AirTag (With iPhone XR, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods)


On April 30, 2021, Apple released their much-awaited AirTag, a tracking device that helps people locate their valuable items. If you have a compatible iOS product, you can use the AirTag and the Find My app to keep track of your items like keys, wallets, and bags. If you have an iPhone XR, you might be wondering if you can use it to track your AirTag.

So, can you use AirTag with iPhone XR? You can use AirTag with your iPhone XR because it can run iOS 14.5 and later. AirTags are compatible with iPhones that are running iOS 14.5 or later, and as of February 10, 2022, the iPhone XR can run on iOS 15.3.1. However, the iPhone XR does not have the Apple U1 chip, which supports the Precision Finding features. The iPhone XR will track your AirTag but cannot search using Precision Finding.

AirTags have made tracking items easier; all you need is to attach it to your item and get notifications if the AirTag moves. Apple released the iPhone XR on October 26, 2018, and it’s the least expensive of Apple’s twelfth generations of iPhones that also include iPhone XS and XS Max. It was the best-selling model in 2018 because of its affordable price and great features. If you have an iPhone XR, you might be wondering if you can use AirTag with it to track your items.

You can use AirTag with iPhone XR because it has an operating system compatible with AirTag. The iPhone XR is capable of running iOS 15.3.1, which means the minimum requirement of an iOS device that can connect to AirTag.

However, you will not be able to use the Precision Finding feature because the iPhone XR does not have the Apple U1 feature. AirTags have the U1 chip, and the Precision Finding feature will only work if both devices have the chip.

Before you purchase an iOS device to use with AirTag, you need to ensure that it is capable of running iOS 14.5 or later. Apple originally released the iPhone XR with the iOS 12 operating system, but it can run later operating systems.

Currently, the iPhone XR can run iOS 15.3.1, which is compatible with AirTags. If you have an iPhone XR, you need to update its operating system to iOS 14.5 or later before connecting it to your AirTag.

AirTags have a feature known as Precision Finding that helps provide the exact location of your item on your iPhone. However, for this feature to work, both devices need an Apple U1 chip. The iPhone XR does not have an Apple U1; therefore, you will not use the Precision Finding feature when you use it to track your AirTag.

If you want to use the Precision Finding feature, you need to purchase an iPhone with the Apple U1 chip. Some of the iPhones with the U1 chip include all versions of iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and iPhone 13.

Even though you will not be using the Precision Finding feature on your iPhone XR, you can still get the most out of your AirTag with the iPhone XR. You can still get notifications or alerts on your iPhone XR when tracking with AirTag.

If you are looking for your wallets or keys with the AirTag, you can play a sound on the AirTag over Bluetooth to get the exact location of your items. Using AirTag without Precision Finding is not that bad, but it is still a step beneath. iPhones with the U1 chip are expensive; therefore, there is no need to spend a lot of money to get a new iPhone just to locate your bags or keys using the Precision Finding feature.

Can You Use AirTag With iPad?

AirTag can help you keep track of your everyday items such as wallets and keys as you go about your daily routine. Before you purchase an Apple product for your AirTag, you need to confirm that it is compatible with AirTag. If you want to track your items with AirTag, you might be wondering if the AirTag can work with an iPad.

You can use your AirTag with an iPad as long as it can run an iPadOS 14.5 operating system or later. When Apple released the AirTag in 2021, it stated that the device was compatible with devices that were running iOS/iPadOS 14.5 or later and a two-factor authentication turned on.

If your iPad is running on an earlier iPadOS operating system, you will need to update the operating system before using it with AirTag. The latest version is the iPadOS 15.3.1, released on February 10, 2022. If you have an iPad, you will also need to use the Find My app, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to set up and use AirTag. 

iPads require iPadOS 14.5 or later for AirTag to work. You can purchase an iPad with the compatible iPadOS, or you can update your old iPad’s operating version to the latest one. If you are using an iPad with an earlier iPadOS, such as iPadOS 13, you need to update it before connecting it to AirTag. You can update the iPadOS manually or automatically.

To update your iPad’s operating system automatically,

  • Go to “Settings”
  • Tap “General”
  • Tap “Software Update”
  • Select “Automatic Updates”
  • Turn on Download iPadOS Updates
  • Install iPadOS Updates

Your iPad will automatically update its operating system whenever there is an update available. To update iPadOS manually,

  • Go to “Settings”
  • Tap “General”
  • Select “Software Update”

You will see the currently installed version and whether a new update is available.

To set up your AirTag on an iPad, ensure it is ready for setup. Check if it has the correct iPadOS and the two-factor authentication is turned on. Ensure you turn on the Find My Location Services, Wi-Fi or Cellular Data, and Bluetooth.

Hold the AirTag near your iPad and tap “Connect.” Select the item name from the list, type in a custom name for your AirTag, and choose an emoji. Tap “Continue” and register your AirTag with your Apple ID. Tap “Done,” and now you can attach the AirTag to your item and track it using the “Find My” app.

