HUGE AirTag Battery Problem! Replacements Won't Work! Apple's AirTag Design Flaw, Explained.
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- Опубликовано: 10 май 2021
- Apple's AirTags have a major design flaw. We purchased Duracell CR2032 batteries to record a video on how to replace an AirTag battery - and they didn't work.
We quickly realized Duracell CR2032 batteries don't fit inside the AirTag because they have a larger ring and a thin, bitter coating designed to deter children from ingesting the batteries.
The real problem? Apple's cutesy design. Apple put the negative connector on the edge of the AirTag. Had Apple moved the negative connector slightly closer to the center of the AirTag, there wouldn't be an issue.
Read more about this AirTag design flaw: www.payetteforward.com/airtag...
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Use a Q-tip and dip it into rubbing alcohol. Rub it against the bitter coating, make sure it’s dried, and it should work perfectly!
Thank u this worked lol… saved me 12 bucks
Saved us $10 as well .. thanks to all you who posted that info about that here ..! We did the rubbing alcohol .. but it didn’t work - until we took the next suggestion down in the comments about scrapping it lightly .. and we did so with a knife . Be great if the Payette Forward Guys could make a quick video addition on this .. what a helpful video that it would be for so many .!! 😊
Thanks. It’s working.
If I didn't find an Energizer battery, I would be eternally grateful. Either way, tons of money saved for me.
That is the solution! Saved me money! Thank you for sharing this and thanks to the Payette Forward guys for discovering the issue! It was driving me nuts!
The “official” RUclips Apple video on Airtag battery replacement says, “batteries with bitter taste coatings may not work.”
Thank you for this video. I was going crazy thinking I didn’t know how to replace the battery 🤣
Give the battery a good rub down with nail polish remover, or rubbing alcohol. That gets rid of the childproof/bitter coating. That’s what’s causing the poor connection. Make sure to focus on the sides of the battery. Works like a charm!
Thank you
Worked perfect
Yes you are correct - remove the coating and your good to go.
Hey, it worked! Thanks
So true.
Thanks for this discovery. I found that a gentle application of a small rasp around the negative edges of the Duracell battery solved the issue.
It's actually the bitter coating causing the problem. I used some alcohol and a mildly abrasive sponge to remove the coating and it started working. Thanks for the video though, I had no idea the battery was the culprit until I saw this!
Thank you. 🎉
Thanks for the info. Do you plan on notifying Apple of the defect?
Came across this problem this morning, tried to put in an energizer battery and could not figure out why my AirTag was not responding in the way that it should saw your video was super helpful!
All Apple has to do is supply a compatible battery list and problem worked-around. The real challenge is preventing the consumer from having a bad experience. That’s where Apple has the opportunity to do magic. I’d love a feature where Apple anticipates the tag’s battery is low and provides compatible battery info in a notification or gives you the option to have a supplier ship you batteries as needed.
It's a good idea - but not a great look if they say, "Make sure you buy the batteries that aren't safe for children."
One can easily make it work with batteries from every manufacturer, but it surely is not the users job to fix a bad design. I can also make the magic mouse work, while charging, but I would assume it's their job to design a proper product, when they expect me to pay for it. XD
@@haifutter4166 That mouse gets 8 hours worth of charge in 60 seconds. You can’t take a one minute break once a day?
@@PayetteForward Buy the Panasonic CR2032 they work completely fine buy on amazon & they are the same as default apple 👍
Use a fine grit sandpaper and lightly sand the negative side of the battery then it will work fine. It's the bitter coating causing the problem on the negative side of the battery.
Clean the battery with rubbing alcohol and it removes the bitter coating and it works fine.
that’s the east fix..,
Wow thx for the suggestion. Was literally beside myself on what to do. Used a alcoholic sanitizing wipe and that did the trick. Thx so much for the suggestion! Saved me a trip to the Apple Store.
@@gzo313 what a GOD!!!!! thanks man this worked magic 🪄
Like magic. It works!!!!
Thank you for the great info! Had to order the Panasonic online, nowhere to be found in our small town.
had my first low battery warning, got 4 duracells to get ready for the rest of them to go, and my set (custom engraved Black Friday 2021) STILL have this issue. Certainly frustrated with Apple that this is a problem, but thank you for a solid breakdown as to why exactly my batteries are not working.
