AirTag won't pair after battery replacement

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CherylLP1964 Author

Level 1

4 points

AirTag won't pair after battery replacement

My AirTag will not pair with my iphone after replacing the battery. I cleaned off the back of the battery with alcohol to remove the bitterant of Duracell battery that says "AirTag Compatible". AirTag chirps so is connecting to battery. However, will not pair with my phone. I reset the AirTag, made sure that the AirTag was not showing as listed in my devices in the Find My App, cleaned the back of the battery off with alcohol, turned my phone off and back on, and verified my Bluetooth is on AND it still isn't pairing with my phone. This AirTag is the one on my pet's collar so I really need it to work. Can anyone give me a solution? I would really appreciate it?

iPhone 13, iOS 26

Posted on Dec 31, 2025 4:58 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Tesserax

Level 10

158,058 points

Dec 31, 2025 5:20 PM in response to CherylLP1964

The most common cause of this issue is the battery itself. Even though some Duracell batteries are labeled “AirTag compatible,” the bitterant coating can still interfere with the AirTag’s internal contacts, and alcohol cleaning doesn’t always fully remove it. In some cases, the battery makes enough contact to power the AirTag (which is why it chirps) but not enough for stable Bluetooth communication needed for pairing.

I suggest that the best next step is to replace the battery with a different brand that does not use a bitterant coating, such as Energizer, Panasonic, or a generic CR2032 without child-deterrent chemicals. When inserting the new battery, press it firmly until you hear a chime. Then perform a full reset by removing and reinserting the battery five times, waiting for the sound each time, before attempting to pair again with the phone nearby and unlocked.

If it still won’t pair after trying a non-bitterant battery, the AirTag’s internal antenna or contact spring may have been damaged during the battery change or from moisture exposure (common with pet collars). At that point, the most reliable solution is replacement, as AirTags are not repairable. Apple Support can confirm this quickly and may offer a replacement if the unit is still within coverage.

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