A lot of people think once their Airtag dies, they have to throw it away. I am here to bust that myth with 3 simple steps to change your Airtag battery. *No tools required
Wallet, keys, phone, kids: Found with these trackers
My husband, Barry, loses track of everything. Well, he did until I AirTagged his life. That’s where Bluetooth trackers come in handy. These tiny devices attach to what you don’t want to lose, and they sync directly to your phone. The tracker shares its location when you can’t find it.
Here are 15 practical and creative ways you could use a tracker:
- Keys: Attach one to your car or house keys to easily locate them.
- Wallet or purse: Slip a tracker inside to find your wallet or bag if it’s misplaced.
- Backpack: Perfect for keeping an eye on your kids (or your own bag) at school, work or while traveling.
- Luggage: Track your suitcase during flights or other travel to ensure it doesn’t get lost.
- Pet collar: Attach a tracker to your pet’s collar in case they wander off.
- Bicycle or scooter: Hide a tracker on your bike or scooter to help recover it if it gets stolen.
- Remote controls: Trackers are great for finding TV remotes that always seem to disappear.
- Laptop or tablet case: Put a tracker in your device case for an extra layer of security.
- Car: Leave one in your car to help you locate where you’ve parked.
- Sports equipment: Use a tracker on expensive gear like golf bags or tennis rackets, especially if you leave them in public places.
- Musical instruments: Attach one to your instrument’s case for quick tracking.
- Tools or toolboxes: Keep track of your tools or toolkits, especially if you take them to different job sites.
- Boat or kayak: Attach one to a paddle or other boat equipment for peace of mind on the water.
- Toy or stuffed animal: Trackers are perfect for your kiddo’s fave toys … that they always seem to misplace.
- Storage boxes: Attach trackers to storage containers with your holiday decorations, family heirlooms or off-season clothes.
Bluetooth is limited to the distance it can pair with your device. Today’s trackers tap into a network created by nearby phones and devices, so you can track something whether it’s in the next room or around the globe.
🍎 Team Apple
Apple AirTags are coin-sized tracking devices designed to help you locate lost items through Apple’s Find My network. It taps into hundreds of millions of Apple devices around the world to anonymously detect and report the location of a tagged item.
Each AirTag has a replaceable CR2032 battery that lasts over a year. AirTags only work with iOS devices. The cost? $24.99 for one (14% off) or $79.98 for a four-pack (19% off).
🤖 Team Android
You have way more options. My picks below work with most Android-based devices, including the Samsung Galaxy line and Google Pixels. (Yes, they work with iPhones, too, but I really think Apple owners should just stick with AirTags.)
Chipolo ONE: The coolest thing about these powerful little dots is their separation alerts — a phone notification that tells you when you’ve traveled at least 350 feet away from your tagged valuables (think leaving your bag behind at a coffee shop).
- Price: Snag a three-pack on sale for $64 or grab one for $25.
- Use it for: Essentials you want to keep nearby. The separation alert alone is a game‑changer.
Tile Mate: You’ve lost your phone and it’s on silent? No problem. Double-pressing the Tile will do what your partner calling your phone for the third time won’t — make your phone ring audibly. If it’s really lost, the good Samaritan who scans the QR code on your Tile can contact you.
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Traveling soon? Track your luggage with your airline’s app. Open the app’s Menu > Track my bags. The naming will vary depending on the airline. Enter your reservation or tag number, and you’ll get updates along its journey. If you’re an Apple fan and have an AirTag, toss that in, too. On an Android? Try Chipolo.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Catching porch pirates and mail thieves
A savvy woman fought back against porch pirates by mailing herself an Apple AirTag, leading to the capture of the thieves who had been stealing her mail.
🕵🏼 Both sides are hiding AirTags on political signs: It’s to stop (and catch) thieves. Michigan detectives used one to track 72 stolen campaign signs … and then, they spent hours searching the wrong house. It wasn’t until they brought in the AirTag owner for a more precise location that they realized the signs were at a neighbor’s house, clearly visible through a window. People …
Keep a tracker hidden in your car
I use an AirTag to always know where my car is. The key is to hide the tracker so a thief doesn’t know about it. The better hidden it is, the better off you’ll be.
When your luggage is MIA at the airport carousel: Apple now lets you share your AirTags’ location with your airline (or anyone else). Open the Find My app, tap on your lost item, then tap Share Item Location > Continue > Share Link. If your bag is found, stop sharing its location anytime; otherwise, the link will expire in seven days.
📦 Arrr, matey: A California woman turned the tables on USPS mail thieves. She mailed herself a package with an Apple AirTag in it. After crooks snatched the package from her P.O. Box, she called the cops. The tracker led police right to their hideout, where they found more stolen mail and packages.
He fell for an online Ponzi scheme
YouTuber Antenna Man is opening up about being a victim of the Agridime Ponzi scheme. He hopes others don’t fall into the same trap. Plus, a woman tracks down a thief with an AirTag, and someone hacks a guy’s Bluetooth headphones — creepy stuff!
Soap-erstar: Jessica Serfaty of “Days of Our Lives” fame discovered a hidden tracker in her Range Rover. Her iPhone tipped her off about an Apple AirTag nearby that was news to her. She called the cops because, you know, stalker vibes, but they couldn’t find it. Here’s help if you get an alert like this.
🔋 iNeed you to know this: The battery in an AirTag lasts about a year. Once it dies, you don’t need to trash it like lots of people do. We put together an awesome video with exact steps to swap the battery yourself, no tools required!
A no-brainer if you have a dog: Fido Alert is like an Amber Alert for pets. Register your furry friend and you’ll get a free ID tag that includes a QR code. If your pet goes missing, alert the Fido network. Then, if someone scans the QR code, they’ll get your contact info and you’ll get a notification. I keep an AirTag on my golden, Abby, and she wears a smart collar.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
How to change an AirTag battery
Is your tracker running low on juice? No need to buy a new one for $29 — just replace the battery for a few bucks!
Finding stolen cars on Facebook
You can never be too careful when it comes to your stuff. I suggest putting an Airtag or Tile in your car so you’re always covered. I did it!
Tech to catch political sign thieves: Campaign staffers are putting Apple AirTags in their political posters to track stolen property and find the crooks. At $29 per AirTag, it’s cheaper than hiring a PI and more effective than watching security footage.
What a trip: An American Airlines passenger’s lost suitcase turned up in a Hollywood homeless encampment. After flying from Dallas, her AirTag tracked the bag’s detour to Denver, back to Dallas, then to Burbank and somehow into central L.A. How it happened is still a mystery. Her friend recovered the bag by paying off a local, who had the woman’s lost belongings in a shopping cart.
The generation of new car deniers
The average age of cars in the U.S. is now over twelve and a half years, the oldest ever. I’ll explain why people aren’t buying new ones. Plus, police using AI for surveillance, a warning about AirTag stalking, and how to use your Amazon Echo as an intercom.
Where to find hidden trackers in your car
Feel like you’re being followed? Here’s where to search for AirTags, Tiles, or any other GPS trackers on your vehicle.
Find an AirTag? Wrap it in aluminum foil
If you find an AirTag or similar tracker stalking you, try this trick. I tell you why in this short podcast.
Apple and Google team up to fix their stalking problem
Stalkers are using AirTags and other Bluetooth trackers to follow people. When two major tech rivals work together, you know it’s serious.