Thanks for the video!
I use the nail file to scrape off the coating from the bottom side and the edge that seem to work
I’m sure Apple didn’t know about this mini, tiny battery detail. 😆
So good to know-Thank you very much for saying this before I went to Costco to get a crap ton of Duracell!
Thank you for this video! I was changing out the batteries for my dogs and wondered why they weren't being picked up. I got the 'baby formula' Duracells from Costco, so this video should be helpful to many!
Yup I got the multipack duracells on sale from Costco. This is such a hassle because I wasted 45 minutes trying to make it connect. Not cool! Now I have to return the batteries because I have no need for them 😡
Have you taken off the plastic coating on the edge of the Duracell battery? Doesn’t look like it from the video.
Yay, looks like you found the extremely thin coating. Comes off easily with your nail BTW 😉
It is clearly visible at 1:47. I do not know if they are stupid or if they will simply tell anything for views.
@@hpekristiansen probably both
I noticed the plastic also.
It may be plastic, but it's the childproof coating and we were only able to get it off with a sharf knife - it isn't supposed to be removed. We're not geniuses, but we know that much!
@@PayetteForward and? Did it work them. It looks more like the packaging it came in.
Energizer worked no problem
Bought the same Duracell batteries with the non-toxic bitter coating. I removed the coating with alcohol wipes and it works fine. Thanks for posting.
Perfect fix! I was close to dumping my only Airtag in frustration until I found your video. Sincere thanks for your vigilance and sharing. Chris @ Galway, Ireland.
So are the Panasonic batteries not available in stores?
They are selling in stores
Years ago I had a Psion PDA and the AA Duracell batteries were always a really tight fit compared to the others
Interesting. They'd be a REALLY tight fit in an AirTag. :)
Very helpful, pliss tell us which brand batteries fits
All
What to do if it’s obviously connected and drawing power from the battery, but no sound? Is there any solution besides taking it in for repair/buying a new one?
I found that the battery cover also doesn't sit flush with Duracell batteries. I can close the case, kind of, but I can see the case is definitely not sitting correctly. So I was thinking the Duracell battery may be thicker?
Good catch! Maybe put folded tape on the other side of the battery to tighten the fit on the connection
Thanks for the tip! I had the same problem with an Energizer battery. Placed a bit of folded paper under the battery (opposite side of the pins) so as to ‘tip’ it at a slight angle down so it connected with the three pins. Now works!
I have the same issue with gutalkali cr2032 batteries which have no childproof coating
Great video tried the Duracell wasn’t working so I searched it up and as soon as I put it on at a angle it worked but still going to have to switch batteries from Duracell
I know a lot of people have said this already but to clean off the bitter coating, which is the thing screwing up the connection between these batteries and your airtag (I actually had a similar issue with a Logitech Bluetooth keyboard, where my duracells were not working) is to just use some rubbing alcohol, and to scrub the battery clean with either a q tip or an old cloth, just clean it 2 or 3 times and it should work perfectly fine after, please do not use a knife to get it off, it is not a good idea at all
Thank you, I thought I was going crazy because I knew the battery was new!
Sometimes I think I'm going crazy too! 🤣
Hey this applies to car remote keys too! I have the same problem with my remote key for my Toyota Camry.
I lightly rubbed the bitter coating side against concrete, worked ok.
You are right. I just bought Duracell batteries trying to fix an issue I had where all my AirTags just disconnected for no reason; I was trouble shooting it with apple who suggested I replace the battery and they don’t work at all! I think this is a huge problem
Thanks guys. This was driving me mad trying to use Duracells.
Heads up, just tried an older model Duracell CR2032 and it worked straight out of the pack, it’s these new 2022. A fix I found was to lightly sand the base of the new battery to remove the coating, works fine!
THANK YOU GUYS I had exactly this issue and spend at least one hour unscrewing and playing around with settings, while my sodium was increasingly boiling. The battery I bought had the correct specifications, but it just lose power when I screwed on the back, turns out it was thinner than the one the airtag came with.
Did you find the correct batteries?
*proper
Just swapped the Duracell replacement battery for a Energizer one. Works perfectly. Thanks for the video.
Thank You! I used a scotch brite (yellow and green) sponge to clean the coating off the negative side. Perfect!
