How do I re-pair an AirTag with a different iPhone and phone number?

Question

How do I re-pair an AirTag with a different iPhone and phone number?

I have an AirTag that was previously paired with a second iPhone I used for my kids. Now I’ve deactivated that phone number and have reset it and am a now using it as my own phone - with a new phone number.

I’d like to re-pair the air tag to the same phone, under a different profile and number, but Apple doesn’t provide clear instructions on how to do so.

I’ve reset it and can get it to show up on my phone, but it shows that it’s still registered to the previous phone number, which is now deactivated.

please help!

Thanks

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: AirTag Owner Issue

AirTag

Posted on Aug 24, 2025 10:49 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 25, 2025 11:49 AM in response to Tomdabombferreal

Short answer:

First:

To make that AirTag available for re-purposing on a different Apple Account, it MUST be unpaired from it’s currently-assigned Apple Account.

And this can only be accomplished using FindMy of a Trusted Device ON that Apple Account.

If it was NOT within range, it will need to be reset by the “5-tap” method

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Answer 2

Tesserax

Level 10

158,058 points

Aug 25, 2025 11:33 AM in response to Tomdabombferreal

Welcome to Activation Lock ;), which is part of Apple’s Find My iPhone/iPad/Mac security system. Your AirTag is NOT linked to a phone, but rather to an Apple Account.

One thing missing in your post is, whether or not, you are using the same Apple Account with both phones. Based on what you provided, I am guessing that is not the case.

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Answer 3

Rudegar

Level 10

180,318 points

Aug 24, 2025 11:43 PM in response to Tomdabombferreal

try

How to Reset AirTag and Pair with iPhone - YouTube

Pair old airtags to new phone : r/AirTags

more airtag pair with new phone - Google-

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Answer 4

Aug 25, 2025 8:47 AM in response to Rudegar

I can get it to pair with my new phone, but it says it’s still under the ownership of the previous account. Which had a different phone number/email. That phone number is no longer valid, it’s disconnected, so it doesn’t show up on the previous accounts find my iCloud.

I need to be able to release the device from this older account to be able to use it on my new one. But apple doesn’t seem to have a workaround on this.

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Answer 5

Rudegar

Level 10

180,318 points

Aug 25, 2025 9:35 AM in response to Tomdabombferreal

try

connect ipad to projector hdmi - Google-søgning

if you forgot the password of the old appleID then try

If you forgot your Apple Account password - Apple Support

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