AirTags are an excellent tool for locating items that would otherwise be untraceable, such as keys, wallets, and documents. When it comes to tracking your AirTag, you must first grasp how to get Airtags to upload location, which may necessitate waiting for them to refresh their location. I’ll also discuss why the location may be updating more slowly and how you may view your AirTag location history.
How to Refresh AirTag Location Manually
You cannot manually refresh your AirTag’s location. To acquire the most accurate AirTag location reading, check your AirTag’s battery life to ensure it has enough power to be tracked. Your AirTag must also be within range of other Apple devices—all Apple devices, not just yours. How to Update AirTag Locations on Your iPhone:
- If you aren’t already there, tap Items.
- Tap the AirTag to view the most current location update. If you wish to see a more recently reported location, simply wait for it to refresh automatically.
- If the location is not updated and you can’t discover it by hitting discover, scroll down and turn on Lost Mode.
- Tap Continue.
- Enter your phone number and then hit Next.
- Make sure Notify When Found is turned on.
- Double-check your phone number and correct it if necessary.
- If you want to change the message, tap it, and then tap Activate.
You will now be notified if your AirTag is detected! If your AirTag has a low battery, this may only function if the person who finds it replaces the battery and leaves it somewhere where an Apple device can track it.
How to refresh AirTag location on iPhone
After you’ve tested the battery and enabled Bluetooth and Location Services, you may update your AirTag location on your iPhone or iPad by following these steps:
- Launch the Find My app.
- Tap on the AirTag you wish to refresh.
- Tap the “Refresh” button at the bottom of the screen.
- Wait a few seconds for the location to update.
- If the AirTag is nearby, try moving closer to it to update its position.
- Refreshing your AirTag location is a simple operation that can help you quickly find your missing belongings.
By completing the steps outlined above, you can guarantee that your AirTag is operational and provides correct location data.
AirTag Location Update Frequency
To determine how frequently your AirTag location updates, first understand how the device works. Specifically, it lacks built-in location functions. It receives information about your location via your iPhone. When the smartphone is close enough, it makes a connection. In turn, your phone acquires the AirTag’s ID, allowing you to locate the gadget.
The frequency of location updates is determined by your AirTag’s current position. If the device is in a congested area with numerous cellphones nearby, the location can be refreshed as frequently as every 60-120 seconds.
However, if the device is at a faraway location, you may stop receiving updates since it cannot reach you. There are no “Find My” devices within that radius that would help secure a connection.
This determines when the “Last Seen” notification appears on your screen. AirTags do not broadcast locations directly; instead, they update their location when an iPhone connected to the “Find My” network passes by. As a result, “Last Seen” indicates the last time your AirTag made contact with an iOS device and reported its location to the network.
If the “Last Seen” update suggests a long time ago, it is most likely because your device is in a remote area with few passing iPhones that would allow it to transmit its whereabouts.
Another possibility is that the device has migrated from its last known position. There has not been a single device that has updated its location.
How to update AirTag Firmware
Apple has published firmware version 2A73 for AirTag. This is the first software upgrade for the devices since October 2023, and Apple has yet to share the release details.
To update your AirTag, simply ensure that it is within range of your iPhone, which will initiate the firmware upgrade.
It is important to note that upgrades cannot be triggered manually; instead, they occur when your AirTag is within range of your iPhone during the release time. If you need to check the firmware on your AirTags, you may do it easily using the Find My app.
Simply launch the app, click Items at the bottom, tap your AirTag, and then tap the name again on the following screen. The firmware version will be shown next to the serial number.
AirTag Location Not Updating Reddit
If your AirTags are not working properly, follow these troubleshooting steps:.
1. Use Find Nearby in Find My
If you believe your AirTag is in Bluetooth range, enable Find Nearby. Your Find My-enabled Apple device will use BLE to pinpoint its exact location and take you there. Here’s how.
- Open the Find My app on your iPhone and select the Items menu.
- Choose the name of your AirTag and hit Find Nearby.
- Move around the area as Find My tries to connect to your AirTag—just follow the on-screen directions. Your device should vibrate as you come near.
- If Find Nearby is grayed out, it indicates that your AirTag is not within Bluetooth range. Try moving around the area until the button turns green and is clickable.
2. Enable location services
AirTags send Bluetooth signals to adjacent Apple devices over the Find My network. If Location Services are not enabled on your iPhone (the most likely connection point for your AirTag), it will be unable to upload its location.
- Open Settings on your iPhone and head to the Privacy & Security section.
- Tap Location Services.
- Enable Location Services.
- On the same page, scroll down and tap Find My.
- Select the While Using the App option under Allow Location Access.
- Next, toggle on the Precise Location button.
3. Enable Find My
To state the obvious, you must enable Find My on your iPhone; otherwise, you will be unable to track your Apple devices.
- Open Settings and tap your Apple ID profile at the top.
- Tap Find My on the next screen.
- Tap Find My iPhone and enable Find My iPhone on the next page.
- Make sure to enable the Find My Network and Send Last Location toggle buttons if you haven’t already.
4. Turn Bluetooth off and on again
Turn Bluetooth off and back on to remove any hidden faults or glitches that may be interfering with Find My and your AirTag.
- Open Settings > Bluetooth.
- Toggle the Bluetooth button.
- In case Bluetooth is already enabled, turn it off.
- Restart your iPhone—you can ask Siri to restart the iPhone if you’re unaware of the steps.
- Head back to Settings > Bluetooth and turn on Bluetooth.
5. Check Your Internet Connection
Even if your AirTag sends Bluetooth signals correctly, it will not appear on Find My unless your internet connection is reliable. Consider toggling between Wi-Fi and cellular data networks. You could also switch them off and on again to fix any temporary issues.
6. Remove AirTag from Find My
If you already have your AirTag, but it isn’t showing up in Find My, remove it from your list of devices. Setting it up again on your iPhone may revert any erroneous settings.
- Only undertake this step if you have your AirTags with you; otherwise, you will lose them totally. Open Find My on your iPhone and select the Items menu.
- Choose the AirTag you want to remove.
- Swipe up on the AirTag menu to see all available options.
- Tap Remove Item, then confirm your choice by selecting Remove again.
- After turning off AirTag, hit Add Item and follow the on-screen prompts to reconnect it to your Apple ID profile.
7. Replace the battery
AirTags operate on CR2032 batteries. Each one normally lasts more than a year, but your associated iPhone will notify you when it needs to be replaced. If you do not insert a new battery cell, your AirTag will stop working.
8. Reset Network Settings
Because an AirTag’s entire functionality is dependent on wireless networks, network configuration errors and glitches will result in location inaccuracies. Reset your network settings to the factory defaults.
- Go to Settings > General.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and choose Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- On the next screen, select Reset.
- Then, select Reset Network Settings and confirm by entering your device’s PIN.
9. Update iOS to the latest version
Several Apple Support Community users stated that updating the most recent iOS update resolved the location issues with their AirTags. This shows that Find My may be malfunctioning on some Apple OS versions.
- Open Settings > General.
- Select Software Update.
- To update or install a new iOS version, tap the Update Now or Install Now button and enter your device’s passcode.