Wow! Thanks so much. My Airtag came with a Duracell and would not connect. I used a Rayovac CR2032. Connected on first try.
There is stipulation that the Bittercoating ones might not work- not ideal obviously but lined up with what you found.
THANK YOU! I just had to replace my battery and it’s a Duracell I’m using and it isn’t working and I’ve been googling and trying all day to figure out what it was. Thanks
Glad we could help! - Maceo
I have exactly this issue with Duracell in the UK. My Duracell powered AirTags simply do not work (I tested the batteries with a multimeter though). Thanks for the tip.
thanks for this video. I thought I was losing my mind on why my new batteries weren't working. great tips here.
Good job guys! Thanks for letting us know.
Design flaw?
Apple: "You're holding it wrong!"
Thank you. As a 70 yr old with 82 yr old husband who misplaced his wallet this am, I relied on th air tag to locate it, but was notified the battery was low. Immediately tried to replace batteries on 4 AirTags Thai I purchased at the same time. Not easy to replace if you have arthritis, so having to do this multiple times was a pain. Also, for some reason the AirTags would not immediately reconnect using my iPhone. I had to use shut down everything, turn Bluetooth off and on and then was finally successful reconnecting/pairing using my iPad instead of my iPhone. These devices are important for Seniors. Apple needs to make this process easier.
I got to this vid because I was having the same problem. I alcohol swabbed the bitter coating off the Duracell and the battery worked.
Awesome!
I have the same problem with the Galaxy Smart Tags with the Duracell battery...
My solution was to fold a small piece of my receipt as a shim to push the battery down and it worked.
I have a question and a request.
Q: Is it okay for the high powered alkaline batteries to work on such a tiny tot.
R: can you swap places please..thanks 😇
Great video as always.
Brilliant job gentlemen! I put a Duracell CR2032 in my Apple Air Tag and it would not work. After searching the web for solutions and finding lots of irrelevant info you guys gave me the answer. I am surprised this issue is not more visible given batteries like Duracell are popular. I'll go purchase some Panasonic batteries. Thank you.
Just wipe the bitter coating off, it worked for me. I used alcohol to clean it off and it started working perfectly after that.
Thankfully this was fixed and Duracell now works I just changed mine didn’t work watched your video. I had to do the angled trick you showed and then I could close it up and works perfectly!
Found your video very interesting can honestly say 100% that Duracell batteries do not work I was hacked off thinking that my air tag was broken tried all sorts and came across this video fantastic now I know it’s not broken
You guys are on top of things! Good job! This is one of my favorite channels!
You're one of our favorite people!
I had the same issue with Duracells from Costco. The Energizers I got off Amazon worked first try.
Thanks. ALL my tags had stopped working/low battery. I bought Duracell for all of them - and had the issue. Found this video - will now replace them all again with cheaper batteries
Omg🙏🧐🙌🏼🙌🏼u giys nailed the loophole
No they didnt they r doing slip of hand for youtube views, these bastards are trying to connect registered tag
No sleight of hand here! We're talking about the battery not connecting - if the AirTag won't turn on, it doesn't matter if it's registered - because it won't work! Thanks for watching, though!
great info thanks
Thanks so much for this information! I’m one of those that went to Walgreens…. And spent a day or two going crazy!
Thank goodness I found this video...I couldn't figure it out. Amazon Basics 2032 Battery worked.
I purchased an airtag to follow my pet. I have had the airtag for a month or so and have only just received the container. But I couldnt get a connection. I opened up the airtag and I had the panasonic battery. I thought it a bit off that it had run out so soon but I went and got a replacement - ironically enough it was a Duracell - and that did not work either. Then I found your website and found what you said about the Duracell. Then i went back and tried again with the Panasonic and eventually got it to make a noise when inserting it. To be honest i am dubious as to whether it will continue to work.
Design flaw? It’s a Duracell problem
I've already had one battery die on an AirTag for my dog. I had the same problem of it not working when I replaced it with a Duracell 2032. I used a small piece of aluminum foil, folded several times, and it gave it just enough thickness to make a connection. It's been working just fine since.
Thank you because I tried Duracell and it didn’t work but Energizer does.
