In April 2021, Apple showed us again that there is still room to invent completely new products. Those from Cupertino presented the Air Tag, a small device with a size similar to that of a coin that promised to be the definitive solution to all the clueless human beings that populate this planet. If you got one or more AirTags around that time, it is possible that some of them have already remained No battery, so it will be time to make the first change. As you can see in the following lines, the operation is simple, but you must take into account a few details so that your device continues to work correctly.
How long does the battery of an AirTag last?
According to official data from Apple, the battery that comes in its AirTags lasts about 12 months. As long as we use a replacement of the same quality, we will have to make an annual replacement for each and every one of the AirTags that we have at home.
Of course, this data is an estimate, and it can last more or less months depending on other parameters such as the ambient temperature in the place where you live. The important thing here is that Sooner or later, your AirTag's battery will die., and you will have to replace it. Doing it is easy, and you will not need the help of a professional as can happen when changing a watch battery.
What kind of batteries are compatible with AirTags?
Image: pickr.com.au
AirTags use a button battery. Specifically, they use the model CR2032, a standard within lithium batteries. This battery is one of the most used in computer motherboards, clocks, wireless buttons for home automation devices such as those from Ikea, and movement sensors.
These batteries can be purchased at virtually any electronics store, or even at the checkout counter in any supermarket. As usual, if you buy one at a time, the price will be substantially more expensive than buying packs of several units.
What you should keep in mind before buying a battery for your AirTags
Changing the battery to an AirTag may seem pretty simple —We will explain it to you below—, but there are not a few users who complain on the Internet saying that they have performed the operation and have not succeeded.
Batteries are generally products with a certain danger. The lithium ones, for example, can explode if we try to open them. The alkalines of a lifetime can cause us enormous burns with their acid. And the button ones like the CR2032 are extremely dangerous if they fall into the hands of small children, as they can put them in their mouths and choke on them. For this reason, many manufacturers cover their batteries with a very bitter product. They call it “child protection”, and the goal is that if a child puts the battery in their mouth, they will quickly spit it out due to the horrible taste.
Well, many owners of AirTags followed to the letter the steps established by Apple to replace the battery of its locators, and came to the conclusion that they were still not working after replacing button cell. After a lot of discussion in forums, where there were quite a few users who had the same problem, several came to the conclusion that this bath of bitter substance prevents the AirTag from working properly.
Since August 2021, Apple's own official website warns of this phenomenon:
«Bitter-coated CR2032 batteries may not work for AirTags or other battery-powered products, depending on the alignment of the coating in relation to the battery contacts.».
Although Apple warns of this fact, no type of list of compatible battery models has been officially published so as not to harm any manufacturer. Therefore, you will have to check on the packaging which batteries do not have this substance to guarantee that they will work in your AirTag.
Step by step: Change the battery of your AirTags
Previous Step: check the charge of the AirTag
If you are not sure whether or not you need to change the battery, checking it is very easy. You have to do the following:
- Open the app'Search' on your iPhone.
- Go to the tab 'Objects'.
- Look for the Air Tag that you want to check and click on it.
- tap on it stack icon that appears below the name of the AirTag.
- Being a battery, the device will not tell us a percentage. If the voltage is enough, the battery will show full. If, on the other hand, the battery charge is low, a message will pop up warning you that you need to change the battery of the device.
Replace the AirTag's button cell battery
Once you have your new battery, perform the following procedure:
- Place the AirTag on a table, with the steel part up.
- Pleasure pressure on both sides of the logo from apple apple.
- Rotates counterclockwise until the cover bottoms out. If the surface slips, you can try wearing gloves.
- Carefully remove the metal cover.
- Insert the new lithium coin cell (2032 volt CR3 standard). He positive side should be towards arriba. You will hear a 'click' when you place it correctly.
- Replace the metal cover. To do this, you must make sure that the three tabs are aligned with the three slots on the AirTag itself.
- Now turn the cover on the clockwise direction.
Once this is done, perform the process again. check the battery status of the AirTag using your iPhone.
Before finishing, do not forget to remove the spent battery out of the way, as well as the rest of the batteries in case you have decided to buy them in a pack. Remember that these batteries do not have the bitter coating, so it is an added danger if you have small children at home.
As you may have seen, replacing the battery of your AirTags is not a mystery, but you have to take into account the small detail of the coating, which can make the device not work at first.