My iPhone does not recognize a new AirTag
My phone originally recognized my new AirTag. I got to pick emoji and could not continue. Now my phone does not recognize my AirTag.
iPhone 16, 18
Question marked as
Since your iPhone initially recognized the AirTag and let you pick an emoji, that means the pairing process started but didn’t finish — and now your iPhone might not see the AirTag because it’s stuck in a partially paired state.
See if any of the following can help:
- On you phone, open the Find My app → Items tab. If you see the AirTag listed, try removing it:
- Tap on the AirTag → swipe up → tap Remove Item.. Confirm removal. This will unpair it from your Apple ID.
If it is not showing up, I suggest that you reset the tag manually.
Ref: How to reset your AirTag - Apple Support
After resetting it, hold it near your phone and wait for the setup screen. If it doesn’t show:
- Restart your iPhone.
- Toggle Bluetooth and Location Services off and on.
- Ensure you're signed in to iCloud with Find My enabled.