Here’s why your AirTag is beeping and how to make it stop

The Apple AirTag is a handy accessory to track your keys, wallets, e-bikes, travel bags, pets, remotes, or anything you can think of. Your AirTag beeps during the device setup and when you’re locating a lost item with your iPhone. However, your AirTag making a high-pitched sound for no reason can be alarming and requires a closer look. Here’s why your AirTag is beeping and how to make it stop.

Why is my AirTag making a beeping noise?

Your AirTag beeps or chimes for a few reasons. Let’s glance over some of the common scenarios.

Are you setting up your AirTag?

Part of the AirTag setup process involves the accessory beeping. Additionally, changing the battery will cause it to emit some noise.

The AirTag has a low battery level

AirTags are known to beep or make random noises when the battery is low.

The AirTag has lost connection

When your AirTag loses connection to your phone via Bluetooth, it can start to beep. The idea is to let you or others know you’re moving away from your belongings, or walking away from your phone.

Additionally, this will happen if you turn Bluetooth off on your iPhone. This will essentially cut the connection between your AirTag and smartphone.

The AirTag is signaling a lost item

When you try to find a lost AirTag in the Find My app, you can make the device beep to provide an astute location. You can always get detailed directions in the Find My app, but constant beeping makes finding things under a pillow and other unusual locations easy.

Your AirTag also makes noise periodically when in Lost Mode. You must confirm active tracking from the Find My app and disable Lost Mode.

A word of warning: Someone may be trying to track you!

In this guide, we are focusing on beeping AirTags that belong to you, but it’s also important to note that you should be cautious of unknown AirTag beeps in your vehicle. Because AirTags beep when disconnected from the owner’s device, if you hear a beep in your car, it may come from a hidden AirTag someone else planted there. Learn more about this in our dedicated post on how to know if an AirTag is tracking you.

How to stop your AirTag from beeping

Constant AirTag beeping can be irritating and may disturb you during work hours. Go through the tips below to silence your AirTag.

Keep your AirTag close to your iPhone

AirTag trackers will beep if they have moved away from the owner’s location-sharing device (such as an iPhone) for a prolonged period of time. This also only really happens if it is detected that the AirTag is moving along with someone else. It is meant to prevent stalking, and can also help people find your lost items.

However, this can happen if you leave your phone in another room and have an AirTag with you. To avoid the beeping, just make sure your iPhone is always close to your AirTag.

Enable Bluetooth on your phone

Apple AirTag uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) to stay connected to your iPhone and signal lost items’ whereabouts. If you disable Bluetooth on your phone, the AirTag may beep to notify you about the lost connection, for the same reason you see right above. The AirTag will essentially think it’s no longer around the iPhone, meaning there could be a risk of loss.

1. Launch the Settings app.
2. Go into Bluetooth.
3. Enable Bluetooth.

Once the AirTag detects the connection, it should stop beeping.

Replace the AirTag battery

AirTags are known to beep or make noises when the battery is depleting. Check out our guide to find out if your AirTag’s battery is low. If such is the case, you’ll need to replace it with a brand-new one. You’ll need a CR2032 battery.

Disable AirTag’s Lost Mode

It’s pretty hard to “accidentally” turn on Lost Mode on AirTags, but it may happen. Or it could have been triggered by your kids messing with your phone. Whatever the case, here’s how to disable an AirTag’s Lost Mode.

1. Open the Find My app on your iPhone.
2. Go to Items and select your AirTag.
3. Below Lost AirTag, check if either Show Contacts Info is turned on. If it is, tap on it.
4. Hit Remove Contact Info, let the process finish, then hit Done.

Re-pair the AirTag

You can remove your AirTag and pair it again to stop the random beeping issue. It’s an effective way to troubleshoot common AirTag issues.

1. Launch Find My and go to Items.
2. Tap on your AirTag and swipe up to expand more settings.
3. Select Remove Item.
4. Tap Remove and confirm the same from the bottom pop-up menu.

Once you’ve removed the device from your phone, you must set up the Apple AirTag again.

Factory reset your AirTag manually

If the trick above doesn’t work, use the steps below to factory reset your AirTag manually.

1. Press the stainless steel section at the bottom of your AirTag and rotate the cover counter until it stops.
2. Once you pull both pieces, remove and insert the AirTag battery. You will hear a beep when you reinsert the battery.
3. Repeat the same process five times until you hear another beep.
4. Reattach the cover and rotate it to lock it in place.
5. Then, go through the setup process again.

Update your Airtag firmware

Apple regularly releases firmware updates to add new features and fix AirTag bugs. Sadly, you can’t really update AirTags manually, though. This is done automatically. Just keep your AirTag close to your iPhone, and ensure Bluetooth stays enabled to keep the connection established. After some time, the system will update on its own.