AirTag battery replaced but still reads low even though battery doesn't have bitterant

I had the same and additional issue.

I replaced battery in AirTag with new (& tested) battery. Still reads low battery. Even after deleting it on the app and attempting to re-add, the app won't let me re-add because it says I haven't changed the battery.

Solution:

Remove the battery and let the AirTag sit without battery installed for 30 minutes. Then reinstall battery and now the app lets me re-add the AirTag and the battery level is correct.

I had the same issue and after lots of trials I came to realize that the BATTERIES ARE THE ISSUE !.CR2032 batteries all nominally have a voltage of 3 volts ( they should read above 3.25 / 3.3, and open circuit voltages of approximately 3.6 volts. But the reading is not enough! The batteries should be FRESH!! Recently purchased! I tend to store batteries of different sizes, so to always have them handy. The problem is that if they remained stored for too long they tend to loose their power and the reading maybe good at the unsealing but it is not accurate ! You may notice that after a little while testing it again will show a lower reading! That means the battery is “exhausted” and has no real power. After testing all 6 batteries from the same pack that I had stored for probably more than just a couple of years, none of them could erase the indication that a new battery was needed. I even tried the recommendation given above, of deleting the air tag and adding it back again and yet it still indicated a new battery needed. Then I put in all three AirTags that needed a new battery, batteries from a much more recently purchased pack of 6 CR2032 batteries. And they all finally made the indication disappear from all 3 . So always remember to use new recently purchased “fresh” batteries and never stock too many batteries specially of a type you do not use frequently Remember the indication is not a safe way to reassure the power of the battery. It may indicate at first 3.25 or even 3.3 but it’s misleading !! If of course it shows 2.7 or even 3.1 it is a dying battery. Always prefer choosing renowned and reliable battery brands! Special cheaper deals from unknown brands are to be avoided as well as shop branded outsourced batteries ! You will regret it at one point for sure. As it is said you get what you paid for. 😎

I had the same problem I put a fresh battery in and two or three days later it said battery has to be replaced so I thought it was a bad battery then I put another new battery and I got the same message a few days later. so I took the battery out and took some 70% isopropyl alcohol on a Q-tip and cleaned all all the contacts, including the battery on both sides and the AirTag on both sides making sure I got the little contacts Inside. So far it’s been working good I didn’t get that notice anymore. Maybe it’s some corrosion. I don’t know. I didn’t see anything on the qtip, but give it a try.

Easiest thing to do when replacing your batteries is to take the old battery out, wait 5 minutes, and then put the new battery in. The low battery message won’t be there if you do it that way. For some reason if you immediately replace the battery it still shows low (but I’m told over a period of time the battery status will update on its own). So again to avoid all of this, just wait 5 minutes before putting the new battery in.

I have 8 airtags, four of which were indicating low battery. When I replaced the batteries following the 5-6 times insert and replace process, one immediately recognized the battery, one had to be removed from the registry and then added, but two others would not recognize the new battery at all after several attempts. I tested the batteries to confirm that they were good, but the two airtags still would not recognize the new batteries. I know that the batteries were good since I exchanged them and they worked in other airtags. After waiting awhile, one of the airtags finally did recognize the new battery, but I still have one more that does not. Due to the randomness of success/failure of the battery replacement process, it appears there is something going on with the process, software or the hardware that's not documented by Apple.

UPDATE: After scrubbing the "faulty" battery, and reinstalling it, the airtag recognized the new battery. The battery had "bitter taste" child-proofing. Apple needs to mention this on their battery replacement documentation.

Christian's solution worked for me: "The way I got rid of the 'low battery' label was to go to the Find My app and remove the item, then reactivate it:

1. Go to item in Find My
2. Swipe to the left on the item, then tap on the trashcan, tap on Remove.
3. Now, with the new battery in place, just reactivate the AirTag and relink it to your Apple ID."

I had the same issue, but found that I had to wait at least 30 minutes with battery removed from the Airtag, before attempting to re-add it in the Find My app.

I had the problem of the air tag showing low power after replacing the battery but solved it by wiping down new battery and case with a qtip and a small amount of alcohol

I removed the little sticker on the negative side and rubbed both sides with a wetwipe for about a minute and it worked. The battery is duracell.

The first couple of tries, it didn't work. I used a fresh Duracell since I thought the cheaper batteries was the root cause. The Duracell failed still with a low battery. I did a full power cycle of my phone and then I had success.

Thanks,

Jared

Once new battery is installed with cap off remove and put battery back in 5 times until you get a different chirp. Now replace back cap. Should have a reset message in iPhone. Good to go.

i turned on Bluetooth, and it immediately showed full battery.

I had same experience with Duracell. They absolutely would not work in the AirTag.

Guiriman’s solution worked perfectly after unsuccessfully trying turning off and on Bluetooth, iPhone etc. As above issue was using Duracell and I presume their safety stickers leave enough residue to impair a proper electrical contact. Thanks for sharing

Refer to my post on cleaning the contacts with 70% isopropyl alcohol.