery icon itself gives you a quick visual: a full green battery means good charge, yellow means moderate charge, and red means the battery is running low and needs replacement soon. If you have multiple AirTags, this same screen shows the battery level for each one, so you can see at a glance which ones need attention.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Find My, tap Items, select your AirTag, and read the battery percentage at the top of the details screen.
  • A red battery icon means you should replace the battery within the next few days.
  • AirTags use a standard CR2032 coin cell battery that lasts roughly one year with normal use.
  • You can replace the battery yourself by twisting the back cover counterclockwise and swapping in a new CR2032.
  • Find My will notify you when battery is low, but checking manually takes only a few seconds.

What the battery percentage tells you

The percentage shown in Find My reflects the actual charge remaining in the CR2032 battery inside your AirTag. At 100 percent, the battery is fresh. Most people see the battery drop to around 50 percent after several months of normal use, and it typically reaches the red warning zone (below 10 percent) after about a year.

The exact timeline depends on how often your AirTag is detected and how frequently it sends location updates. An AirTag in a frequently-used backpack will drain faster than one attached to a spare set of keys in a drawer. If you check the battery level regularly, you will have plenty of warning before it dies completely.

Automatic low battery notifications

Find My sends you a notification when your AirTag battery drops below 10 percent. You will see an alert on your device and, if you have notifications turned on, a banner or badge on the Find My app icon. This gives you a grace period to plan a battery replacement before the AirTag stops working.

Even after you receive the low battery alert, the AirTag will continue to function for a short time. However, once the battery is fully depleted, the AirTag cannot send location data or play a sound, so replacing it promptly is important if you rely on the AirTag to track that item.

How to replace an AirTag battery

Replacing the battery is straightforward and requires no tools. Hold the AirTag with the stainless steel back facing you. Press down gently on the back cover and twist it counterclockwise until it stops. The cover will pop off, and you can remove the old CR2032 battery.

Insert a new CR2032 battery with the positive side facing up (the side with the + symbol should face toward you). Press the cover back on and twist it clockwise until it clicks. The AirTag will play a sound to confirm the battery is installed correctly. You can buy CR2032 batteries at most pharmacies, grocery stores, electronics retailers, and online—they cost between $3 and $8 for a pack of several.

Checking battery on Android or Windows

If you use an Android phone or Windows PC, you cannot check AirTag battery level directly through an app, because Find My is exclusive to Apple devices. However, if you have access to an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you can borrow it briefly to check the battery status of your AirTags.

Alternatively, you can wait for the low battery notification to appear on your paired Apple device, or straightforward replace the battery on a yearly schedule if you use the AirTag regularly. Since CR2032 batteries are inexpensive and last roughly 12 months, many people replace them once a year as preventive maintenance rather than waiting for a warning.

Why battery level matters for tracking

An AirTag with a dead battery cannot communicate with the Find My network, which means you will not be able to locate it if it gets lost. Checking the battery level every few months—especially before a trip or before attaching the AirTag to something valuable—ensures it will work when you need it.

If you attach an AirTag to a pet collar, a child's backpack, or a vehicle, checking the battery level becomes even more important. A dead AirTag provides no protection, so building a habit of checking Find My once a month takes only seconds and gives you confidence that your tracking is active.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I check my AirTag battery without opening Find My?

No, Find My is the only way to see the exact battery percentage. You can ask Siri on an Apple device to check the battery by saying "What's the battery on my AirTag?" and Siri will read the percentage aloud, but the information comes from Find My either way.

What happens if my AirTag battery dies?

The AirTag stops sending location data and will not play a sound if you use Find My to make it beep. It becomes inert until you replace the battery. Replacing a CR2032 takes about one minute and costs a few dollars.

How long does a CR2032 battery last in an AirTag?

A CR2032 typically lasts around one year with normal use. Heavy use—such as an AirTag in a frequently-traveled bag—may drain it faster. Light use—such as an AirTag on a spare key set—may extend the life to 18 months or longer.

Can I use a rechargeable battery in my AirTag?

AirTags are designed for single-use CR2032 batteries only. Rechargeable batteries have different voltage characteristics and may not work reliably. Stick with standard alkaline CR2032 batteries for best results.

Will Find My tell me when the battery is about to die?

Yes, Find My sends a notification when the battery drops below 10 percent. You will have a few days to a week of warning before the battery is completely depleted, depending on usage.