How to reset AirTag to use it with another Apple ID account

Learn how to reset your AirTag to its default settings for troubleshooting purposes or for making it ready for new use.

Like most Apple devices, the AirTag is also tied to the owner’s Apple account. So, if you’re giving away your AirTag to someone else, you will have to remove it from your account. Similarly, if you’d like to use an AirTag item tracker that someone else has previously used but forgot to reset, they will need to disassociate it from their Apple account.

Also see: How to share your AirTag with up to five people

Remove an AirTag from your Apple ID and reset it

The AirTag supports a feature Apple calls Pairing Lock, which ensures no one can remotely unpair an AirTag from your device. An AirTag can be easily removed from your Apple ID so that another person can pair and use it.

Keep the AirTag near your iPhone so both are in Bluetooth range.
Open the Find My app on your iPhone or iPad. You cannot use Find My on Mac for this.
Go to the Items tab.
Select the AirTag you want to reset.
Scroll to the bottom of the AirTag page and tap Remove Item > Remove.

Remove AirTag from Apple ID using Find My app on iPhone

Now, you can pass on this AirTag to another person, and they can pair it with their iPhone.

One important thing to keep in mind is that removing an AirTag through the Find My app is the only way to disassociate the accessory from your Apple ID. Apple can’t remove the Pairing Lock for you.

Reset an AirTag to factory settings

If the owner of the AirTag removed it from their Apple ID using the above steps while being away from Bluetooth range, the new owner must follow the steps below to reset the AirTag completely.

Remove the back cover by pressing the AirTag’s battery cover and rotate counterclockwise until it stops rotating.
Now, remove the battery.
Put the battery back and press the battery gently until you hear a sound.
When the sound finishes, repeat the process four more times. You should hear a sound each time you press on the battery, for a total of five sounds.
Now, align the three tabs on the cover with the three slots on the AirTag. Press the cover down gently until you hear a sound. Rotate the cover clockwise until it stops rotating to put the cover back on.

The reset process is complete now, and the AirTag is ready to be used with another Apple account.

Check out next: 14 tips to make the most of your AirTags