Turn on battery percentage in Settings
Your iPhone can show your battery level as a number — 87%, 42%, 15% — instead of just a shrinking icon in the top right corner. This takes about 30 seconds and works on any recent iPhone model running iOS 16 or later.
Open Settings, then tap Battery. Look for the option called Battery Percentage and toggle it on. The percentage will appear next to the battery icon in your status bar when ready. You'll see it in the top right corner of your screen whenever you're using your phone.
If you don't see a Battery section in Settings, your phone is running an older version of iOS. Scroll down in the main Settings menu and look for General, then About, then check your iOS version. The Battery Percentage feature requires iOS 16 or later, which Apple released in September 2022.
Key Takeaways
- The battery percentage toggle lives in Settings > Battery on iPhones running iOS 16 or later.
- Once enabled, the percentage appears as a number right next to your battery icon in the top right corner of your screen.
- A percentage tells you exactly how much charge remains, which is more useful than watching an icon shrink gradually.
- If the Battery section doesn't exist in your Settings, your iPhone is running iOS 15 or earlier and does not support this feature.
- You can check your battery health separately in Settings > General > About > Battery Health & Charging to see how much total charge capacity your battery retains.
Why the percentage matters more than the icon
A battery icon shrinks as you drain power, but the change is hard to judge by eye. The difference between 20% and 5% looks almost the same on an icon, but it means very different things for how long your phone will last. A percentage tells you exactly what you have left, so you can make real decisions about charging.
Seeing the number also helps you spot patterns in how fast your battery drains. If your battery drops 10% in 20 minutes of light use, something is running in the background and consuming power faster than normal. Without the percentage visible, you might not notice until your phone dies unexpectedly.
The percentage also makes it easier to know when to charge. Many people aim to keep their phone between 20% and 80% for the longest battery lifespan. An icon doesn't give you that precision, but a number does.
What to do if the toggle doesn't appear
If you go to Settings > Battery and don't see Battery Percentage, your iPhone is running iOS 15 or earlier. This feature arrived with iOS 16. Check your iOS version by going to Settings > General > About and looking at the number next to "Software Version".
If you're running iOS 15 or earlier, you can still see your battery percentage by swiping down from the top right corner of your screen to open Control Center. The percentage shows there, but it won't stay visible in your status bar. Updating to iOS 16 or later is the only way to get the permanent percentage display in the top corner.
To update your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, tap read and Install. Your phone will restart during the process, so plug it in first. Once the update finishes, the Battery section will appear in Settings.
Battery percentage and battery health are different things
The percentage you see in your status bar tells you how much charge is left right now. Battery health is different — it measures how much total charge your battery can hold compared to when it was brand new.
A phone at 100% charge with 80% battery health still has plenty of power for a full day. But over time, as battery health drops to 70%, 60%, or lower, you'll notice your phone dies faster even when fully charged. To check your battery health, go to Settings > General > About > Battery Health & Charging and look for the "Maximum Capacity" number.
If your maximum capacity is below 80%, your battery is aging and may not last as long as it used to. Apple's batteries are designed to retain 80% capacity after 500 full charge cycles. If you're well below that, your battery may be worth replacing, especially if your phone is more than two years old.
How to keep your battery healthy longer
Showing the percentage doesn't drain your battery faster — it's just a display that has no effect on power use. But you can extend your battery's lifespan by keeping it between 20% and 80% charge most of the time. Charging to 100% and draining to 0% repeatedly wears out the battery faster.
Enable Optimized Battery Charging in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. This feature learns your charging patterns and slows down charging to 80% overnight, then finishes the last 20% right before you wake up. This reduces the time your battery spends at full charge, which extends its overall lifespan.
Also turn on Low Power Mode when your battery drops below 20%. You can enable it manually in Control Center, or set it to turn on automatically at 20% in Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode. Low Power Mode reduces background activity and extends your phone's runtime by 15% to 25%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does showing the battery percentage drain the battery faster?
No. The percentage is just a display — it doesn't change how your phone uses power. Turning it on or off has no effect on how long your battery lasts.
Can I see the percentage on the lock screen?
Not in the status bar. The percentage appears in the top right corner only when you're using your phone. On the lock screen, you'll see the battery icon instead. Some newer iPhones show the percentage on the lock screen if you add a battery widget, but this is separate from the status bar setting.
What if my percentage keeps jumping between numbers?
Small jumps of 1% to 3% are normal and happen because your phone recalibrates its estimate of remaining charge. Large jumps of 10% or more usually mean your battery health is poor. Check Settings > General > About > Battery Health & Charging. If maximum capacity is below 80%, your battery may need replacement.
Does the percentage show on my Apple Watch too?
Your Apple Watch has its own battery percentage display in its status bar, controlled separately. Go to Settings on your watch, tap Battery, and toggle on Battery Percentage. The two devices don't sync this setting — you have to turn it on for each one.
Why does my battery percentage say 100% but my phone still dies quickly?
Your battery percentage shows current charge, not battery health. If your phone dies fast even at 100%, check your maximum capacity in Settings > General > About > Battery Health & Charging. If it's below 80%, your battery has degraded and holds less total charge than it used to, even when fully charged.