Apple has begun pushing out a new firmware update for the second-generation AirTag that updates the gadget to version 3.0.49. The newest version of firmware is 3.0.45 and is the second firmware upgrade to the AirTag 2 since it launched.
What is new in AirTag 2 firmware
3.0.49?
So at this point we do not know the exact adjustments that have been made. According to Apple’s official support page, the last documented version is still AirTag Firmware Update 3.0.45. This upgrade is supposed to improve the unwelcome tracking sound so users can more readily find an unknown AirTag during Precision Finding. The same update brought bug fixes and other improvements.
Version 3.0.49 is more of a maintenance update for the time being, at least until Apple publishes the official changelog. The upgrade is presumably meant to make the tracker more stable, reliable and performant when it is running in the background.
The prior version of the firmware is still relevant because it revolved around one of the more sensitive areas of the AirTag experience: protection from unauthorized tracking. Apple increased the sound coming from an unknown AirTag to help you find the device physically when Precision Finding is active.
A different rollout strategy for AirTag 2
What stands out is how Apple appears to disseminate this update. Firmware updates for the original AirTag arrived in a staggered release over a period of about two weeks. For AirTag 2, it looks like Apple is rolling the update out to all customers at once.
That could lessen the lag time between users and get more AirTag 2 units onto the current firmware more quickly. When fixes are connected to safety or reliability, faster availability of updates can be advantageous for a device associated with object location, privacy alerts and the Find My network.
No, there is no button on AirTag to upgrade the software manually.
The update is installed over the air using the linked iPhone. The AirTag 2 has to be in Bluetooth range of the iPhone to receive the latest firmware. Apple also says that it occasionally delivers AirTag firmware upgrades when the tracker is near the iPhone.
In practical terms, customers just need to keep the AirTag close to their iPhone and wait for the update to install itself.
How to check your AirTag firmware version
To check the firmware version installed on your AirTag 2:
- Open the Find My app on your iPhone
- Tap the Items tab.
- Select your AirTag from the list.
- Tap the AirTag name.
- The serial number and firmware version will appear on screen.
If the version shown is 3.0.49, the latest firmware has already been installed. If it still shows 3.0.45, keep the AirTag close to your iPhone and check again later.
