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JanzyC
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Apple Watch 12 unable to connect or find Air Tag Gen 1

Hello community, I will love to get your guidance to find the fix. Apparently my Apple Watch 12 is unable to find and connect to Air Tag Generation 1 (was told by technician onsite in Apple Singapore) but the function on the Watch to find my iPhone 16 actually works, it just could not connect to my Air Tag. Looking for support on this. Thanks! :)

Posted on Oct 17, 2026 6:08 AM

8 replies

Chattanoogan
User level: Level 8 (43,489 points)

Oct 17, 2026 7:54 AM in response to JanzyC

Has the AirTag already been paired to your Apple Account ?


If not, that’s the 1st thing that needs to occur.


How to add an AirTag to Find My - Apple Support


Only then can FindMy locate the AirTag on any of your devices.



Rudegar
User level: Level 10 (187,102 points)

Oct 17, 2026 6:35 AM in response to JanzyC

works ok for me when I launch the find my app on my apple watch 10 and then by default it show people so I click on the icon in to top left corner of the watch and then click items in the context menu

MrHoffman
User level: Level 10 (169,253 points)

Oct 17, 2026 8:35 AM in response to JanzyC

Does the AirTag work from the iPhone? Is the tag itself working?


I don’t have a Series 12 and haven’t loaded watchOS 27 yet, but an AirTag 1st gen is findable using the Find Items app on watchOS 26.

JanzyC Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Oct 17, 2026 8:02 AM in response to MrHoffman

Thanks for the link! I suspect Apple Watch 12 doesn’t work well with AirTag of the 1st Gen then.


I could not even play a sound on my AirTag (I wonder why the watch don’t include those air tags since they are all by Apple!).

JanzyC Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Oct 17, 2026 7:59 AM in response to Rudegar

yeah since the “Find my AirTag” showed no option, I had to use Find My and clicked on Items to get the AirTag connected but it couldn’t connect and doesn’t play sound as well.

JanzyC Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Oct 17, 2026 8:00 AM in response to Chattanoogan

Yes it has been paired and I could play sound and find the Air Tag easily using my iPhone, just not my Apple Watch which I thought would work.

Chattanoogan
User level: Level 8 (43,489 points)

Oct 17, 2026 9:25 AM in response to JanzyC

Re: “… I could play sound and find the Air Tag easily using my iPhone … “


Thanks for the confirming reply.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256377813