Check AirPods battery on your iPhone or iPad

The quickest way to see your AirPods battery is to open Control Center on your iPhone or iPad. Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen (or up from the bottom on older models), then look for the battery percentage next to your AirPods name. The display shows the charge level of each earbud separately, plus the case.

If Control Center does not show your AirPods, make sure they are connected to your device. Open Settings, tap Bluetooth, and confirm your AirPods appear in the list with a checkmark. Once connected, the battery status will appear in Control Center within a few seconds.

You can also check battery in the Home app. Open Home, tap the house icon in the top-left corner, scroll down to Devices, find your AirPods, and look for the battery percentage listed under the device name. This method works whether your AirPods are in your ears or in the case.

Key Takeaways

  • Control Center on iPhone shows each earbud's battery and the case charge in one tap.
  • Your AirPods must be connected to your device before battery status will display.
  • Mac, Apple Watch, and iPad all display battery the same way as iPhone — through Control Center or the Home app.
  • If battery percentage does not appear, unpair and reconnect your AirPods in Bluetooth settings.

Check AirPods battery on your Mac

On a Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Your AirPods will appear in the dropdown menu with a battery percentage next to the name. If you do not see the Bluetooth icon, go to System Settings, click Bluetooth, and turn it on.

The battery display on Mac shows the same information as iPhone — the charge level of each earbud and the case. If your AirPods are not connected, they will not appear in the Bluetooth menu at all.

Check AirPods battery on your Apple Watch

Open Control Center on your Apple Watch by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. Look for the battery icon and tap it. Your connected AirPods will display with their current charge percentage. This works the same way whether you are wearing the watch or checking it on your wrist.

If your AirPods do not show in Control Center, open the Watch app on your paired iPhone, go to Bluetooth, and make sure your AirPods are listed as connected.

What the battery display actually tells you

When you see three numbers in Control Center — for example, "Left 85% Right 82% Case 60%" — each number represents a separate battery. The left and right percentages are your individual earbuds. The case percentage shows how much charge is stored in the charging case itself, not how many times it can recharge your earbuds.

A fully charged case holds enough power to recharge your AirPods multiple times. The exact number depends on your AirPods model: standard AirPods get about five full charges per case, while AirPods Pro get about four. Once the case battery drops to zero, you will need to plug it in with a USB-C or Lightning cable.

Troubleshooting when battery does not show

If you open Control Center and your AirPods do not appear, or the battery percentage shows as blank, the most common fix is to disconnect and reconnect them. Go to Settings on your iPhone, tap Bluetooth, find your AirPods in the list, tap the info icon next to the name, and select Forget This Device. Then put your AirPods in their case, close the lid, wait five seconds, and open the case near your iPhone to reconnect.

If the battery still does not display after reconnecting, restart your iPhone. Hold the power button until the power-off slider appears, slide to turn off, wait 10 seconds, then press the power button again to turn back on. Once your iPhone restarts, reconnect your AirPods and check Control Center again.

For AirPods that are several years old, a low or missing battery reading can also mean the internal battery is degrading. Apple does not publish a battery health tool for AirPods the way it does for iPhone, so you cannot see exactly how much capacity has been lost. If your AirPods no longer hold a charge for the advertised time, the battery itself may need replacement.

Checking battery when AirPods are in the case

You do not need to take your AirPods out of the case to see their battery level. Open Control Center or the Home app, and the percentage will display whether the earbuds are in your ears, in the case, or not connected at all. The only exception is if the case itself is completely dead — in that situation, the case battery will show 0% but the earbud percentages may not update until you open the case and let them connect again.

If you want a quick visual check without opening your phone, hold your AirPods case near your iPhone and look at the LED light on the front. A green light means the case is fully charged. Amber means it is charging or has less than a full charge. No light means the case is dead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my AirPods battery show different percentages for each earbud?

Each earbud has its own battery and drains at slightly different rates depending on which ear you use more often and how they sit in the case. Small differences of 5 to 10 percent are normal. If one earbud is consistently much lower than the other, it may have a battery issue and should be checked by Apple.

Can I see AirPods battery on Android or Windows?

No. AirPods only display battery information on Apple devices — iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. If you pair AirPods with an Android phone or Windows computer, they will connect and play audio, but the battery percentage will not show. You will need to check the battery on an Apple device instead.

What does it mean if the case battery is low but the earbuds are full?

The case and earbuds charge independently. A low case battery means you cannot recharge your earbuds once they run out, but your earbuds themselves still have their full charge and will work normally. Plug in the case to charge it, or use your earbuds until they drain, then charge both together.

How often should I check my AirPods battery?

Check it whenever you are about to use your AirPods for an extended period — before a long commute, a workout, or travel. For daily use, most people check once a week or when they notice the sound getting quieter, which usually means the battery is running low.