How to Fix an AirTag That Won't Refresh: 9 Quick Fixes

Has your AirTag been displaying the same location for a while, even though you've moved it? Perhaps your AirTag is missing, and you've been trying to find it with the Find My app on your iPhone to no avail. While you can't manually refresh your AirTag's location, there are some simple troubleshooting steps you can use to fix the problem. In this article, we'll go over 9 methods to refresh your AirTag so its current location shows properly.

Things You Should Know

Your AirTag will update its location automatically if someone with a Find My device is close to it.
Ensure Location Services, Find My iPhone, and Bluetooth are all active on your iPhone, as your AirTag uses these services to display its location.
If your AirTag is nearby and not refreshing, remove and re-add it to the Find My app.

Section 1 of 9:

Move Closer to the AirTag

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Get close to the AirTag. AirTags update their location every 1-2 minutes if someone with Find My device is nearby, but if no Apple devices are near your AirTag, the location won't update.^{[1]
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- AirTags are not real-time trackers. They rely on a combination of Bluetooth, Find My iPhone, and Location Services to accurately report their location.
- If the AirTag is close to anyone with an iPhone in the Find My network, its location will update. It doesn't have to be your iPhone specifically.
This will notify you if the location has been updated because someone with an iPhone or Apple device in the Find My network moved within range of your AirTag.^{[2]
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Section 2 of 9:

Get Directions to Your AirTag

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By asking the Find My app to give you directions to your AirTag, the AirTag's location may refresh.^{[3]
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Tap Find Nearby if you're close to your AirTag. If your AirTag is within Bluetooth range, you'll see this option on the screen. It has a green arrow and is next to the Play Sound button.^{[5]
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- If you don't see Find Nearby, open your iPhone's Settings, go to Privacy & Security > Location Services, and make sure Location Services is enabled. Then, scroll down, tap Find My, and enable Precise Location.^{[6]
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- If you still don't see Find Nearby, your AirTag isn't close enough to your iPhone. Tap Directions to locate it on a map so you can get close enough to find it.^{[7]
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If you don't see your AirTag on the map, move around until your phone connects to the AirTag.

Section 3 of 9:

Turn On Location Services

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AirTag relies on Location Services being on, so if Location Services got turned off on your phone you may not be able to accurately find your AirTag using Find My.^{[8]
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You will have to scroll down a little to find this section, and the menu item has an icon of a white hand in a blue square.
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Section 4 of 9:

Ensure Find My iPhone is On

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AirTags also use the Find My network, so your AirTag may not work properly if you have Find My iPhone turned off.^{[10]
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If Find My is already on, it will say On on the menu item.^{[12]
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At this point, try reopening the Find My app to see if your AirTag location has updated.

Section 5 of 9:

Check Bluetooth

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AirTags utilize Bluetooth, so if your Bluetooth is turned off you may experience issues with your AirTag's location updating properly.^{[13]
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If Bluetooth is already on, it will say On on the menu item.
Now that Bluetooth is on, check the Find My app to see your AirTag's updated location.

Section 6 of 9:

Turn Airplane Mode On and Off

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Airplane Mode turns off all of your network connections, and it can be an easy way to refresh those connections to clear out any bugs or glitches that might be occurring that interfere with your AirTag's location.
It's near the top of the screen and has a yellow icon with a white airplane.^{[14]
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Your Wi-Fi and cellular connections should reconnect after a few seconds.

Section 7 of 9:

Check iPhone Connectivity

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AirTags don't use Wi-Fi or your cellular network, but you'll need to be connected to the internet to use the Find My app to check your AirTag's location. If your connection has lapsed, you may experience issues updating your AirTag's location on your iPhone.^{[15]
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If you're already connected to Wi-Fi, it will say On next to the menu item.^{[16]
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Connect to a Wi-Fi network. Select any network you have access to, and enter the password if necessary.^{[17]
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- If you can't connect to Wi-Fi, ensure cellular data is still on by tapping Cellular from the main Settings menu and ensuring Cellular Data is toggled on.

Section 8 of 9:

Re-add the AirTag

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Open the Find My app. If your AirTag's location isn't refreshing, removing it from Find My and adding it again may help reset the location.^{[18]
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- This method will only work if the AirTag is nearby, not if it's lost.
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A screen will come up confirming what will happen when you remove the AirTag.^{[20]
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Add the AirTag back to your device to see if it helps with the location not updating.^{[22]
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Section 9 of 9:

Replace the Battery

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Unscrew the battery cover. Press down on the stainless steel battery cover on your AirTag and rotate counterclockwise.^{[23]
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- This method can only be completed if the AirTag is with you, not if it's missing.
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Make sure to use a battery that doesn't have a bitterant coating, as these batteries may not work in your AirTag.^{[25]
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Make sure the tabs on the battery cover align with the slots on your AirTag, then rotate the cover clockwise until it stops moving.^{[26]
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