Do Apple AirTags Break TSA's Lithium Battery Rule? Here's What Travelers Should Know

It's no news that traveling by air comes with certain limitations concerning what you can carry with you, as there are things you just can't bring through security (yet there are also some unexpected items you probably didn't think the Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, could allow). So, there's a possibility that you've once wondered whether Apple AirTags are allowed by security officers. The good news is that AirTags are permitted both in your carry-on and in your checked luggage, as long as they meet the approved safety limits for lithium batteries. This is indeed a great relief, as it means you can easily keep tabs on your bags without worrying that you might be breaking any rules.

What exactly makes AirTags permissible is the way they've been designed. Specifically, they run on small button cell batteries (CR2032), and this makes them fall well below the safety thresholds stipulated by the TSA for lithium batteries. You should note that TSA guidelines mainly deal with devices that have higher energy capacities, especially because such devices tend to overheat, explode, or catch fire more easily. So, since AirTags have lower energy capacities, they're generally considered safe, even by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The issue of lithium is no doubt a key concern in air travel due to the fire hazards linked to such batteries. Based on TSA regulations, lithium batteries on planes must have less than 100 watt-hours' capacity and nothing beyond 2 grams of lithium. The ultimate reason for this is to ensure the safety of everyone on board. This explains why power banks, for instance, which normally contain lithium ion batteries, are an electronic item that has been banned by some airlines.

When it comes to AirTags, the CR2032 battery inside typically contains less than 0.7 watt-hours of energy and 0.1 grams of lithium, which is nowhere close to the TSA regulatory limits. In other words, AirTags are far too low powered to pose the kind of danger that rechargeable lithium batteries in phones, laptops, or other larger electronics might. Even in 2022 when German airline Lufthansa mistakenly announced a ban on AirTags, the FAA had to quickly step in by confirming that the tracker was indeed permissible.

Although Lufthansa's concerns had stemmed from official guidelines regarding portable electronic devices, several airlines, such as United and Delta, are now integrating the AirTag location feature into their mobile apps as a way to help passengers with the tracking of their bags. This emphasizes that, indeed, Apple AirTags do not violate TSA's lithium battery rule.