AirTags are really helpful in locating the items you have lost somewhere. However, it will work only if you have them configured correctly with your iPhone. If you are getting an error like “AirTag not reachable, move around to connect“, you will not be able to locate the item.
Before putting AirTag back to work, you need to fix this AirTag error.
It can be an essential gadget for people who often misplace their valuable items or have pets like a Kitten or Dog who walk out of the house often giving great headaches to the owners.
This AirTag error can be encountered at any stage, ie. during the setup process or at the time of searching for the item.
However, it is mostly seen when you try to play a sound to find the item attached.
The error is highlighted on your iPhone in the FindMy app with a red color button warning that reads “AirTag not reachable, move around to connect”.
So if you have been getting this error for some time and have tried all the methods to fix it on your own but are unable to do so, I am sharing some of the real methods that can help you resolve the issue.
This article will be helpful not just to fix this error, but you will find other key takeaways as well that will enable you to learn more about the device so that you can make optimum use of this amazing gadget.
Why Am I seeing the “AirTag not reachable, move around to connect” Error?
There is no single culprit for this error, it can happen due to different reasons. We can not blame our iPhone, AirTag, or the App solely.
There are a lot of things going on and the reasons for the “AirTag not reachable, move around to connect” error can vary from one person to another.
However, here are some of the most common reasons:
- Out of Bluetooth Range
AirTags uses iPhone Bluetooth to connect with it and if it goes out of the range, it starts to create problems.
So the items have to be within the Bluetooth range of the iPhone.
There is no official statement from the company about the range but the standard Bluetooth range can not exceed 10 meters.
So your lost item should be within this range to be able to get detected. Move around in the hope of getting within the range when you see this error.
But does it mean you will not be able to locate items that you misplaced in another city or country?
No.
There are great chances you could locate the item as more than a billion devices are registered on FindMy network and the chances are your lost item comes in contact that eventually helps you find the location of the item.
Though it may not tell the exact location but you will have an idea of which location you’ve lost it.
- Problem connecting with Apple ID
You may see this error if there is any issue connecting with Apple ID. If that happens, you need to fix the connection problem first.
- Died AirTag Battery
You are likely to see the “AirTag not reachable, move around to connect” error if the AirTag’s battery has died.
The average battery of an AirTag is about one year and it should be replaced within this time frame.
You can check the AirTag’s battery life from the FindMy app on your iPhone or iPad.
- FindMy app crash
If the FindMy app on your iDevice, be it iPhone or iPad keeps crashing, you will face this issue.
It may happen that you recently installed some app that is clashing with FindMy which eventually causes the FindMy app to crash.
- Pending iPhone Updates
Apple is very concerned about protecting user’s privacy and hence they keep updating the iPhone with the latest features and updates.
If you have any pending updates, you may encounter this error.
- Firmware Bug After Recent Update
It might happen that you have recently installed the latest firmware and it is stopping your iPhone from establishing a connection with AirTag.
How do we fix “AirTag not reachable, move around to connect” issue?
We can try various fixes for this error and let’s hope one of these solutions works.
This error is not a big problem generally but can be very frustrating when you have to find the lost item urgently and AirTag keeps showing you the error.
This tutorial is applicable for most of the latest iPhones including the latest and upcoming iPhone.
Anyways, without further ado, let’s jump to the solutions.
#1- Restart your iPhone/ iPad
First thing first, let’s restart the iPhone/iPad and see if the problem gets fixed just by restarting.
It happens many times that some of the apps or processes running in the background are blocking some apps from working.
By restarting the device, you will reset all the processes and apps running in the background and help fix not just this error but any problem as well.
- Press and hold the button from the right-hand side until a power slider strip appears on the screen. Drag the slider and the phone will go off.
- To start the iPhone again, press and hold the same button until you see the Apple logo on the screen. Allow it for half a minute for the iPhone to get started completely.
