What kind of noise do AirTags make?

AirTags emit a high-pitched chime—not quite a ringtone, more like a digital ping. It’s designed to cut through background noise and guide you toward the item it’s attached to. The sound isn’t loud enough to disturb your neighbours, but in a quiet room, you’ll hear it clearly from across the house.

Apple’s engineers nailed the tone: distinct, sharp, and brief. The sound plays in pulses, almost like a sonar. Think: ping… ping… ping…—until you find what you’re after.

When do AirTags make noise?

Here’s when your AirTag will chirp:

  • When you trigger it from the Find My app: This is the most common use—tap “Play Sound” and it starts chiming.
  • If it’s been separated from your device for too long: Apple built this in to prevent stalking. After 8 to 24 hours away from its paired device, an AirTag will auto-chime intermittently.
  • When it’s first set up or battery is changed: It’ll chirp once as a setup confirmation.
  • If someone else tries to pair it: A safety measure to prevent tampering.

How loud is the AirTag’s sound?

Roughly 60 decibels. That’s about as loud as a normal conversation. Not deafening, but enough to alert you if you’re actively listening.

In open spaces or bags, it’s quite noticeable. But if the AirTag is buried in cushions, hidden in a thick suitcase, or shoved into a tight pocket, the sound can be harder to detect.

Can the sound be disabled?

Yes—but only by removing the battery. Apple doesn’t allow you to silence the AirTag permanently via software, which is a deliberate move to support anti-stalking efforts. However, some folks have gone rogue—disassembling or modifying their AirTags to disable the speaker. Not recommended (and kind of defeats the purpose).

If you’ve heard talk about “silent AirTags” being sold online, those are often tampered versions, used for tracking without alerting the person being followed. Apple’s actively clamping down on that misuse.

Is the sound feature useful?

Absolutely. Whether you’ve dropped your keys under the couch or your wallet’s gone walkabout in the house, that chime is your best friend. It saves time, stress, and embarrassment (no one wants to empty their gym bag in public just to find their AirTag).

And if you’re using a airtag wallet, the sound feature can guide you to it—even if it’s wedged between sofa cushions or slid under your car seat.

Do all AirTags make the same sound?

Yes, the default tone is universal. Apple hasn’t offered customisable sounds—yet. So, whether you’ve got one AirTag or ten, they’ll all chirp with the same digital beep. That can make it tricky in a household where multiple AirTags are in use, but for solo users, it’s usually not a problem.

Final thoughts

AirTags aren’t loudspeakers, but their sound functionality is deceptively powerful. It’s one of the simplest—and most effective—ways to zero in on lost belongings. And when used with a smartly designed airtag wallet, it becomes a hands-free, low-hassle way to keep track of life’s daily essentials.

If you’re curious how AirTags compare to other trackers in terms of volume, this decibel comparison by The Verge gives you a solid side-by-side rundown—ear-tested and all.

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