How Many AirTags Can You Have? Apple Doubles Device Limits
Apple has recently announced a significant update to their AirTag ecosystem: the maximum number of AirTags per iCloud account has doubled from 16 to 32. This expansion of the Find My network capacity is welcome news for users who need to track multiple items, but many businesses still find these standard limits insufficient for their tracking needs.
The Hidden Complexity: What Actually Counts Toward Your 32-Item Limit
Here's something most people don't realize: your AirPods count toward the 32-item limit too—and not equally:
| Device | Items Counted |
|---|---|
| AirTag | 1 item |
| AirPods Max | 1 item |
| AirPods / AirPods Pro (1st gen) | 2 items |
| AirPods Pro (2nd gen) | 3 items |
| Third-party Find My accessories | 1 item each |
This means if you have AirPods Pro (2nd gen), you've already used 3 of your 32 slots before adding a single AirTag. A household with multiple AirPods devices can quickly eat into their available capacity.
Common "Maximum Items" Error and How to Fix It
Many users encounter the frustrating "Maximum Items" error even when they believe they're under the 32-item limit. Here are the most effective workarounds discovered by the community:
The AirPods Unpair Trick
- Temporarily unpair your AirPods from your iCloud account
- Pair your new AirTag
- Re-pair your AirPods
This works because the pairing system sometimes miscounts items, and the fresh pairing sequence forces a recalculation.
The Nuclear Reset Option
For persistent issues:
- Remove batteries from all your AirTags
- Update to the latest iOS version
- Remove all Bluetooth devices from your phone
- Reset network settings
- Sign out of iCloud completely, then sign back in
- Re-pair devices one at a time
Try a Different Apple Device
Some users successfully pair new AirTags through their iPad when their iPhone refuses—suggesting the issue may be device-specific caching rather than a true account limit.
What The New AirTag Limit Means for Business Users
The increase to 32 AirTags per Apple ID represents Apple's recognition that users need enhanced tracking capabilities through the Find My app. For individuals tracking personal items like keys, bags, and other valuables, this expansion offers greater flexibility. However, for businesses managing large inventories, equipment fleets, or multiple locations, even this increased limit falls short.
Consider these common business scenarios where 32 AirTags isn't enough:
- A construction company tracking 100+ pieces of equipment across multiple job sites
- A hospital managing 200+ mobile medical devices between departments
- A film production company tracking 150+ pieces of gear on set locations
- A logistics company monitoring 500+ shipments through the supply chain
- A retail business tracking inventory across multiple store locations
The Find My Network: Why It Matters for Tracking
Apple's Find My network is what makes AirTags so powerful—and understanding its scale helps explain why they work so reliably:
Network Statistics
- Over 1.5 billion active Apple devices worldwide act as detection nodes
- The network grows by approximately 1.5 million devices daily
- Coverage extends to virtually anywhere people carry iPhones—urban areas, airports, shopping centers, and increasingly rural areas
- End-to-end encryption means not even Apple can see device locations
How Crowdsourced Location Works
When your AirTag is separated from you:
- It broadcasts a rotating Bluetooth identifier every few seconds
- Any nearby iPhone, iPad, or Mac (even strangers') detects this signal
- That device encrypts the location and uploads it anonymously to iCloud
- Only you can decrypt and view the location through Find My
This is fundamentally different from GPS trackers, which require cellular connectivity and line-of-sight to satellites. AirTags work in parking garages, inside buildings, underground, and even in remote areas—as long as any Apple device passes within Bluetooth range.
Anti-Stalking Protections: What Business Users Should Know
Apple has implemented multiple layers of anti-stalking protection that affect how AirTags can be used:
Automatic Alerts
- iPhones running iOS 14.5+ automatically detect unknown AirTags traveling with them
- After separation from the owner (timing varies from 30 minutes to several hours), the AirTag emits an audible alert
- Android users can download the "Tracker Detect" app to manually scan for unknown AirTags
What This Means for Business
If you're tracking shared equipment, rental items, or assets that move between employees:
- Users may receive "Unknown AirTag Moving With You" alerts
- The alert includes a map showing where the AirTag has been detected
- Users can disable unknown AirTags by removing the battery
For legitimate business use: AirPinpoint's enterprise solution properly registers tags to business accounts, reducing false alerts for authorized users while maintaining security against misuse.
Going Beyond Apple's AirTag Limits
While managing multiple iCloud accounts in the items tab is technically possible for some organizations, this workaround becomes cumbersome when scaling operations. Each account has its own 32-device maximum, requiring businesses to juggle multiple Apple IDs and Find My app instances.
This is where AirPinpoint's enterprise solution becomes essential.
How AirPinpoint Helps You Track Unlimited AirTags
Our enterprise-grade solution allows you to:
- Track unlimited AirTags through a single unified dashboard
- Get fully managed iCloud accounts handled by our team
- Utilize Apple's U1 chip for precision finding when nearby
- Access comprehensive analytics and reporting
- Integrate tracking data with your existing systems
- Set up geofences for location-based alerts
- Share live tracking links with team members and stakeholders
- View detailed historical tracking data
- Benefit from extended battery life with our Pro Max Tags (3+ years)
- Leverage the extensive coverage of Apple's Find My network
Scale Your Tracking Without Limits
Need to track more than the 32 AirTags allowed per Apple ID? AirPinpoint supports unlimited AirTag tracking through our enterprise solutions, with fully managed iCloud accounts that we set up and maintain for you.
Whether you need to track 50 devices or 5000, we help you implement a scalable tracking solution that grows with your business – without the hassle of managing multiple Apple devices or iCloud accounts yourself.
iOS 17 Compatibility and Advanced Features
Our platform is fully compatible with iOS 17 and the latest AirTag firmware, ensuring you can leverage all advanced features of Apple's tracking ecosystem, including:
- Precision finding capabilities (when using AirTags with the U1 chip)
- Extended network coverage through the Find My network
- Compatibility with AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and other Apple devices
- Enhanced security features to prevent unwanted tracking
- Battery status monitoring for all your tracked items
Ready to Scale Beyond 32 AirTags?
If your business needs to track more devices than Apple's standard limits allow, reach out to us at info@airpinpoint.com. Our team will work with you to create a custom solution that meets your specific needs, complete with fully managed iCloud accounts to handle all your tracking requirements for your sets of keys, equipment, or inventory.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many AirTags can you track with one Apple ID?
Apple now allows tracking up to 32 AirTags per Apple ID, recently doubled from the previous limit of 16 AirTags.
How can businesses track more than 32 AirTags?
Businesses can either manage multiple Apple IDs (each with 32 AirTags) or use AirPinpoint's enterprise solution to track unlimited AirTags through a single dashboard with fully managed accounts.
Does AirPinpoint work with the Find My network?
Yes, AirPinpoint leverages Apple's extensive Find My network for accurate location tracking while adding enterprise management capabilities.
