Airtag Not Reachable: How To Fix

Apple’s Airtag has revolutionized a seemingly niche market into a very lucrative business venture with innovative new features and impressive battery life. But what will you do when it becomes unreachable?

This error has become rampant among iOS users after a recent Beta firmware release. I, too, was baffled when the error message popped up on my device. I did eventually find a fix, though.

If you see the ‘Airtag Not Reachable: Move Around to Connect’ error message, restart your iOS device. Next, check and refresh the Bluetooth configs. Use Precision Finding (on supported devices) to pinpoint the location of an errant Airtag. If the issue pops up again, factory reset the Airtag.

Let’s now take a look at the many instances the App shows the aforementioned error message:

With that said, let’s now look at the many resolves to fix the Airtag Not reachable issue on your iOS device:

Why Airtag Not Reachable Error Appears?

Airtags, like the Tile, is a dainty little personal tracking companion that helps keep a keen eye on everything precious to you.

Albeit, if you’re not mindful of how it works, you might have a hard time locating the very thing supposed to keep your valuables safe.

This is how the error message reads on your iOS device, Find My app to be precise – ‘Airtag Not reachable, Move around to connect.’

The reasons for this error message to appear are a dime a dozen. But here are some of the most critical ones that may cause this issue:

★Airtag Out of Bluetooth Range – The Airtag syncs up with the paired iOS device through Bluetooth, which has an effective range of about 30 ft or 10 meters. Once the Airtag is out of this range, an alert pops up on the device informing of the same. If it is out of coverage for a long time, the error message is likely to appear.

★Drained Batteries on Airtag – If the batteries on your Airtag have run out, the device will no longer be able to communicate with the host device, causing the error message to appear on-screen. It’s best to change the batteries on your Airtag now and then to avoid such mishaps.

★Errors Associated with Find My app – The Find My app is the control hub of everything Airtag. And issues with the Find MY app can complicate things with the Airtag. Refreshing the app and keeping it updated with the latest firmware version will help.

★Erroneous Firmware Versions – Beta developer iOS firmware versions are a known cause for the Airtag not reachable issue. The same is not the case with stable firmware versions.

Let’s now get on with the many troubleshooting fixes for this issue:

Refresh the iOS Device

Before we move to a more concentrated approach to troubleshooting this issue, let’s start with a rather simple fix, restarting the iOS device to which the Airtags are paired.

In time, every gadget is bound to act up owing to the many bugs and errors that may have taken refuge in the system.

Airtag not reachable may just be another byproduct of these bugs and errors.

And what better way to get rid of such temporal issues than to refresh the device? In doing so, you also get to refresh the Find My app, which, as you now know, is yet another source for the issue.

Here’s how to restart your iOS device:

1. Press and hold the Volume Down and Side buttons together until the power OFF slider appears.

2. Slide the slider to the right to turn OFF the device (may take a few seconds).

3. Once the device has powered down, wait a minute before powering it ON.

Check for the issue now.

Check and Refresh the Network and Bluetooth

Stable connectivity is a must for Airtags to connect to and communicate with the Find My app.

Issues with the network or Bluetooth can compromise the connection and induce various other issues like Airtag not updating the location.

And so, if you happen to experience the Airtags Not Reachable message on the app, best check and refresh the network and Bluetooth.

On iOS devices, you get to reset the network without refreshing any other setting options. Here’s how to do so:

1. Open the Settings tab on your device.

2. Navigate to the General tab.

3. Scroll down and select Transfer or Reset iPhone.

4. Select Reset Network Settings.

5. Follow through with the on-screen prompts to initiate the reset.

Set up the network once again and check for the issue now.

Now, to refresh Bluetooth, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings tab and navigate to Bluetooth.

2. Toggle OFF Bluetooth and exit the Menu.

3. Restart the Device and enable Bluetooth once again.

Check for the issue now.

Check and Change the Batteries on Airtags

Juiced-out batteries will render the Airtags unreachable.