I thought I was going nuts so I removed the tag from my phone and found your video. When I switched to a Panasonic battery I found I was unable to re-pair the tag to my phone but the answer was to do the resetting of the tag, maybe you can do a video on that. :) For anyone reading this comment. Once you have acquired a good non-coated small o-ring battery you simply remove the cover and insert and remove the battery 5 X in a row and on the 5th time the chirp sound is different indicating the full reset was successful. Then you can resynch the tag with your device. Good Luck and Thank you.
Yeh I thought I was going nutz! Thank you , I tried the Duracell. Gotta go get the Panasonic ones.
I had same issue just figured my Duracell's were bad. Both 2 pack of Energizer and they worked.
Hand sanitiser rubbed around a Duracell battery vigorously with paper towel worked a treat for me.
Duracell doesn’t work energized I just tried worked no issues. Thanks it was driving me mad why I couldn’t get it to read w my Duracell this video was a huge help
Yay Jessica! That's why we made it a year ago - I'm glad you found it!
thank you, i thought i was going crazy for the last few days 😂
Thanks guys, I typed in my problem, Duracell, battery in your video came up. I bought like a eight or 10 pack of these batteries from Costco now what do I do?
We have a video for that here:
ruclips.net/video/ckv-sKlInZo/видео.html
Yep! My Duracel’s didn’t work either! I thought the supplier sent fakes. Thank you for this vid.
I wonder if now that people's batteries are starting to run out, this video might actually get some traction. 🤣
Thanks for your comment, ByrdRun!
So we basically gotta get panasonic batteries. Cool tip!
If only I watched this before I went to cvs and bought the 2 pack
Thanks for info - been scratching my head for two days
To David and David, a very interesting video. Could it be that the actual issue is the difference between a "CR 2032 battery" and a "DL 2032 battery"?
The AirTag app says to use CR2032 and I have a brand new 8 pack of Duracells that say CR2032 and they don’t work.
I hear ya! Same thing happened here.
Nope, they're exactly the same - DL is just a prefix that Duracell uses. CR is everybody else. According to a commenter on an Amazon page for Duracell batteries, "The number that follows indicates the diameter and thickness (so CR2032 is 20mm diameter, and 3.2mm thickness)." I learned something too!
So glad I found this video cause I was going nuts! Confirmed Duracell will not work with Apple tags
Wow you rock!! Had the SAME issue with my Duracell... Thx so much
I worked around this issue by putting a small thin metal washer/spacer between the pin and the Duracell battery. Once the battery is in, and you hear the chime, put the cover back on without significantly moving the battery (so the connection is still good). It might take a little extra to turn the cover counterclockwise to lock, but it’s doable. Now my cat’s AirTag is working with the Duracell battery. :)
Tin foil disc would work as well
You can also chemically remove the coating with nail polish remover.
So glad I found this video. I have the Duracell batteries and they’re not working at mine at all. I thought I was crazy.
Thank you for this! I was going crazy the past few days trying to figure out why my wife's Air Tag for her IDs wasn't connecting. I figured it was my iPhone upgrade, but the AirTag is tied to your Apple ID - NOT the device. I had used - Duracells - the Child Secure with Bitter Coating - and like these two gentlemen said - the battery only worked briefly when angled in. I've ordered Panasonics from Amazon....
Follow-up to this: the Panasonic Lithiums I bought worked perfectly. No having to angle it in, then losing electrical contact anyway. My AirTag is working normally now.
Just experienced the same thing. Got a refund for the Duracell's and ordered the Panasonic.
Yay!
So glad this video helped you. We made it a year ago and everyone's batteries are just now running out. :)
You are of course right boys! I now have 12 spare Duracell 2032 batteries. Off to find some Panasonic 2032's
Looks to be the Duracell battery only due to the bitter ant coating. As stated, Panasonic works as well as Energizer.
This is why I subscribed to you! Thanks. :)
Wow, thanks!
Thanks for posting this. I was so frustrated...I even threw away one of my AirTags in the past because I was sure it was broken. Then I read through some of the comments and I saw "clean the battery with rubbing alcohol". BOOM! I knew the batteries were NOT the problem. I ended up fixing 2 AirTags...they connected quickly and easily and all I did was put a little Isopropyl alcohol on a rag and rub both batteries. DONE. WORKS FINE!
And both batteries were Duracell!
