Check battery on your iPhone in seconds

The fastest way to see your AirPods battery is to open the case near your unlocked iPhone. A battery card will pop up on your screen showing the charge level of each earbud and the case itself. This works with AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, AirPods (2nd generation and later), and AirPods Pro (2nd generation).

If the card doesn't appear, make sure Bluetooth is turned on and your AirPods are paired to that iPhone. The card stays on your screen for a few seconds, then disappears — you don't need to tap anything.

You can also check the battery without opening the case. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open Control Center, then look for the battery widget. It shows the same information as the pop-up card.

Key Takeaways

  • Open your AirPods case near your unlocked iPhone to see a battery card showing each earbud and the case charge level.
  • Control Center on your iPhone displays the same battery information if you swipe down from the top-right corner.
  • On Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar and hover over your AirPods to see battery percentages.
  • Apple Watch shows AirPods battery in Control Center when you swipe up from the bottom of the watch face.
  • If you see a red or yellow lightning bolt next to an earbud, that one needs to charge soon.

Find battery information on your Mac

Click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen. Your AirPods should appear in the list. Hover your cursor over the AirPods name, and the battery percentage for each earbud and the case will show up in a tooltip.

If you don't see a Bluetooth icon in your menu bar, go to System Settings, then Bluetooth, and make sure Bluetooth is turned on. You may need to add the Bluetooth icon to your menu bar manually — in System Settings, go to Control Center and toggle "Bluetooth" to show in menu bar.

Check battery on your Apple Watch

Swipe up from the bottom of your watch face to open Control Center. Look for the battery icon or the Bluetooth section. Your AirPods battery should display there along with your watch's own battery level.

If your AirPods don't show in Control Center, make sure they're paired to your watch. Open the Watch app on your paired iPhone, go to Bluetooth, and confirm your AirPods are listed and connected.

Understand what the battery indicators mean

A green battery icon means your AirPods are fully or well charged. Yellow means they're getting low — usually below 20 percent. Red means they need to charge right away, typically below 10 percent.

If you see a lightning bolt next to an earbud's battery, that earbud is currently charging. A lightning bolt next to the case means the case itself is charging. These symbols appear in the battery card on your iPhone and in the Bluetooth menu on Mac.

What to do if the battery won't display

If the battery card doesn't appear when you open your AirPods case, first check that your iPhone's Bluetooth is on. Go to Settings, then Bluetooth, and toggle it on if it's off.

Next, make sure your AirPods are actually paired to your device. In Bluetooth settings, look for your AirPods in the list of connected devices. If they're not there, forget the AirPods and pair them again — hold the setup button on the back of the case until the light flashes white, then follow the pairing steps on your device.

If you're using an older iPhone model (iPhone 6s or earlier), the battery card feature may not work. In that case, Control Center is your best option for checking battery on newer iPhones, or use the Bluetooth settings menu to see if battery information appears there.

Charge your AirPods when the battery runs low

Place your AirPods in the charging case and close the lid. The case charges the earbuds wirelessly. A single charge usually gives you 5 to 6 hours of listening time, depending on which model you own.

Charge the case itself by connecting it to a USB-C or Lightning cable (depending on your model) and a power adapter. You can also use a wireless charging mat if your case supports it — AirPods Pro (2nd generation) and AirPods Max both support wireless charging.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't the battery card show up when I open my AirPods case?

The battery card only appears on iPhones with iOS 13.2 or later, and your iPhone's Bluetooth must be on. Make sure your AirPods are paired to that specific iPhone. If they're paired to a different device, open the case near the iPhone you want to check instead.

Can I check my AirPods battery on Android?

Android devices do not display the AirPods battery card. You can see battery information in your phone's Bluetooth settings menu — go to Settings, Bluetooth, and look for your AirPods in the list of paired devices. Some Android phones show battery percentage there, but not all.

What does a red battery icon mean?

Red means your AirPods battery is critically low, usually below 10 percent. Charge them in the case right away if you want to keep using them. A yellow icon means they're getting low but still have some charge left.

How long does it take to charge AirPods?

A full charge in the case takes about 15 to 30 minutes for most AirPods models. The case itself takes 1 to 2 hours to charge fully from a power adapter. Charging times vary slightly by model.

Can I use my AirPods while they're charging in the case?

No. When AirPods are in the case, they charge but cannot play audio. Take them out of the case to use them. The case continues charging them while they're in your ears.