It's Possible to Drill a Hole Through an AirTag - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

It's Possible to Drill a Hole Through an AirTag

Unlike a Tile or some other item trackers, Apple's new AirTag does not have any holes or openings for attaching it directly to a keychain, forcing customers to purchase accessories like a leather key ring for this purpose.

airtags drill 1
Interestingly, though, MacRumors forum member smythey has proven that it is possible to drill a hole into the AirTag without breaking it, allowing for a string or a thin key ring to be fed through the opening. The result doesn't look very cosmetically appealing, but smythey said the AirTag seems to function normally after the do-it-yourself job.

A teardown of the AirTag shared on YouTube today provides a first look inside Apple's item tracker, revealing a circular circuit board with seemingly just enough room around the edges to drill a small hole in the plastic.


Keep in mind that drilling a hole into an AirTag will unsurprisingly void Apple's warranty and could damage the accessory if done incorrectly, but this still proves as a neat proof of concept for those looking to save a few dollars.

Is your AirTag order arriving today? Discuss with others in our AirTag forum.

Related Roundup: AirTag
Buyer's Guide: AirTag (Buy Now)

Popular Stories

Second Generation AirTag Feature

Apple Launched AirTag 5 Years Ago Today

Thursday April 30, 2026 5:51 am PDT by
Apple's AirTag item tracker turns five years old today, with the $29 accessory having spent half a decade as the best-selling item tracker in the world. The AirTag launched on April 30, 2021, alongside the M1 iMac, a new iPad Pro, and a new Apple TV 4K. The coin-shaped accessory has a polished stainless steel back, IP67 water resistance, and a U1 Ultra Wideband chip that powers Precision...
Second Generation AirTag Feature Purple

Apple Faces Dozens of Lawsuits Over AirTag Stalking After Class Action Denied

Friday May 1, 2026 2:39 pm PDT by
Apple is facing over 30 lawsuits from people who claim to have been stalked using Apple AirTags. The filings come after an AirTag lawsuit from 2022 (Hughes v. Apple) failed to get class certification. In each filing, Apple is accused of releasing the AirTag while being aware that it could be "purchased and used by abusive, dangerous individuals, to track, coerce, control, and otherwise...
airtag cyber

Energizer Launches AirTag-Compatible Batteries That Prevent Ingestion Burns

Wednesday May 6, 2026 4:10 pm PDT by
Energizer today announced the launch of new Energizer Ultimate Child Shield coin lithium batteries that are available in the 2032 size used in Apple's AirTags. The Child Shield batteries do not cause ingestion burns if swallowed, and they also include an element that turns the mouth blue when exposed to saliva. Energizer says this will allow caregivers to be alerted when ingestion has...

Top Rated Comments

AngerDanger Avatar
66 months ago
Man, I really wish I'd seen that teardown video before I made mine…



Attachment Image
Score: 81 Votes (Like | Disagree)
66 months ago
I just 3D printed my own holders. Cost me less than 10cents and 10 mins.

Attachment Image
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mtneer Avatar
66 months ago
Cool.. can’t believe that Apple’s design engineers did not think of this use case.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
66 months ago

Cool.. can’t believe that Apple’s design engineers did not think of this use case.
I mean they obviously did... seeing as these will probably be most useful for keys how could you not consider how peple will attach it to keys.

The cynic would say they did it on purpose so people have to buy the holder to attach it to keys = more profit for apple

I cant think of any other reason they would leave it off.... maybe they woul just say they want the 'cleanest design possible' or something, but I think the cynical assumption might be correct
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
66 months ago
All it needs now is a button you can press to help you find your iPhone, it will be as useful as a Tile then.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
66 months ago

Man, I really wish I'd seen that teardown video before I made mine…


Reasons this site is great, ranked:
1. AngerDanger gifs
2. Apple news
3. Everything else
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Related Apple News: Ipad | News | Travel | Reviews | Business