Urgent help required - how does AirTag work?

AirTag uses a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) beacon. This beacon signal is potentially detected by the many millions of Apple devices (typically an iPhone) that are participating in Apple's Find My Network. The detecting device will anonymously report the detection - along with the precise location of the detecting device - to Apple's Find My servers.

When you access your AirTags location, you will see the location of the anonymous device that detected the AirTag. As Bluetooth typically has a range of ~30' (10m), the AirTag will have been within this distance of the detecting device.

It follows that...

1) AirTags (a) cannot independently determine their own location as they lack the technical hardware (such as a GPS receiver) and (b) lack the means to autonomously transmit their location. Both would require significant battery power source and associated bulk.

2) In absence of detecting device within range of the AirTag, its presence won't be detected and anonymously reported back to Apple.

3) The AirTag, attached to a moving object (the cat) is unlikely to remain in the reported location - unless the AirTag has become detached from the cat, or something untoward has happened to the cat.

When you are actively searching for the AirTag, your iPhone was be relatively close before your iPhone's precision finding (using its UWB Radio) will detect and guide you to the AirTag.

s_rose_27 wrote:

The main question is, when the 'Directions' changes to 'Find nearby' is that telling me the AirTag is nearby NOW, or is it telling me the AirTag's last known location is nearby?

When the 'Directions' button in Find My changes to 'Find Nearby', it does not necessarily mean the AirTag is nearby right now—it just means that your iPhone has detected the AirTag’s last known Bluetooth presence in that area ...

... and when you are at where the AirTag was last detected, your iPhone assumes it might still be nearby and allows you to enter Precision Finding mode and you get the "Find Nearby" notification. However, if the AirTag is not within Bluetooth range (~30-50 feet, depending on obstacles), Precision Finding won’t activate, and you'll get the 'No signal. Try moving around' message.

So, what does this meaning for finding your cat?

• The AirTag might still be somewhere in that area, but it could be out of Bluetooth range, inside a structure, or its battery may have died (unlikely after just 48 hours).
• If your cat is still wearing the AirTag and moving around, it should update its location when it comes near an Apple device (any iPhone, iPad, or Mac in range with Find My enabled).

Here are some suggestions that you can try to see if they help you with locating your cat:

• Since the AirTag hasn’t updated in 48 hours, your cat may have certainly moved since then. Check surrounding areas, including under decks, sheds, garages, or even trees/utility poles (cats sometimes climb when scared).
• If you know your neighbors at this location, ask them if they could walk around with their iPhones.
• Keep checking Find My on your phone. Sometimes the AirTag will update unexpectedly if a passing iPhone picks it up.