Although Airtags are known for their insane battery life, they will eventually run out.

And so, just to be sure of the same, you can check the battery life of the Airtags from the Find My app if you haven’t yet lost it forever.

Here’s how to check the battery of your Airtags:

1. Open the Find My app and tap on the Items tile.

2. Tap on the Airtag you would like to check the battery.

3. You can find the status of the Battery just below the name of the Airtag.

Now, if you find that the battery of your Airtag has indeed run out, it is time to change them.

Apple uses CR 2032 batteries to power Airtags. Ensure to get the same when replacing the Batteries.

However, steer away from CR2032 batteries that have a bitter coating since employing such batteries can render the AirTag to not work with a new battery.

You can either get it done by yourself or visit the nearest Apple Store to get them replaced.

Check and Update the iOS Firmware

Apple, like most other tech giants, have a way of pushing out Beta versions of their newer Firmware to users for testing purposes. And for the most part, these versions are riddled with bugs and errors that may compromise certain aspects of the device.

Beta Firmware versions are a known cause of the issue at hand, and if you happen to come across this issue while using a Beta Firmware, it is advised to switch to a stable firmware version.

Moreover, Apple themselves may have already acknowledged such issues and may already have pushed out a patch update as a fix.

You can run a manual search for newer firmware on your iOS device by following these steps:

1. Open Settings and navigate to the General tab.

2. Tap open the Software Update tab.

3. The device should now run a check for any pending updates.

4. Tap on Download and Install if you have any pending updates.

5. Accept the terms and conditions to trigger the installation.

Once the device has been updated check for the issue.

Remove and Re-add Airtag

Next up, try removing and re-adding the Airtag on your iOS device.

Doing so will help you get rid of any bugs or errors that may be troubling the connectivity of the Airtag with the device.

Here’s how to remove an Airtag from your device:

1. Open the Find My app on your device and navigate to the Items tab.

2. Select the Airtag in question.

3. Scroll down to the bottom of the interface and select Remove item.

4. Confirm the selection by tapping on Remove.

Once the device has been removed from the app, bring the Airtag closer to your iOS device for the pairing prompt to pop up on the screen.

Pair back the device and check for the issue now.

Factory Reset the Airtag

As with most modern-day gadgets, the ultimate fix for most issues is to factory reset it. The same can be said in the case of an Airtag.

By performing a factory reset, you get to reset all the core settings, including connectivity settings, to the factory defaults.

Gone, too, are the many bugs and errors that may have caused this issue in the first place.

With that said, here’s how to factory reset an Airtag:

1. Press down the stainless steel half of the Airtag and turn it anti-clockwise until it can’t turn anymore.

2. You now have access to the battery compartment. Unplug the battery and insert it back in.

3. Press down the batteries to hear a chime from the Airtag.

4. Perform these steps – removing and reinserting the batteries to hear the chime – four more times (five in total)

5. On the fifth time, you will hear a distinct chime different from the usual one, indicating that the factory reset is complete and the device is ready to be set up.

Pair the Airtag with your iOS device and check for the issue now.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it, a comprehensive guide on fixing the Airtag not reachable issue on your iOS device.

You could also use the Precision Finding feature on the Find My app to get a more accurate location of the wayward Airtag. But the feature is limited to iPhone 11 and later.

If none of these fixes seems to have an effect on the issue, it’s better to contact customer services of Apple for further assistance.

You could even get the Airtag replaced if it has acquired a fair share of physical damage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why is my AirTag not picking up location?

If your Airtag is not picking up location, ensure that location services are enabled on your device first. Go to Settings> Privacy and Security> Location Services and toggle ON the option to do so. If it was already enabled, refresh the settings by toggling it OFF and ON.

How close does an AirTag have to be to be reachable?

The maximum effective range within which an iOS device can detect an Airtag is 30 feet.

Does AirTag work long distance?

Yes, Airtags can work long distances, even internationally, as long as a compatible iOS device is within the Bluetooth range.