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How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag

Introduction

Use this guide to drill a keyring hole in your AirTag.

Attempt this procedure at your own risk. Drilling through your AirTag may damage its functionality and will negate the AirTag’s IP67 water resistance rating.

What you need

  1. How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag, Push down the battery compartment door: step 1, image 1 of 2 How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag, Push down the battery compartment door: step 1, image 2 of 2

    • Use both of your thumbs to push down on the battery compartment door.

  2. How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag, Rotate the battery compartment door: step 2, image 1 of 2 How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag, Rotate the battery compartment door: step 2, image 2 of 2

    • Rotate the battery compartment door counter-clockwise to unlatch it from the frame.

  3. How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag, Remove the battery compartment door: step 3, image 1 of 2 How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag, Remove the battery compartment door: step 3, image 2 of 2

    • Lift up the battery compartment door to remove it.

  4. How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag, Remove the battery: step 4, image 1 of 2 How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag, Remove the battery: step 4, image 2 of 2

    • Lift and remove the battery.

    • When you replace the battery, insert it such that the positive end is facing up.

  6. How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag, Drilling information: step 5, image 1 of 2 How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag, Drilling information: step 5, image 2 of 2

    • Do not remove the gray battery compartment. This image is for illustrative purposes only.

    • Inside the device, the circuit board and antenna frame have three notches for the clips and glue.

    • To avoid damaging the internal components, drill through the space next to a clip.

    • This is an image of an AirTag that has already been drilled through at the bottom location.

  7. How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag, Mark the hole location: step 6, image 1 of 3 How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag, Mark the hole location: step 6, image 2 of 3 How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag, Mark the hole location: step 6, image 3 of 3

    • Rotate the AirTag so that the CE marking is upright.

    • Use a marker or pen to draw a dot where you want to drill the keyring hole.

    • Draw the dot as close to the edge of the gray battery compartment as possible. This will allow you to reattach the battery compartment door while the keyring is attached.

    • The three potential drill locations are at the left (moving clockwise) end of each battery compartment clip hole.

    • You can locate our recommended drill location by drawing a dot at roughly seven o'clock.

  8. How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag, Safety information: step 7, image 1 of 1

    • Wear eye protection while using the vise, drilling the hole, and removing sharp edges.

    • Keep your hands away from the device while drilling the keyring hole.

  9. How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag, Drill the keyring hole: step 8, image 1 of 1

    • Secure the AirTag in a vise.

    • Make sure the area under your marked drill location is clear to avoid hitting the vise with the drill bit.

  10. How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag: step 9, image 1 of 1

    • Use a 1/16th inch drill bit to drill a hole through the AirTag.

  11. How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag, Remove burrs and sharp edges: step 10, image 1 of 2 How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag, Remove burrs and sharp edges: step 10, image 2 of 2
    Tool used on this step:
    File Set
    $5.99
    Buy

    • Use a metal file to remove burrs and sharp edges from the keyring hole.

    • You can also use sandpaper or a deburring tool.

    • Remove any remaining plastic particles on the AirTag before installing the keyring.

  12. How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag, Insert the keyring: step 11, image 1 of 2 How to Drill a Keyring Hole in an AirTag, Insert the keyring: step 11, image 2 of 2

    • Insert your keyring through the keyring hole.

    • You can apply Sugru or a sealant to seal both sides of the hole.

Author

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Kyle Smith

Member since: 02/01/21

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