Why is my AirTag beeping?

💡 Need to know

• Too far away: AirTags beep after being separated from your iPhone for hours.
• Battery warning: A dying battery can trigger sounds—swap the CR2032.
• Lost Mode on: It may beep to help others find it—turn it off if needed.
• Safety feature: Beeping can alert you to an unknown AirTag nearby.

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Apple AirTags® make it easier than ever to quickly find lost items like wallets, luggage, and handbags. When they’re working properly, you don’t even notice them until you check your item’s location. However, sometimes they start beeping and won’t stop. The noise can be irritating, especially if you don’t know why it’s happening.

Luckily, Asurion experts have seen (and heard) it all when it comes to tech. We’ve helped millions of users like you troubleshoot tech issues and find the best solutions. If your AirTag is beeping, and you can’t get it to stop, follow this guide to silence your AirTag. And check out more tech tips to help you get the most out of your devices.

Why your AirTag beeps when it moves

The most common reason for an AirTag randomly beeping is when it's separated from its owner for an extended period.

Each AirTag has a built-in safety feature that makes it beep when separated from its paired iPhone® for eight to 24 hours, typically when the AirTag moves. This beeping is an anti-stalking measure. If someone plants an AirTag paired to their own iPhone on someone else without their knowledge, the beeping should alert them.

If you think separation may be why your AirTag is beeping, bring it close to your linked iPhone. Being near the iPhone it’s linked to should make the AirTag stop beeping.

Outside this anti-stalking feature, you can also set up a separation alert. This feature will notify you if you leave your AirTag and the item it’s attached to behind when you leave a location. Follow these steps to set up a separation alert for one of your AirTags:

1. Open the Find My® app on your iPhone.
2. Select Items > [Your Item Name].
3. Choose Notify When Left Behind.
4. If you want, you can set up a Trusted Location where you can leave your item without getting an alert. Choose a suggested location or select New Location and find the location on the map.
5. Select Done to finalize your separation alert.
6. In the Settings App, go to Notifications > Find My.
7. Toggle on Allow Notifications if it’s not already on.

With this alert in place, you’ll get a push notification if you leave your item with the AirTag behind when your iPhone leaves anywhere other than a Trusted Location.

Checking for a low battery or connection issues

If bringing your AirTag near your iPhone didn’t stop the beeping, a low battery may be the issue. Typically, the battery only lasts around a year, so it may be time to replace it. To tell if your AirTag battery is low:

1. Open the Find My app on your iPhone.
2. Select Items.
3. Choose the AirTag that’s beeping.
4. If your AirTag needs a new battery, you’ll see a Low Battery alert in the AirTag details.

You can replace your AirTag battery without any special equipment by following these steps:

1. Push down on the back cover of your AirTag and rotate it counterclockwise until it stops.
2. Pull off the cover and the old battery.
3. Put a new CR2032 battery in your AirTag, positive side up. Your AirTag should make a noise to indicate that the new battery is connected.
4. Put the cover back on with the three tabs in line with the three slots on the front of the AirTag.
5. Twist the cover clockwise until it stops.
6. Make sure the Low Battery alert in the Find My app is no longer there.

If your AirTag is not updating location, replacing the battery may help.

It’s also possible that connection issues, rather than a low battery, are causing the AirTag to beep. Make sure you have Bluetooth enabled on your iPhone and check your Wi-Fi connection.

Managing Lost Mode and safety alerts

If you lose an AirTag, Lost Mode can help get it back. This is different from the beeping and unwanted tracking alerts someone may get if they’re near your AirTag when it’s separated from your iPhone.

With Lost Mode, you get notifications when other devices detect your AirTag, and the finder can see your contact information to get in touch about returning the AirTag. If you don't want this, turn Lost Mode off with these steps.

1. Open the Find My app.
2. Select Items > [Your Item Name].
3. Select Turn off Lost Mode > Turn Off.

You should stop getting automatic notifications other than separation alerts once you turn off Lost Mode. Note that someone else can still make your AirTag beep as part of the anti-stalking measures.

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FAQ

Why is my AirTag randomly beeping?

It usually means the AirTag has been separated from its paired iPhone for several hours or is triggering a safety alert.

How do I stop my AirTag from beeping?

Bring it near your iPhone, replace the battery if needed, or turn off Lost Mode in the Find My app.

Does a low battery make an AirTag beep?

Yes—a low or dying battery can cause periodic beeping to alert you it needs replacement.

Can someone else’s AirTag make noise near me?

Yes—AirTags are designed to beep if they’re moving with someone who isn’t their owner as an anti-stalking safety feature.