Can You Track AirTag With Apple Watch?

An Apple Watch is an awesome wearable device by Apple Inc. with numerous features that help users keep fit, communicate and integrate with Apple devices. AirTag makes it easy to locate items, and many people have numerous questions on which devices can work with AirTag. If you have purchased an Apple Watch, you might be wondering if you can use it to track your AirTag.

You can track your AirTag through the “Find Items” app using your Apple Watch. The “Find Items” app can be used to locate a missing AirTag or certain items that you have registered to your Apple ID. When you use the Apple Watch to track the AirTag, you will see its current location if located and its last location if it cannot be located.

You can play a sound on AirTag using the Apple Watch to locate the AirTag. If the AirTag is far from you, you can use maps to get directions to the AirTag’s locations from your current location. You can also set up your Apple Watch to send you notifications or alerts when you leave your AirTag behind.

Apple divided the Find My app on the Apple Watch into three different apps: “Find Devices,” “Find Items,” and “Find People”. To locate items with your AirTag, you should use the “Find Items” app. The “Find Items” has several features that enable you to track your AirTag, like playing a sound or sending notifications.

To find your AirTag on your Apple Watch, open the “Find Items” app, scroll down the list to your AirTag and tap on its name. Scroll down to see a map of its current location. Scroll down to see other additional features that can help accurately provide your AirTag’s location, such as “Play Sound,” “Directions,” and “Notifications.” If your AirTag is nearby, tap “Play Sound” to use the sound to locate. If it is a little bit far from you, tap “Directions” to get directions to the AirTag on Apple Maps.

You can use the “Find Items” app to get notified when your AirTag is located. There are two notification settings on “Find Items”: “Notify When Found” and “Notify When Left Behind.” You can use “Notify When Found” if you want to receive alerts on your Apple Watch when your AirTag is found by one of your other devices.

When you choose “Notify When Left Behind,” you will receive alerts on your Apple Watch if you leave your AirTag behind or get separated from it. Getting an alert when you leave your AirTag behind is perfect if you do not want to leave certain items at home like your wallet and have to come back to retrieve them.

Can You Use AirTag for AirPods?

AirTags are perfect for locating valuable items that are easy to misplace or lose, such as keys, wallets, and backpacks. If you attach AirTag to one of your items, you do not have to worry about keeping an eye on it every time. If you have AirPods, you might be wondering if you can use AirTag to track them.

You can use AirTag for your AirPods by attaching the AirTag to the AirPods’ case. It is easy to leave your case behind or drop it from your bag, and attaching AirTag to the case is one way of tracking your AirPods. If you have an iPhone with a U1 chip, you can use the Precision Finding feature to get the exact location of your AirPods. However, other ways of tracking your AirPods are by using the Find My Network or the “Find My” app.

If you keep misplacing or losing your AirPods, attaching AirTag to the case is an easy way to track them. Even though using AirTag effectively tracks lost AirPods, Apple has a better solution for helping you keep track of your AirPods.

You can use the “Find My” app to track or locate your AirPods. To locate your AirPods using the “Find My” app, first ensure your device uses the latest version of iOS or iPadOS. Open the “Find My” app, tap “Devices,” and select your AirPods. You will see the location of your AirPods on your iPhone or iPad.

You can also use Find My Network to find your AirPods. If you have AirPods (3rd generation), AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max, you can locate them using your iPhone or iPad without connecting it to a Wi-Fi network or cellular data.

  • Open “Settings” on your iPhone or iPad
  • Tap on your name
  • Select “Find My”
  • Tap on Find My Device and turn it on
  • Turn on “Find My Network”

You can now locate your AirPods without an internet connection. You can also use “Play Sound” or “Notify When Left Behind” to locate your AirPods.  

Sometimes it can be difficult to locate your AirPods using your AirTag or Apple device. Turn on Lost Mode, where you can share a message with your contact information. When someone else locates your AirPods, they will see the message on their phone and contact you.

To turn on Lost Mode, open the “Find My” app on your iPhone or iPad,

  • Tap “Devices”
  • Select your “AirPods”
  • Scroll down to “Mark as Lost”
  • Select “Activate”

Follow the instructions on your screen on how to set up your contact information. Select “Activate” after confirming the contact information is correct.

Finally

Apple has designed the AirTag to work with Apple devices capable of running an iOS or iPadOS 14.5 or later. Apple XR is an old device released with an original iOS 12, but you can use it to track your AirTag if you update it iOS to 14.5 or later. If you want to use an iPad to track your AirTag, you must ensure it runs on an iPadOS 14.5 or later.

You can also use your Apple Watch to track your AirTag through the “Find Items” app. You can use your AirTag to track your AirPods; however, since the Find My app can track your AirPods, there is no need to use AirTag.

Bal Kang

Bal Kang is a technology expert based in the UK, with experience across a number of technology areas from phones, tablets, computers to gaming.

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