How to update AirTag Location

I understand how they work. They only have a range of about 30 feet which is pretty weak. If that range were say, 100 feet you would get a lot more hits, and they would have a better product. Pretty simple.

So about 1000 people on here with the same problem, and no solution??

My wife took my airtag in my car, with her iPhone and Apple Watch with Find my iPhone on, and the stupid airtag never piggybacked to signal on her Apple products?? No location updates at all. Yet I could track her phone with Find My Friends. These stupid things are worthless!!

Most say its by design that they dont work lol.

Honestly though with all the bad press about airtags tracking cars for theieves to steal, and all the other bad things people are using these for, who knows how long they will produce them since it makes Apple look bad. They should have just bought a tracking company and let them use apple's connectivity.

When I leave the AirTag at home and I have my iPad nearby, the location updates every 15-30 minutes, which is how it’s supposed to work. Sometimes I encounter a bug with the iPad that the location does not update unless you select “Notify when found”, but can be fixed by restarting the iPad. I do think that turning on “Notify when Found” will tell nearby device to update the location faster, since I used that during the testing that rely on stranger’s devices for location updates. I’m not sure if the updates are as effective as not turning “Notify when Found” on, since I haven’t done enough testing. So, if you are in need for a location update for the AirTag, try using “Notify when Found”, and there maybe is a greater chance that the location would update.

Well that's the most horrible answer I have ever heard!!! The entire purpose of the airtag is to find something that is NOT with you - or members of your family!!!! Why are we being lead to believe the airtag can be tracked just as a lost phone can when that is not the way it works?? This is very problematic and basically says to me that the airtag is worthless once it is not near me - I want my $49 back!

Did you ever figure anything out? It is pointless to own an AirTag that only updates when you are near it. Defeats the purpose of it completely on anything that moves out of your home.

We put ours in our sons backpack so we can watch the bus but it literally doesn’t update location the entire 45 minute transit until he gets home what a waste of money apple screwing us again

Actually, you’d just mark it as lost https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/iphone/iph1b451b75f/ios

Hi, There.

I had the same issue and I was able to fix the problem following the instructions here How to reset your AirTag - Apple Support

I have two AirTag and the one at home only updates when I get home because there are no other iOS device holders at home

That wasn’t a the case when I bought them. In fact, if you google it, there are tons of articles suggesting that as a use.

Of course, none by Apple. Just saying. Apple does not recommend using AirTags on people or animals, just things. AirTags are not real-time trackers and should not be relied on as such.

Definitely would look into a lawsuit if your dog passed away from an unreliable airtag

That wouldn’t go anywhere.