THANK YOU!! This is exactly what happened to me. I read all the Apple Support comments, tried 4 different batteries (Duracell) from the pack and nothing worked. This video answered all my questions. Much appreciated!
Found a solution (don’t know if anyone has posted it in another comment): use a nail file or fine sandpaper, and file/sand the battery on the bottom (negative) area that makes contact with the bottom pin inside the AirTag. If you angle the battery just right to the light, you will see an outer ring that I presume is the bitter coating. You can clear just the section that the pins contact, or if you want to ensure the battery will work no matter how it is inserted (anglewise around the Z axis) you can clear the whole coating ring.
Instead of a mechanical tool I used a solvent which is used to clean the Paint from a Paint brush. I had to rub it for a few minutes, but then the coating was gone and the battery worked.
What is a airtag & good for
I just discovered this problem. I had a pack with a couple of Duracell batteries from a few months ago and tried them both in my Airtag, but no luck. Thinking the batteries were probably dead, I went and bought a new 4-pack only to discover they didn't work either 😞. Unfortunately I bought Duracell again (they're supposed to be the best right?). I checked the voltage with a multimeter and could see they were outputting the correct value which lead me to Google to see if there was any information about this issue and that lead me to this video. I wish I'd searched it sooner. Surely the problem is with the Duracell batteries rather than the AirTags? I'm surprised that Apply hasn't notified users of this problem, it's not like they don't know I've purchased a few AirTags.
My exact problem this morning. What a perfect explanation. Thank you!
What a perfect comment!
I just bought 3 sunbeam lithium 2032 for $1.47 at Dollarama in CANADA and they work!
Funny, I just had the same issue and jump on RUclips to see what I did wrong or if other people had the same problem. Bingo you video popped up and you explained the problem. I brought 1 battery from CVS. I was about to take it back and tell them this battery was bad. Guess that’s not the case. I put the old one back and it chirp like it was suppose to. I am going to try what someone on the comments mentioned and use a Q-top with the rubbing alcohol.
The Apple air tag directions say not to use a bitterant battery.
Best Buy sells the Air Tags and they also sell batteries to go along with them - Insignia brand. So perhaps it’s not that you can only use Panasonic batteries with them but that you cannot use Duracells. And altho that’s still a major design flaw, at least it doesn’t restrict you as much. You just have to know that if you buy a brand other than Panasonic and they don’t work, that’s why.
What I find annoying - and I think it’s a major design flaw - is the lack of a hole or a loop or something to use a keychain. Maybe you can stick them on things? I haven’t looked into that. But if you need to buy an expensive holder to make them functioning, that’s annoying. (There are cheap ones on Amazon, but still....)
I’m still waiting for something really small that I can put on my husband‘s glasses because he loses them all the time. He takes them off to read and then he forgets where he left them.
Hey ye it’s that ring that you can see on the negative side that coating that looks like a ring and should work
“ …thanks guys - very helpful as always!” 👍🏻
- Tony [Anthony Aaron]
Bought the four pack of the bittrex Duracell cr2032s and mine worked right out the gate.
Some light sandpaper on the top of the battery removes the coating...
I was about to throw mine away until I saw this video,thanks guys!!!
When my Duracell’s with the bitter coating wouldn’t work I tried the emery board solution and it worked perfectly. Simply hold the bottom side of the battery on a 45 degree angle and you can see where the bitter coating is. A few back and forth strokes all around the circumference with the emery board and your coated Duracell will work.
The issue is with the bitter coating which is a non conductor added around the edge on the negative side of the battery. The probes on the air tag are also on the edge so no contact is being made. I think Apple should modify the design given the popularity of Duracell batteries and their attempt to make it child safe. Move the probes couple of mm inside ( easier said than done I guess 😀)
Solution-Rub tiny amount of goof off or lightly scrape with a wood or knife to take out the bitter coating, good luck!
Used a slightly damp paper towel and rubbed it off, didn't need any chemicals, the coating is thin enough that it comes right off with a few seconds of rubbing.
No think Duracell should add the coating on the top somewhere not on the rim of the stupid terminal
@@Archcorsairyup same here, just a damp paper towel worked fine.
My air tag already had a Duracell battery in it when I replaced it. When I replaced the battery and then hit Add New Tag, the tag showed up.