How dose AirTag work

it has bluetooth so about a range of 30meters

if it's further away than that from you so it can't reach you

then if one or more iphones are with in range and have internet access and bluetooth enabled

the airtag will triggger then iphone sending it's gps locations to icloud so you get it's location

otherwise it's dead in the water, it does not update location in real time though likely because it's battery would get empty pretty quick if it did

The AirTag relies on Bluetooth, and the Apple "Find My Network" to work.

Basically, the AirTag has a Bluetooth beacon that transmits its ID every 3-5 minutes to save battery life. The "Find My Network," in turn, consists of literally millions of iPhones, that any one of them within Bluetooth range (~30-40') to pick up that beacon. It would then relay that beacon's ID, along with the phone's GPS location to the Apple servers securely, over an active Internet connection.

This is where you would see the tag's updated location with the Find My app on your iPhone.

You're very welcome!