Use your Apple Watch to find an item with an AirTag (2nd generation) attached

If you have an Apple Watch Series 9 or later, excluding Apple Watch SE models, or Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later with watchOS 26.2.1 or later, you can add an item to Control Center then use Precision Finding to find a nearby AirTag (2nd generation).

Add an item to Control Center

  1. On your Apple Watch, go to Control Center.

  2. Scroll to the bottom and tap Edit.

  3. Tap the Add button.

  4. Scroll down to Find Items.

    An Apple Watch screen showing Find Items in a list with Compass, Home, and Notes.

  5. Tap Find Items, then tap Find AirTag.

  6. Tap Choose, then choose an item.

    An Apple Watch showing the items available to use with Precision Finding. House Keys and Umbrella show in the list.

  7. Tap the Done button, then tap Done.

    An Apple Watch showing Umbrella listed under Item with an umbrella icon. The Done button is in the upper corner.

Use Precision Finding on your Apple Watch

  1. On your Apple Watch, go to Control Center.

  2. Scroll down and tap the Find AirTag button.

    An Apple Watch screen showing Control Center. There are two Find AirTag buttons: one with an umbrealla icon and one with a key icon.

  3. Follow the onscreen instructions and move around the space until your Apple Watch connects to your AirTag.

  4. Follow the distance and direction information on your Apple Watch. When you’re close to your AirTag, the watch screen turns green.

    An Apple Watch using Precision Finding to find an item. On the screen, it says "3 ft" within a white circle, with two concentric green rings encircling it.

If you can't use Precision Finding on your Apple Watch

If you can't set up or use Precision Finding on your Apple Watch, check that your device meets the minimum requirements:

  • Your Apple Watch must be an Apple Watch Series 9 or later (excluding Apple Watch SE models) or Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later with watchOS 26.2.1 or later.

  • To ensure that all of your items appear in Find My, update your iPhone or Apple Watch to the latest iOS or watchOS. AirTag (2nd generation) requires iOS or watchOS 26.2.1 or later.

If your AirTag is out of range

If your AirTag is out of Bluetooth range of your Apple Watch, use Find Items to find it on a map, get directions to it, or play a sound on the AirTag's built-in speaker. When you're within range, you can try using Precision Finding again.

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