It's Possible to Drill a Hole Through an AirTag

Unlike a Tile or some other item trackers, Apple's new AirTag does not have any holes or openings for attaching it directly to a keychain, forcing customers to purchase accessories like a leather key ring for this purpose.

airtags drill 1
Interestingly, though, MacRumors forum member smythey has proven that it is possible to drill a hole into the AirTag without breaking it, allowing for a string or a thin key ring to be fed through the opening. The result doesn't look very cosmetically appealing, but smythey said the AirTag seems to function normally after the do-it-yourself job.

A teardown of the AirTag shared on YouTube today provides a first look inside Apple's item tracker, revealing a circular circuit board with seemingly just enough room around the edges to drill a small hole in the plastic.


Keep in mind that drilling a hole into an AirTag will unsurprisingly void Apple's warranty and could damage the accessory if done incorrectly, but this still proves as a neat proof of concept for those looking to save a few dollars.

Is your AirTag order arriving today? Discuss with others in our AirTag forum.

Popular Stories

sonny iphone 16 pro colors

New iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Colors Revealed Ahead of Apple Event

Friday September 6, 2024 5:01 am PDT by
Apple is "shaking up its color palette" for its iPhone 16 lineup this year, according to well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. Early iPhone 16 Pro dummy models via Sonny Dickson According to Gurman, the iPhone 16 Pro models will come in a Gold Titanium to replace Blue Titanium, while the Black, White, and Natural Titanium options that debuted with the iPhone 15 Pro will remain...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Real Mock

iOS 18 Coming Later This Month With These 8 New Features

Tuesday September 3, 2024 12:07 pm PDT by
iOS 18 has been in beta testing for nearly three months, and the software update will finally be released for all compatible iPhones soon. Apple should reveal iOS 18's exact release date during its September 9 event, with the most likely possibility being Monday, September 16. Below, we have highlighted eight key new features included in iOS 18. Note that Apple Intelligence is not coming...
iPhone 16 Pro Mock Article

How Much Will the iPhone 16 Cost?

Friday September 6, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 16 series is expected to launch on September 20 and will compete in a quickly evolving smartphone market, and with some notable upgrades rumored, the new models could see price changes compared to previous years. Successive iPhone models always come with new features and hardware upgrades, but Apple typically does not increase the retail prices as a result....
its glowtime event youtube

Report Details Last-Minute Apple Event Rumors About New iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods

Friday September 6, 2024 4:40 am PDT by
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today shared his final expectations for Apple's "It's Glowtime" event, providing some new tidbits and clarifications about the new devices set to be announced on Monday. iPhone 16 Pro Along with larger 6.3- and 6.9-inch display sizes, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will have bezels that are "now about a third slimmer" for a "sleeker overall look." The...
iOS 18 CarPlay Feature

iOS 18 Adds These 6 New Features to CarPlay

Tuesday September 3, 2024 12:59 pm PDT by
Apple did not mention CarPlay when it unveiled iOS 18 in June, but the update includes a handful of new features for the in-car iPhone system. iOS 18 includes some changes to the Messages app, Settings app, and Siri on CarPlay. The update should be widely released later in September. Below, we recap CarPlay's key new features on iOS 18. 1. Contact Photos in Messages App iOS 18 adds...
apple watch series 9 display

'Noticeably Thinner' Apple Watch Series 10 to Eventually Get Sleep Apnea Detection

Friday September 6, 2024 4:42 am PDT by
The Apple Watch Series 10 will include a new sleep apnea detection feature, but it may not be available as soon as the new model launches, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Sleep apnea detection, which builds on the watch's existing sleep tracking, will attempt to determine if a wearer has sleep apnea and then suggest further testing with a medical professional. Gurman had expressed...

Top Rated Comments

AngerDanger Avatar
44 months ago
Man, I really wish I'd seen that teardown video before I made mine…



Attachment Image
Score: 81 Votes (Like | Disagree)
anup.chavda Avatar
44 months ago
I just 3D printed my own holders. Cost me less than 10cents and 10 mins.

Attachment Image
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mtneer Avatar
44 months ago
Cool.. can’t believe that Apple’s design engineers did not think of this use case.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
davie18 Avatar
44 months ago

Cool.. can’t believe that Apple’s design engineers did not think of this use case.
I mean they obviously did... seeing as these will probably be most useful for keys how could you not consider how peple will attach it to keys.

The cynic would say they did it on purpose so people have to buy the holder to attach it to keys = more profit for apple

I cant think of any other reason they would leave it off.... maybe they woul just say they want the 'cleanest design possible' or something, but I think the cynical assumption might be correct
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ForkHandles Avatar
44 months ago
All it needs now is a button you can press to help you find your iPhone, it will be as useful as a Tile then.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
benshive Avatar
44 months ago

Man, I really wish I'd seen that teardown video before I made mine…


Reasons this site is great, ranked:
1. AngerDanger gifs
2. Apple news
3. Everything else
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)