This Apple AirTag Battery Replacement Is Only $6

Apple AirTags are a traveler’s best friend. There are countless stories of the portable GPS saving the day when a piece of luggage goes missing on a series of connecting flights. Within minutes, you can identify where your AirTag is remotely, even if it’s on the other side of the world, saving you days, even weeks’ worth of stress and anxiety.

But, AirTags only work if they have enough battery power, which only lasts up to one year (a fact I learned recently when I was traveling in Europe). Here’s an inside tip — instead of buying a new AirTag for $28 when the battery dies, you can simply replace the battery. But you’ll need the right type: the Panasonic CR2032 battery or  Energizer CR2032 battery, to be exact. 

Panasonic CR2032 Apple AirTag Replacement Battery

Energizer CR2032 Lithium Coin 3 AirTag Compatible Batteries

That’s right, AirTags take a CR2032 lithium 3V coin battery, commonly used in watches, calculators, and key fobs. They can save you more than $100 if you have four AirTag batteries to replace. But here’s the rub: Many CR2032 batteries come with a bitter coating to prevent ingestion and swallowing. Although this is a helpful safety protocol to keep children and pets safe, the coating can interfere with the AirTag’s battery contact receptors. 

To make sure you’re buying one that works with AirTags, look for batteries that say “compatible with Apple AirTag,” on the packaging like the Energizer CR2032 and Panasonic CR2032 battery. If you don’t, you could end up with a pack of batteries that won’t work in your AirTags.

How to Check if Your AirTag Needs a New Battery

Apple takes the guesswork out of identifying how much battery life your AirTag has left by delivering a notification to your iPhone and warning you on the FindMy app. If you’ve connected your AirTag within the app, it will show you a battery life sign next to your AirTag’s name. 

How to Change Your Apple AirTag’s Battery

Changing the battery in your AirTag is simple, and Apple provides helpful instructions for the swap. Just press down, rotate counterclockwise, replace, and close it up by twisting clockwise. Remember to properly dispose of your used batteries responsibly by dropping them off at your county household hazardous waste facility, or battery recycler in your area.

As a reminder, not all CR2032 batteries will work with the AirTags and that is because of a safety coating many battery manufacturers use to prevent harmful ingestion. As a reminder, always keep batteries far out of reach of children or pets. 

When shopping for a CR2032 Apple support suggests to “look for packaging that states ‘Compatible with Apple AirTag.’ Some CR2032 batteries with bitterant coatings might not work with AirTag or other battery-powered products.”

Energizer CR2032 batteries specifically claim to be compatible with Apple AirTags, and they’re Amazon’s No. 1 best-seller in the category. One reviewer said these Energizer batteries saved the day when their Costco battery replacements weren’t working and said, “Thought I would try new batteries before buying 8 more AirTags; [these] saved me $180.”

Panasonic’s CR2032 batteries have positive reviews for AirTag users too, with one reviewer saying “Bought this for my AirTag, battery works with no issues. Previous battery brands didn’t work.”

If you prefer not to buy a pack and need just one battery, this single Panasonic CR2032 comes with a bitter coating removal wipe. One reviewer raved “Works great! Comes with wipe to get off kid-safe coating so AirTag works.”

Trust me, I made the mistake of buying a pack of Duracell batteries at my local CVS as replacements at first. I didn’t know about the bitter coating issue until I tried to use the Duracell battery and the AirTag wouldn’t make the correct reset noise. No matter how many times I re-installed the battery, I wasn’t getting a hard reset. That’s when I turned to the internet and discovered the solution to this common issue is the Energizer CR2032 and Panasonic CR2032 battery. 

Read on for more helpful accessories all travelers should consider buying for their Apple AirTags, including waterproof AirTag holders, travel AirTag wallets, and passport holders with AirTag holders that help keep track of these essentials that you can’t afford to lose.

Shop Apple AirTags and AirTag Accessories at Amazon:

Apple AirTag

AirTag Passport Holder RFID-Blocking Cover Wallet

AirTag Dog Collar Holder 2-Pack

Waterproof Airtag Holder, Case with Ultra Adhesive Sticker

Elevation Lab TagVault AirTag Wallet

Raptic Anti-Theft Link & Lock for Apple AirTags

2-Pack AirTag Lock Case Keychain

At the time of publishing, the price started at $6. 

Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week.