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Featured Guide
Difficulty
Moderate
Steps
11
Time Required
30 minutes - 1 hour
Sections
2
- Battery
- 4 steps
- How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag
- 7 steps
Flags
1
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Introduction
Attempt this procedure at your own risk. Drilling through your AirTag may damage its functionality and will negate the AirTag’s IP67 water resistance rating.
What you need
Step 1
Push down the battery compartment door
- Use both of your thumbs to push down on the battery compartment door.
Use both of your thumbs to push down on the battery compartment door.
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Step 2
Rotate the battery compartment door
- Rotate the battery compartment door counter-clockwise to unlatch it from the frame.
Rotate the battery compartment door counter-clockwise to unlatch it from the frame.
Step 3
Remove the battery compartment door
- Lift up the battery compartment door to remove it.
Lift up the battery compartment door to remove it.
Step 4
Remove the battery
- Lift and remove the battery.
- When you replace the battery, insert it such that the positive end is facing up.
Lift and remove the battery.
When you replace the battery, insert it such that the positive end is facing up.
Step 5
Drilling information
- Do not remove the gray battery compartment. This image is for illustrative purposes only.
- Inside the device, the circuit board and antenna frame have three notches for the clips and glue.
- To avoid damaging the internal components, drill through the space next to a clip.
- This is an image of an AirTag that has already been drilled through at the bottom location.
Do not remove the gray battery compartment. This image is for illustrative purposes only.
Inside the device, the circuit board and antenna frame have three notches for the clips and glue.
To avoid damaging the internal components, drill through the space next to a clip.
This is an image of an AirTag that has already been drilled through at the bottom location.
Step 6
Mark the hole location
- Rotate the AirTag so that the CE marking is upright.
- Use a marker or pen to draw a dot where you want to drill the keyring hole.
- Draw the dot as close to the edge of the gray battery compartment as possible. This will allow you to reattach the battery compartment door while the keyring is attached.
- The three potential drill locations are at the left (moving clockwise) end of each battery compartment clip hole.
- You can locate our recommended drill location by drawing a dot at roughly seven o’clock.
Rotate the AirTag so that the CE marking is upright.
Use a marker or pen to draw a dot where you want to drill the keyring hole.
Draw the dot as close to the edge of the gray battery compartment as possible. This will allow you to reattach the battery compartment door while the keyring is attached.
The three potential drill locations are at the left (moving clockwise) end of each battery compartment clip hole.
You can locate our recommended drill location by drawing a dot at roughly seven o’clock.
Step 7
Safety information
- Wear eye protection while using the vise, drilling the hole, and removing sharp edges.
- Keep your hands away from the device while drilling the keyring hole.
Wear eye protection while using the vise, drilling the hole, and removing sharp edges.
Keep your hands away from the device while drilling the keyring hole.
Step 8
Drill the keyring hole
- Secure the AirTag in a vise.
- Make sure the area under your marked drill location is clear to avoid hitting the vise with the drill bit.
Secure the AirTag in a vise.
Make sure the area under your marked drill location is clear to avoid hitting the vise with the drill bit.
Step 9
- Use a 1/16th inch drill bit to drill a hole through the AirTag.
Use a 1/16th inch drill bit to drill a hole through the AirTag.
Step 10
Remove burrs and sharp edges
- Use a metal file to remove burrs and sharp edges from the keyring hole.
- You can also use sandpaper or a deburring tool.
- Remove any remaining plastic particles on the AirTag before installing the keyring.
Use a metal file to remove burrs and sharp edges from the keyring hole.
You can also use sandpaper or a deburring tool.
Remove any remaining plastic particles on the AirTag before installing the keyring.
Step 11
Insert the keyring
- Insert your keyring through the keyring hole.
- You can apply Sugru or a sealant to seal both sides of the hole.
Insert your keyring through the keyring hole.
You can apply Sugru or a sealant to seal both sides of the hole.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order starting at step 4.
Repair didn’t go as planned? Ask our AirTag Answers community for help.
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9 other people completed this guide.
Author
with 1 other contributor
Kyle Smith
Member since: 02/01/2021
34,300 Reputation
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Clint Bradford - Jun 13, 2021
Reply
Nicholas Burgio - Jun 13, 2021
Isn’t also just weird yet trademark Apple to not provide any accessory with the product that allows you to hold it or attach it to any keyring without a separate purchase?
Daniele Carminati - Jun 13, 2021
well, this is a cheap alternative to give apple the same money you already gave them for the tag, but i still prefer third party accesories.
Donald Fournier - Nov 29, 2021
Reply
I can’t think of any reason to do this.
No points given.
Tay - Dec 15, 2022
there is no reason to drill a hole in your airtag - just buy a keyring accessory for it instead of risking breaking your airtag. I agree donald.
