Check Battery 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. Find your AirTag in the list and tap it. The battery percentage appears near the top of the screen, next to the AirTag's name.

If you see a low battery warning (usually below 10%), the AirTag will alert you to replace the battery soon. The battery level updates each time your AirTag connects to a nearby Apple device, so if you haven't seen your AirTag in a while, the reading may be a few hours old.

On a Mac, the process is the same: open Find My, click Items, select your AirTag, and look for the battery percentage in the details panel on the right side of the screen.

Key Takeaways

  • The Find My app shows your AirTag's battery percentage in the Items tab when you select the tag.
  • Battery readings update only when your AirTag connects to a nearby Apple device, so the percentage may lag by a few hours.
  • AirTags use a standard CR2032 coin cell battery that lasts roughly one year under normal use.
  • You will see a low battery notification in Find My when the charge drops below 10 percent.

What the Battery Percentage Means

The percentage shown in Find My represents how much charge remains in your AirTag's CR2032 battery. At 100 percent, the battery is fully charged. As you use your AirTag—tracking it, playing sounds, or letting it broadcast its location—the battery slowly drains.

Most AirTags run for about one year on a single battery before dropping below 10 percent. The exact timeline depends on how often you use features like the speaker (playing a sound to find the tag) and how frequently the AirTag communicates with nearby devices. Heavy use of the speaker shortens battery life noticeably.

Why Your Battery Reading Might Be Outdated

The battery percentage you see in Find My is not live. Your AirTag only reports its battery level when it connects to an Apple device nearby—an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch. If your AirTag has been in a drawer or far from any Apple devices for several hours, the app may show a reading from hours ago.

To get a fresh reading, bring your AirTag near an Apple device and wait a minute or two. The battery percentage will update the next time the AirTag communicates with that device. If the percentage still looks the same after waiting, the reading is genuinely current.

Replacing Your AirTag Battery

When the battery drops to 10 percent or lower, Find My sends you a notification. You do not have to replace it when ready—the AirTag will continue working for a while longer. However, once the battery fully drains, the tag stops broadcasting its location and you will not be able to find it.

To replace the battery, hold the stainless steel back of the AirTag and twist it counterclockwise until it stops. The battery compartment will pop out. Remove the old CR2032 battery and insert a new one with the positive side facing up. Twist the back clockwise until it clicks into place. The AirTag will play a sound to confirm the new battery is installed.

CR2032 batteries are inexpensive and widely available at drugstores, supermarkets, and online retailers. They cost between one and three dollars each.

Common Reasons the Battery Drains Faster

If your AirTag's battery drops faster than the typical one-year timeline, a few habits can speed up the drain. Playing the speaker sound frequently—to locate the tag—uses noticeable power. Using an AirTag in a very large area where it constantly searches for nearby devices also drains the battery more quickly than keeping it in a smaller space.

Extreme temperatures can also affect battery performance. Leaving an AirTag in a hot car or freezing garage may cause the battery to report lower than it actually is, or to drain faster than normal. Once the AirTag returns to room temperature, performance usually returns to normal.

Checking Battery on Android or Windows

If you use an Android phone or Windows computer, you cannot access the Find My app directly. However, you can still check your AirTag's battery through iCloud.com. Log in to your iCloud account, open Find My, and navigate to Items. Select your AirTag and the battery percentage will display in the details.

Alternatively, ask someone with an Apple device to check the battery for you using their Find My app. The battery reading is the same across all Apple devices linked to the same iCloud account.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does an AirTag battery last?

Most AirTag batteries last about one year under typical use. Heavy use of the speaker feature or constant searching in large areas can shorten this to eight or nine months. Light use in a small area may extend it to 14 or 15 months.

Can I see the battery percentage on my Apple Watch?

Yes. Open the Find My app on your Apple Watch, tap Items, select your AirTag, and the battery percentage will display on the watch screen. The reading updates the same way it does on iPhone—only when the AirTag connects to a nearby device.

What happens if the battery dies while my AirTag is lost?

Once the battery fully drains, the AirTag stops broadcasting its location and you will not be able to find it using Find My. If the AirTag is later found by someone else, it will not work until the battery is replaced.

Is the CR2032 battery the only type that works?

Yes. AirTags use only CR2032 coin cell batteries. No other battery type will fit or work. Make sure you buy the correct type when replacing the battery.

Why does Find My show 0 percent battery?

A reading of 0 percent means the battery is completely drained and the AirTag is no longer broadcasting. Replace the battery when ready to restore the tag's location tracking.