When it comes to tracking items efficiently, AirTag comes close to being a perfect item tracker as compared to alternatives like Galaxy SmartTag. No wonder many are calling it the gold standard for 21st-century luggage tracking. Now, without undermining the rave reviews, Apple’s item tracker has had a fair share of issues even during the early days. While some users have stated that Apple AirTags are not working at all, others have found the much-talked-about “Precision Finding” inconsistent. Irrespective of what sort of problems have come your way, try out these 10 pro tips if your AirTag is not working or connecting to your iPhone.
So, what could be causing the AirTag to misbehave? There could be more than one culprit behind the problem. Though network-related issues might be the wrecker-in-chief, you should never overlook a faulty battery as a possible concern. Besides, the incorrect setup may also be equally responsible. Therefore, we will look into all the possible causes and try the best AirTag tips and tricks accordingly.
- Make Sure Two-Factor Authentication is Enabled
- Make Sure You Aren’t Using Managed Apple ID
- Ensure That Find My is Enabled
- Turn Off/ On Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Cellular Network
- Turn Off/ On Location Services
- AirTag Precision Finding Not Working? Try out These Fixes!
- Reset Network Settings
- Factory Reset AirTag
- Remove and Replace Your AirTag’s Battery
- Update Software on Your iPhone and iPad
1. Make Sure Two-Factor Authentication is Enabled
For AirTags to connect to your iPhone/ iPad, you must have two-factor authentication enabled. So, make sure to turn on 2FA on your iOS or iPadOS device if it isn’t already.
2. Make Sure You Aren’t Using Managed Apple ID
Apple clearly states that if your iOS/ iPadOS device is using Managed Apple ID, you can’t set up an AirTag. So, if an AirTag is not connecting to your iPad or iPhone, be sure your device complies with this requirement.
Apart from being available as a full-fledged app, Find My comes with a system-wide switch located in the Settings app. So you can enable/ disable it depending on your needs. Head to Settings -> [your name] -> Find My -> Find My iPhone. Now, make sure the Find My iPhone toggle is turned on.
Another thing you should do to fix the AirTag not working problem is to turn on/ off Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and your cellular network. As they play a key role in helping AirTag work effectively, any sluggishness in iOS 14 or ill-functioning on their part could be the cause of AirTag not connecting to your device.
Go to the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Then, go to the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Mobile Data sections one after the other. Turn off the toggles for Wi-Fi, cellular, and Bluetooth, and restart your device.
After your device has restarted, head over to the Settings app and turn on the Wi-Fi, mobile data, and Bluetooth toggles once again.
Location Services needs to be enabled so that AirTags can work with precision. If you face issues, even if it’s turned on, disable/ enable the ‘Location Services’ toggle to get rid of any random glitch that may have cropped up. Navigate to Settings -> Privacy -> Location Services to turn it off. After that, restart your device and toggle it back on before trying to pair your AirTag.
6. AirTag Precision Finding Not Working? Try out These Fixes!
As the name suggests, Precision Finding lets you accurately determine the distance and direction of a misplaced AirTag when it is in the range. It uses the U1 chip, present in AirTags and the latest iPhone 12 and iPhone 11 models, to precisely locate and communicate with each other.
7. Reset Network Settings
For the AirTag to work as expected, Wi-Fi, cellular data, and Bluetooth must function properly. If they are facing issues, the item tracker will have a hard time connecting or working as intended. So, if you are still struggling to fix the AirTag not working issue, try resetting the network settings.
If none of the solutions above help fix the problem, it’s time to factory reset the AirTag. Since it has helped several users fix common AirTag issues, including the signal is weak, Precision Finding not working, and other connectivity issues, the chances are it could do the trick for you.
To reset an AirTag, you need to remove it from the Find My app. So open the Find My app and go to the ‘Items’ tab. After that, choose the AirTag you want to reset. Then, swipe up to access AirTag settings and tap on the ‘Remove item’ option at the bottom. Finally, confirm your action by tapping on ‘Remove’ again. Credit: Apple
If your AirTag still misbehaves, remove and replace the battery. The user-replaceable CR2032 battery might be at fault. So, try changing it to see if it sorts out the issue. Credit: Apple
10. Update Software on Your iPhone and iPad
If AirTag continues to ill-function, it would be wise to go for a software update. Well, considering that Apple keeps rolling out software updates with a series of performance enhancements and bug fixes, it could help you with AirTag connectivity issues. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad and go to General -> Software Update. If there is any update available, download and install it.
Viable Tips and Tricks to Fix AirTag Not Working Issue
Well, that’s pretty much it! Hopefully, your AirTag has once again started to work normally. As I said above, network-related problems are usually the prime suspects, so fixing them resolves the most common AirTag issues. Besides, a factory reset is also quite reliable in sorting out the problem if your AirTag is not working or connecting to your iPhone.
