iPhone has started reporting my AirTags left behind

On 23rd April I got a message on my iPhone 16 and Apple watch 7 that I'd left my keys (with an AirTag) behind. Find My reported them to be at the last place I'd visited and I raced back there but couldn't find them. A thorough search revealed they were still on my person! I fell for this without first checking because, until this time, in several years of AirTag use, I'd never had a false positive.

However, since that day I've received more false alarms—sometimes more than one a day—for AirTags that are with me, and it has happened with several AirTags (including one with a brand new battery).

Something has changed; either the behaviour of the Find My network has changed, or the behaviour of my iPhone has changed. Is there a way to test the Bluetooth?

Does anyone have any suggestions?

iPhone 16

Posted on May 11, 2025 9:05 PM

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May 18, 2025 5:59 PM in response to Erroll

Yep. I noticed this starting with 18.5 release. I use my AirTag on my key fob for my car. I leave work and about a mile down the road I get a pop up that I've left my key fob behind. I know it's not because I couldn't have opened the door or started the car if it wasn't with me. First thing I thought was battery since the AirTag was about 15 months old. Checked the battery and it was very close to 3 volts. Replaced with a new battery (measured it and it was showing 3.5 volts). A little over 24 hours later, same trip home from work got the same message that I left my AirTag behind at work. Of course it's in my pocket. Rebooted the phone to see if that would help. This afternoon I drove down to my local Taco Bell about 7 minutes from my home. Walked in and sat down and again it said I left the AirTag behind but it showed the location of my car in the Taco Bell lot and I was sitting inside eating. I'm on 18.5.

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iPhone has started reporting my AirTags left behind

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