Apple Reveals New AirTag Features Added in Latest Firmware Updates

Apple has released two firmware updates for its AirTag item trackers since November, but at the time the company didn't provide any information on what was changed. Earlier this week, Apple finally updated a support document explaining what's new.

AitTag New Firmware
According to Apple, firmware update 2.0.24 allows AirTag owners to use Precision Finding to help locate an unknown AirTag with their iPhone.

Also introduced in update 2.0.24, if a user's iPhone is awake, a new notification alerts them when an AirTag that's been separated from its owner is nearby and emitting a sound to indicate it has been moved. It can then be tracked down by sound or Precision Finding if the feature is available. Apple says that this change will also help if the AirTag sound is hard to hear or if the speaker has been tampered with.

The two features were promised by Apple earlier this year in a bid to prevent AirTags from being used for stalking purposes.

In addition, Apple says the latest firmware update, 2.0.36, resolves an issue with the AirTag accelerometer not activating in certain scenarios. All the features outlined above require iOS 16.2 or later, while the features that use Precision Finding require an iPhone 11 or later models with the U1 Ultra Wideband chip.

It is not possible to force an AirTag update, as it's something that's done over-the-air through a connected iPhone. To make sure the update happens, you can put your AirTag in range of your ‌‌iPhone‌‌, but you have to wait for the firmware to roll out to your device. You can check your current AirTag firmware version through the Find My app, with instructions available in our how to.

Related Forum: AirTags

Top Rated Comments

MyOwnDrummer Avatar
10 months ago
If I am understsanding correctly, the AirTag is useless for attaching to items in case they get stolen. The thief gets alerted if they have an iPhone and can find and discard the AirTag. Am I correct?
Score: 40 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BootsWalking Avatar
10 months ago
In other words, making it even less useful as an anti-theft tracking device. When Apple gets done with all these AirTag firmware updates the only remaining feature will be finding the AirTag sitting right in front of you.
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bill Av Avatar
10 months ago
I can see everyone and everything in Family Sharing; their computers, AirPods, Watches, iPhones, iPads. Just not their AirTags. What sense does that make?
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gfurry Avatar
10 months ago
How about 48 hours for the stalker alert and allow family sharing so you can find any airtag (just like you can do with any other Apple device) in your family? How did this get out of the lab? A family set of car keys requires the owner to find it regardless who has the car or the keys to have an air tag for every family member on the keychain ??‍♂️
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macford Avatar
10 months ago
Those poor baggage handlers at the airport who own iPhones. That thing will be pinging constantly.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Spanky Deluxe Avatar
10 months ago
I just want them to finally add family sharing of AirTag tracking so that everyone in a family can see where devices. Until they add that much needed feature, I won't be buying any more AirTags as I'd need to buy two for everything I want to track, which is dumb.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 16 Mock Header With Dynamic Island

Skipping the iPhone 15 Pro? Here's What's Rumored for iPhone 16 Pro

Friday September 22, 2023 9:29 am PDT by
Are you skipping the iPhone 15 Pro and waiting another year to upgrade? If so, we already have some iPhone 16 Pro rumors for you. Below, we recap new features rumored for the iPhone 16 Pro models so far:Larger displays: The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be equipped with larger 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays, respectively, according to Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain...
Apple WWDC23 macOS Sonoma hero

macOS Sonoma Launching This Week With These New Features

Sunday September 24, 2023 12:45 pm PDT by
Apple previously announced that macOS Sonoma will be released this Tuesday, September 26. The free software update includes many new features and changes for the Mac, including the five that we have highlighted below. In addition to these five features, we have shared the full release notes for macOS Sonoma below for a complete overview of everything new. Desktop Widgets macOS Sonoma...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 double tap gesture 230912

watchOS 10.1 to Enable Apple Watch's New 'Double Tap' Gesture

Thursday September 21, 2023 12:52 pm PDT by
The new Double Tap gesture for the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 will be enabled starting with watchOS 10.1, according to Marques Brownlee, host of the popular tech-focused YouTube channel MKBHD. The first beta of watchOS 10.1 will likely be available by next week, and Apple announced that the software update will be released next month. Brownlee shared his impressions...