How to Reset Apple AirTag to Transfer to New Owner

If you have an AirTag you are no longer using, you can factory reset it so another person can use it. Resetting the AirTag will sever any ties between your Apple ID and the AirTag; that way, you can sell the AirTag to a stranger with no worries.

You may also just want to let a family member use the AirTag. Unfortunately, there is no way to share an AirTag; only one person can use their iPhone’s Find My to track an AirTag. Thus, you may want to reset the AirTag so a family member can use it.

Before you reset the AirTag, you should remove the AirTag from your Apple ID. Without this step, no one else can use the AirTag. Before you receive/purchase an AirTag from someone, the AirTag’s owner must remove it from their Apple ID, or it will not work for you.

Remove the AirTag from your Apple ID

To remove the AirTag from your Apple ID, you should have the AirTag nearby (within Bluetooth range). This will also reset the AirTag. If you remove the AirTag from your Apple ID when it is outside of Bluetooth range, you will need to manually reset the AirTag before someone else can use it.

1. Have the AirTag within Bluetooth range of your iPhone. Make sure your iPhone’s Bluetooth is on.

2. Open Find My and select the Items tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Select the AirTag you wish to remove from your Apple ID.

4. Scroll down and tap on Remove Item. Tap Remove.

Reset the AirTag

If the previous owner of the AirTag was out of Bluetooth range when they removed the AirTag from their Apple ID, you will need to reset the AirTag before it can be used with a new Apple ID.

1. With the silver stainless steel side of the AirTag facing up, press and turn the silver side counterclockwise.
2. Remove the silver stainless steel battery cover.
3. Take the battery out of the AirTag.
4. Put the battery back in the AirTag and press on it until it makes a sound.
5. Repeat steps 3 & 4 until you have taken the battery out and put it back in a total of 5 times. The fifth time the AirTag should make a sound that is different than the previous four times. That is how you will know it has been successfully reset.
6. Put the AirTag back together by lining up the tabs on the silver cover with the slots on the AirTag. Press down and turn clockwise until the cover is secured.

Transfer the AirTag to a new owner

Once an AirTag has been removed from the previous owner’s Apple ID and (if necessary) reset, it can be paired with a new Apple ID. This process looks just like setting up a new AirTag, minus the step where you remove the outer wrapping and pull the tab.

So, if your AirTag has been removed from your Apple ID (and reset, if necessary), it is no longer connected to you in any way, and you can safely sell it or give it to someone else to use.

Troubleshooting AirTag issues

If you are having trouble with your AirTag, you may find the following articles useful:

• AirTag Precision Finding is Not Working, How to Fix
• Find My Not Showing AirTag, Cannot Connect, Fix

Related articles

• Apple AirTag Battery Life: When Should You Replace the Battery?
• What is the Range of an Apple AirTag?
• We Sent an AirTag from Illinois to Istanbul via FedEx