#2- Sign out and Sign in to Apple ID
Signing out of your Apple iPhone/ iPad and signing in back can also fix this problem.
My friend was able to troubleshoot the “AirTag not reachable, move around to connect” issue with this trick.
So I know it’s an effective fix.
Here is how to Sign out of Apple ID and Sign in back:
- Go to the Home Screen.
- Select “Settings“
- Tap your name and you will have several options such as iCloud storage details and the devices your device is connected with.
- Scroll down to the bottom to find the “Sign Out” option.
- Click “Sign Out” and it will ask you to keep a copy of your data on your device itself as it will sign you out of iCloud as well where you probably have some data stored. Don’t worry, you are just signing out, you are not going to delete any data. You may choose to keep a copy or not. Confirm that you want to sign out.
- Open “Settings” again on the same device.
- Click “Sign in to your iPhone” and it will ask for the credentials. Enter Apple ID/ Phone number/ E-mail and the Password.
- Once the verification of credentials is done, you will be signed in back.
Now open the FindMy app and check if the error is gone.
#3 Check AirTag’s Battery And Replace If Its Dead
If your AirTag’s battery is dead, you are likely to see “AirTag not reachable, move around to connect”.
Finding if the battery is at fault can clear a lot of things.
Apple AirTag uses a CR2032 coin cell battery that happens to last for one whole year before placement.
But if you have been using it too much, playing the sound too much, it can go dead faster.
Do this to check if the battery needs replacement:
- Open the FindMy app on your iPhone.
- Select “Items” from the bottom menu.
- It will show all the AirTags connected to your iPhone.
- Tap the AirTag you want to check the battery for.
- If the batter is low, it will show the message “AirTag Battery is Low”
You can replace the battery on your own if you can get one from the market or get it replaced from the store itself.
If you want to replace the AirTag battery yourself, these are the steps.
- Press the steel side of AirTag that has the Apple logo on it.
- Rotate it anti-clockwise and it will pull the steel side apart.
- Pull out the battery.
- Insert a new battery.
- Place the cover and rotate it clockwise to tick it back cover. Done.
Check the status now, the notification for low battery must be removed, and also if “AirTag not reachable, move around to connect” is fixed by replacing AirTag’s battery.
#4 Remove and re-add the Item in MyFind
This is yet another effective solution to combat this problem.
Removing the item from MyFind and re-adding is an easy task. It is as simple as adding just any other device with Bluetooth.
Remove AirTag
- Open the MyFind app on your iPhone.
- Go to “Items“
- Tap the item you want to remove.
- Select “Remove Item” at the bottom.
Re-add AirTag
- Turn on Bluetooth and FindMy app on your iPhone.
- Make sure you are connected with a Wi-Fi connection or Mobile data is turned on.
- Bring AirTag in closer proximity to your iPhone.
- A notification will pop up on your iPhone.
- Select the name for the item and hit “Connect“
#5 Walk Around to Connect With AirTag
When your AirTag goes out of Bluetooth range of your iPhone, you may encounter an “AirTag not reachable, move around to connect” error.
As the error suggests itself, “AirTag not reachable”, it might mean that your AirTag is not within Bluetooth range.
Put a little pressure on your mind to recall areas you have visited and where the item could be lost.
Move around the area to check if you are lucky enough to pick up the signal.
#6 Update iPhone
If you have the firmware update or any other pending update on your iPhone, it may also cause this error to occur.
It might happen that you haven’t turned on download and installation of updates automatically.
If that happens, the update will remain pending until you manually install them.
Check your iPhone for any update and install it if there is any.
Here is how to check your iPhone for an update:
- Go to Settings
- Then go to “General“
- Choose “Software Update“
- If there is any pending update, download & install it.
Restart the iPhone and see if the issue persists.
To Enable Automatic updates, here are the steps:
- Go to Settings
- Select “General“
- Tap “Software updates“
- Then tap “Automatic updates“
- Turn Automatic Download and Automatic Install on.
