What it is
An AirTag is an 11-gram disc with Bluetooth, a U1/U2 Ultra-Wideband chip, a speaker, and a replaceable CR2032 battery — but no GPS, Wi-Fi, or cellular. It borrows location from the ~2 billion Apple devices on the Find My network.
◎ Guide · Apple Find My
The Complete AirTag Guide
AirTag is Apple's coin-sized Bluetooth tracker, located by roughly 2 billion Apple devices on the Find My network — no SIM, no subscription. This is the map to everything we've published: how it works, setup, accuracy, battery, travel rules, anti-stalking safety, and when to pick something else.
- $29
- single / $99 four-pack
- ~1 yr
- CR2032 battery
- iPhone
- only (no Android pairing)
Why it works
That scale means a $29 tag with no radio of its own can be found almost anywhere an iPhone walks past, with end-to-end encryption and no monthly fee — provided someone's iPhone passes near it.
When to use it
Pick AirTag for keys, bags, wallets, and luggage in iPhone-dense places. It is NOT a live tracker for a moving car or a dog on open land, and it cannot pair to an Android phone — for those, use a cellular GPS tracker or a Find Hub tag.
Reading map
Move from first setup to edge cases.
Follow the sequence, or jump directly to the part of ownership you need.
- 01
What it is and how Find My powers it
AirTag has no GPS — when it leaves your own iPhone's Bluetooth range, passing Apple devices anonymously relay an encrypted location back to you. Two generations share one shell and price; the 2026 AirTag 2 adds a U2 chip and a louder speaker.
- 02
Setup, ownership, and sharing
Pairing takes under a minute next to an unlocked iPhone. Handing a tag on, or recovering a second-hand one, means resetting it and transferring ownership first.
- 03
Daily use: Precision Finding, Lost Mode, history
Precision Finding walks you to a tag with an on-screen arrow on UWB iPhones. Lost Mode flags a tag so a finder sees your contact note; location history is deliberately limited by Apple's privacy model.
- 04
Battery, sound, and durability
A CR2032 coin cell lasts roughly a year and is user-replaceable in seconds. The tag is IP67 water-resistant; the speaker is how you find it nearby when UWB isn't available.
- 05
Travel: TSA, airlines, and checked bags
AirTags are allowed in checked luggage — their CR2032 falls under the airline rules for small button cells — and have helped travelers track delayed bags. Some airlines now read AirTag location directly.
- 06
Anti-stalking safety, Android, and alternatives
Apple and Google built a cross-platform standard so unknown tags alert nearby phones. If you carry Android you can detect an AirTag but not use one — and if AirTag isn't the right fit, we say so plainly and point to what is.
Full library
Every maintained guide in this map.
167 articles, with the curated path first.
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
- 06
- 07
- 08
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
AirTag Guide questions
Before you choose a tag.
Do AirTags have GPS?+
No. AirTags use Bluetooth plus Ultra-Wideband and rely on the Find My network of nearby Apple devices for location. For real-time tracking of a moving vehicle, see our GPS tracker guides.
Do AirTags work with Android?+
You cannot pair or use an AirTag on Android, only detect an unknown one for safety. Android owners should use a Google Find Hub tracker instead, as we explain in do AirTags work with Android.
How long does the AirTag battery last?+
About a year on a standard CR2032 coin cell, which you can swap yourself in seconds. See how to replace the AirTag battery.
Can I fly with an AirTag in checked luggage?+
Yes. The CR2032 cell is within airline limits and many travelers use AirTags to track delayed bags. Read how to share AirTag location with an airline.
Is AirTag 2 worth it over the original?+
Only if you use Precision Finding constantly or pair with a recent Apple Watch, since AirTag 2 adds the U2 chip and a louder speaker. The full breakdown is in our AirTag 2 review.
What is the best AirTag alternative?+
It depends on platform and use. Cross-network tags like Chipolo Pop bridge iPhone and Android; for non-Apple homes start with AirTag alternatives and the best Find My trackers guide.