Add the battery widget in three steps

To see your AirPod battery level on your home screen or lock screen, you need to add the Batteries widget from Apple's built-in Widgets app. The process takes less than a minute and works on any iPhone or iPad running iOS 16 or later (or iPadOS 16 or later).

Start by long-pressing an empty area of your home screen until the customization menu appears. Tap the plus icon in the bottom left corner, then search for and select "Batteries". Choose the widget size you want — Apple offers a small, medium, or large option — and tap "Add Widget". The Batteries widget will now appear on your home screen and display the battery percentage of your AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, or any other connected device.

If you prefer to keep your home screen less cluttered, you can add the Batteries widget to your lock screen instead. Long-press your lock screen, tap the plus icon at the bottom, search for "Batteries", and select it. The lock screen version is compact and shows only the devices you choose to display.

Key Takeaways

  • The Batteries widget is built into iOS and iPadOS and shows the battery level of your AirPods without opening the Control Center.
  • You can add the widget to your home screen, lock screen, or both by long-pressing and tapping the plus icon to open the Widgets menu.
  • The widget works with AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and other Apple devices like your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch.
  • iOS 16 or later is required; if you have an older version, update your device first.

Where the Batteries widget appears on your screen

On your home screen, the Batteries widget sits wherever you place it — you can move it around like any other app icon. The small version shows only the device name and percentage in a compact box. The medium and large versions display multiple devices at once, so if you have AirPods, an Apple Watch, and an iPad, you can see all three battery levels in one widget.

On your lock screen, the widget appears in the lower section below the time and date. Lock screen widgets are always visible without unlocking your phone, so this is the best spot if you check your AirPod battery frequently. You can add up to five widgets to your lock screen, so you have room for the Batteries widget plus others like Weather or Calendar.

What to do if the Batteries widget does not show your AirPods

If your AirPods do not appear in the widget, first check that they are paired with your iPhone or iPad. Open Settings, tap Bluetooth, and confirm your AirPods are listed and connected. If they are not paired, tap them in the list and follow the pairing steps.

If your AirPods are paired but still do not show in the widget, restart your iPhone or iPad. Hold the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears, swipe to turn off, wait 10 seconds, then press the side button again to turn back on. After the restart, open the Batteries widget again — your AirPods should now appear.

For AirPods that have not been used in several days, the widget may not display them until they are powered on and reconnected. Take your AirPods out of the case and wear them for a few seconds so they connect to your device, then check the widget again.

Using the Control Center as an alternative

If you do not want to add a widget to your screen, you can check your AirPod battery level in the Control Center instead. Swipe down from the top right corner of your iPhone (or up from the bottom on older models), and the battery levels of all connected devices appear in the top section. This method does not require any setup and works on all iPhones and iPads.

The Control Center approach is faster if you only check your battery occasionally, but the widget is more convenient if you monitor it multiple times a day. Many users keep both — the widget on their lock screen for quick glances and the Control Center as a backup.

Customizing which devices appear in the widget

The Batteries widget shows all your connected Apple devices by default, including your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods. If you want to hide certain devices from the widget, you cannot filter them directly within the widget settings. Instead, unpair the device from Bluetooth if you do not use it regularly, or straightforward ignore it in the widget display.

If you have many devices and the widget feels crowded, use the medium or large size to spread the information across more space. You can also add multiple Batteries widgets to different areas of your home screen or lock screen, each showing different devices — though iOS does not allow you to customize which device appears in each widget individually.

Troubleshooting common widget problems

If the Batteries widget stops updating or shows outdated battery percentages, force-close the app and reopen it. Swipe up from the bottom of your screen (or down from the top right on newer iPhones) to open the app switcher, find the home screen, and swipe up to close it. Then return to your home screen — the widget should refresh within a few seconds.

If the widget disappears entirely, it may have been accidentally removed. Long-press your home screen, tap the plus icon, search for "Batteries" again, and re-add it. Make sure you have enough space on your home screen; if it is completely full, remove another widget or app first.

On lock screens, widgets sometimes fail to load if your device is low on storage. Check your storage in Settings > General > iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage), and delete unused apps or photos if you are above 90 percent capacity. After freeing up space, restart your device and the widget should work again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see my AirPod battery without adding a widget?

Yes. Open the Control Center by swiping down from the top right (or up from the bottom on older iPhones), and your AirPod battery percentage appears at the top. You can also hold your AirPods near your iPhone and a notification will pop up showing the battery level of the case and each earbud.

Does the Batteries widget work on iPad?

Yes. The Batteries widget works on any iPad running iPadOS 16 or later. Add it the same way: long-press your home screen, tap the plus icon, search for "Batteries", and select it. The widget displays the battery level of your iPad, AirPods, Apple Pencil, and any other connected devices.

Why does my AirPod battery show 0 percent in the widget?

A 0 percent reading usually means your AirPods are disconnected or the battery information has not updated. Put your AirPods in your ears or take them out of the case to reconnect them, wait 10 seconds, then check the widget again. If the problem persists, restart your iPhone and re-pair your AirPods.

Can I add the Batteries widget to my Apple Watch?

No. The Batteries widget is only available on iPhone and iPad. On your Apple Watch, you can check battery levels by opening the Control Center (swipe up from the bottom) and looking at the battery percentage shown for your watch and paired devices.

What iOS version do I need for the Batteries widget?

You need iOS 16 or later on your iPhone, or iPadOS 16 or later on your iPad. If you have an older version, go to Settings > General > Software Update and install the latest version available for your device.