In this paper, effect of air exposure on first hydrogenation kinetics of TiFe +4 wt% Zr + 2 wt % Mn alloy was studied. After 7 days of air exposure, the first hydrogenation kinetics of the alloy was slow with a long incubation time. An air exposure of 30 days made the alloy totally inert to hydrogen. In an attempt to recover the hydrogen absorption ability of the alloy, it was mechanically treated using cold rolling and ball milling processes. It was found that the air exposed alloy could be successfully hydrogenated after ball milling and after cold rolling with some loss in hydrogen storage capacity. The loss in storage capacity was more important after ball milling than after cold rolling. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.