When an AirTag shows as not reachable, or Find My says No location found, your iPhone can’t connect to it right now and no nearby Apple device has reported it recently. Usually the tag is out of Bluetooth range, its battery is flat, or a setting on your iPhone is off. Move closer, check Bluetooth and Location Services, and replace the battery if needed; if that fails, reset the AirTag and add it again.
Quick Answer
Get within Bluetooth range, turn on Bluetooth, Location Services and Find My, then try Play Sound. If it still won’t connect, fit a new CR2032 battery. As a last resort, remove the AirTag from Find My, reset it and set it up again.
What “Not Reachable” Means
An AirTag has no GPS or mobile data. It sends a Bluetooth signal that your iPhone, or any nearby Apple device in the Find My network, picks up and reports. If none is close enough, Find My shows the last known location or No location found, and actions such as Play Sound can’t reach it.
Fixes to Try in Order
- Move closer. Bluetooth range is limited and walls reduce it. Walk to the last known location and try Play Sound again.
- Check your iPhone settings. Turn on Bluetooth, then Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services (on), and make sure Find My is allowed to use your location.
- Restart your iPhone and open Find My again.
- Replace the battery. Press down on the steel cover and turn it anticlockwise, fit a new CR2032 coin cell with the positive side up, and turn the cover back. You should hear a sound when the battery connects. Some coin cells with bitter coatings may not make good contact, so choose one without a coating if the tag stays silent.
- Update iOS in Settings > General > Software Update. AirTag firmware updates install automatically when the tag is near your iPhone.
- Wait for the Find My network. If the tag is somewhere quiet, it may update only when another Apple device passes by.
How to Reset an AirTag
- In Find My, open Items, choose the AirTag and select Remove Item. This unlinks it from your Apple Account.
- Open the battery cover and remove the battery.
- Put the battery back and press down until you hear a sound. Repeat remove-and-replace so it plays a sound five times in total; the fifth sound is different, which means it has reset.
- Close the cover, hold the AirTag near your iPhone and follow the setup prompt.
Common Causes at a Glance
| Cause | Sign | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Out of range | Last seen time is old | Go to the last known location |
| Flat battery | Low battery warning, no sound | Fit a new CR2032 |
| iPhone settings | Other items also not updating | Turn on Bluetooth and Location Services |
| Linked to another account | Can’t set it up | Previous owner must remove it |
Troubleshooting
- AirTag doesn’t appear at all: Check that you’re signed in with the same Apple Account it was set up on. See adding a device to Find My.
- Precision Finding isn’t offered: It needs an iPhone with an Ultra Wideband chip and the tag within range.
- Found the tag but want a better label? See AirTag name ideas.
Related: what Find My alerts mean on an iPhone.
Related: AirTag engraving ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does an AirTag battery last?
Apple rates it at roughly a year with everyday use. Find My shows a low-battery alert before it runs out.
Can I track an AirTag with an Android phone?
No. Android phones can scan for an unknown AirTag travelling with them, but only the owner’s Apple devices can locate it.
Will Lost Mode help?
Yes. Lost Mode notifies you when the tag is detected by the Find My network and lets a finder see your message.
Summary
- Move within range and try Play Sound.
- Turn on Bluetooth and Location Services.
- Replace the CR2032 battery.
- Update iOS and wait for the Find My network.
- Reset and re-add the AirTag if nothing else works.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.