Where to find your battery percentage on iPhone

Your iPhone shows remaining battery charge in the top-right corner of the screen — a small battery icon that fills or empties as you use power. If you want to see the exact percentage instead of just the icon, go to Settings, tap Battery, then turn on Battery Percentage. The number will then appear next to the battery icon.

On iPhones with a notch or Dynamic Island (iPhone 12 and newer), the percentage appears inside or next to the battery icon itself. On older models with a home button, it sits to the left of the icon in the status bar.

Key Takeaways

  • Battery percentage appears in Settings > Battery > Battery Percentage, and then shows in the top-right corner of your screen.
  • Battery Health, which tells you how much capacity your battery has lost over time, is found in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging.
  • Normal battery health is 80 percent or higher; below 80 percent means the battery is aging and may need replacement eventually.
  • Low Power Mode extends battery life by slowing performance and limiting background activity, and you can turn it on manually or set it to turn on automatically at 20 percent.

How to check your battery health in Settings

Battery Health is different from battery percentage. Percentage tells you how much charge is left right now. Battery Health tells you how much total capacity your battery has lost since it was new — this is what matters for long-term performance.

To see your battery health, open Settings, tap Battery, then tap Battery Health & Charging. You will see a number labeled Maximum Capacity. A new iPhone battery is at 100 percent capacity. Over time, through normal use, this number drops. When it falls below 80 percent, Apple considers the battery aged, and you may notice the phone slows down or shuts off unexpectedly under heavy load.

The same screen also shows Condition, which tells you whether the battery is Normal, Degraded, or Service Recommended. If it says Service Recommended, the battery is wearing faster than expected and Apple suggests having it replaced.

What Battery Health numbers mean

A battery at 100 percent capacity is brand new. At 90 to 99 percent, the battery is still excellent and will perform normally. Between 80 and 89 percent, the battery is aging but still acceptable — most iPhones reach this point after one to two years of daily use.

Below 80 percent, the battery is noticeably aged. You may see performance management kick in, where iOS slows the phone down to prevent unexpected shutdowns. Below 50 percent, the battery is significantly degraded and replacement is usually the better choice than continuing to use it.

Keep in mind that battery health is an estimate based on chemical aging, not a precise measurement. Two iPhones used identically may show slightly different numbers. What matters is the trend: if your battery drops 10 percent in a few months, that is normal; if it drops 10 percent in a few weeks, something is draining it faster than expected.

Using Low Power Mode to extend battery life

Low Power Mode reduces power consumption by limiting background activity, lowering screen brightness, and slowing processor speed. It extends battery life by roughly 20 to 30 percent, depending on how you use the phone.

To turn it on manually, open Settings, tap Battery, then toggle Low Power Mode on. You can also swipe down from the top-right corner (or up from the bottom on older iPhones) to open Control Center and tap the battery icon there.

If you want Low Power Mode to turn on automatically, go to Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode and choose when you want it to set up — usually at 20 percent charge. Once enabled, the phone will switch to Low Power Mode on its own when the battery drops to that level.

Battery usage by app

If your battery is draining faster than it should, you can see which apps are using the most power. Go to Settings, tap Battery, then scroll down to Battery Usage by App. The list shows which apps have consumed the most battery in the last 24 hours or the last 10 days — tap the toggle at the top to switch between the two views.

Apps that appear at the top of this list are normal culprits: Maps, video streaming, games, and social media all use significant power. If an app you rarely use is high on the list, it may be running in the background unnecessarily. You can restrict background activity for that app by going to Settings > General > Background App Refresh, finding the app, and turning it off.

When to replace your iPhone battery

Apple recommends battery replacement when maximum capacity falls below 80 percent, though you do not have to replace it when ready. Many people wait until the phone shuts down unexpectedly or performance becomes noticeably slow.

If your iPhone is still under warranty or covered by AppleCare+, battery replacement is usually free or low-cost. If not, Apple charges a flat fee (which varies by model) for an out-of-warranty replacement. You can also take your phone to an authorized repair shop, though prices and quality vary.

Before paying for a replacement, make sure the battery health reading is accurate. Restart your phone and check again — sometimes the reading updates after a restart. If the number is genuinely low and the phone is behaving oddly, replacement is usually the right choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my battery health dropping so fast?

Fast battery health loss usually comes from heat exposure, constant charging to 100 percent, or heavy use of power-hungry apps. Keep your phone cool, avoid leaving it in direct sunlight or in a hot car, and limit background app refresh for apps you do not use often. If the phone is very new and health is already below 90 percent, contact Apple about a replacement.

Does Low Power Mode damage my battery?

No. Low Power Mode straightforward reduces power draw by limiting background activity and processor speed. It does not harm the battery itself. In fact, using Low Power Mode regularly may slightly extend overall battery lifespan because it reduces the number of charge cycles the battery goes through.

Can I see battery health on my Apple Watch or AirPods?

Apple Watch battery health appears in the Watch app on your iPhone under Battery. For AirPods, open the Bluetooth settings on your iPhone, tap the info icon next to your AirPods, and scroll down to see battery health. The process is similar but the settings location differs slightly by device.

What does "Condition: Service Recommended" mean?

It means your battery is degrading faster than normal and Apple suggests having it replaced. This can happen if the battery was defective from the start or if the phone has been exposed to extreme heat or cold. Contact Apple or an authorized repair shop to discuss replacement options.

Is it bad to charge my iPhone to 100 percent every day?

Charging to 100 percent regularly does cause faster battery aging than keeping the charge between 20 and 80 percent. However, modern iPhones have built-in charging optimization that slows charging once the battery reaches 80 percent, which helps reduce wear. If you want to extend battery lifespan, you can enable Optimized Battery Charging in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging.