Where to find your battery percentage on iPhone

The fastest way to see how much charge your iPhone has left is to look at the battery icon in the top-right corner of your screen. On newer iPhones without a home button, this icon appears next to the time and signal strength. The icon fills with color as your battery drains — when it's nearly empty, it turns red.

If you want a number instead of just the icon, you can turn on the battery percentage display. Go to Settings, then Battery, then toggle on Battery Percentage. Now the top-right corner will show both the icon and a number like "87%" so you know exactly how much charge remains.

Key Takeaways

  • Your battery percentage appears in the top-right corner of your screen once you enable it in Settings > Battery > Battery Percentage.
  • Battery Health shows how much capacity your battery retains compared to when it was new, found in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging.
  • Normal battery health is 80% or higher; anything below 80% means your battery is aging and may need replacement eventually.
  • Low Power Mode extends your charge by slowing down performance, and you can turn it on manually or set it to turn on automatically at 20%.

How to check your battery health

Battery health is different from your current charge — it tells you whether your battery is still holding a full charge the way it did when new. Over time, all rechargeable batteries lose capacity. To see your battery health, open Settings, tap Battery, then tap Battery Health & Charging.

You'll see a percentage labeled Maximum Capacity. This number shows how much charge your battery can hold now compared to when it was brand new. A new iPhone battery is at 100%. If yours shows 85%, your battery can now hold 85% of the charge it originally could. Apple considers 80% or higher normal for an older phone. Below 80% means your battery is aging faster than expected, though it will still work — it just won't last as long between charges.

The same screen also shows Peak Performance Capability. If this says your battery is healthy, your phone runs at full speed. If it says your battery's health is degraded, your iPhone may slow itself down automatically to prevent unexpected shutdowns. This slowdown protects your phone but makes it feel sluggish.

Understanding battery health percentages

Your battery health percentage reflects real wear, not a defect. Lithium batteries naturally lose capacity with every charge cycle — one cycle means using 100% of your battery, whether that happens in one day or spread across several days. After 500 full charge cycles, Apple's batteries are designed to retain at least 80% capacity.

If your battery health is still above 80% after a year or two of normal use, your battery is aging normally. If it drops below 80% within the first year, or if it falls to 50% or lower, your battery may be defective or you may be charging in conditions that damage it — like leaving your phone in a hot car or using it while charging constantly. In those cases, contact Apple or visit an Apple Store to discuss replacement options.

How to turn on Low Power Mode

When your battery is running low, Low Power Mode reduces power use so your phone lasts longer on a single charge. It slows down background activity, reduces screen brightness slightly, and limits some features like mail fetching. Most people notice the slowdown is minor compared to the extra hours of battery life.

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

You can also set Low Power Mode to turn on automatically. In Settings > Battery > Battery Saver, choose when you want it to set up — most people pick 20% so their phone switches to power-saving mode when the charge gets low. Once you plug in and your battery reaches 80%, Low Power Mode turns off automatically.

What drains your battery fastest

Knowing what uses the most power helps you understand why your battery drains quickly. Screen brightness is the single biggest drain — the brighter your screen, the faster your battery empties. Turning on auto-brightness in Settings > Display & Brightness lets your phone adjust brightness to the light around you, which saves power without you having to think about it.

Location services, video playback, and apps running in the background also drain battery significantly. If you notice your battery dropping fast, go to Settings > Battery and scroll down to see which apps used the most power in the last 24 hours or the last 10 days. If an app you rarely use is at the top of the list, you can turn off background activity for that app in Settings > General > Background App Refresh.

Battery health and charging habits

How you charge your iPhone affects how long your battery stays healthy. Lithium batteries last longest when they spend time between 20% and 80% charge. Letting your battery drop to 0% regularly, or leaving it plugged in at 100% for hours, both speed up aging. If you want to maximize battery lifespan, charge your phone to around 80% and unplug it, rather than charging all the way to 100% every night.

Heat also damages batteries faster than anything else. Avoid charging your phone in direct sunlight, in a hot car, or while using it heavily — like playing games or recording video while plugged in. If your phone feels hot during charging, unplug it and let it cool down. Removing your phone case while charging can help it stay cooler.

If you use your iPhone in very cold weather, your battery may seem to drain faster, but this is temporary — the battery recovers when it warms up. Extreme cold does not permanently damage modern iPhone batteries the way extreme heat does.

When to replace your battery

You don't have to replace your battery the moment it drops below 80%. Many people use iPhones with 60% or 70% battery health for years. Replace your battery when the reduced capacity actually bothers you — when you can't make it through a full day without charging, or when Low Power Mode doesn't help enough.

If your battery health is very low (below 50%) or your phone shuts down unexpectedly even when the battery shows charge remaining, replacement is worth considering. Apple offers battery replacement at Apple Stores and authorized service providers. The cost varies by iPhone model but typically ranges from $50 to $100. Some older iPhones may be out of warranty, but Apple can still replace the battery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my battery health already low after just a few months?

Fast battery aging usually comes from heat exposure, constant charging, or using your phone heavily while plugged in. Check your charging habits — try unplugging once you reach 80%, avoid hot environments, and remove your case while charging. If battery health continues dropping quickly, your battery may be defective and worth having Apple inspect.

Does Low Power Mode damage my battery?

No. Low Power Mode only reduces power use temporarily. It doesn't harm your battery or phone — it actually helps your battery last longer by reducing the total charge cycles over time. You can use it whenever you want without worry.

Can I see which apps are draining my battery the most?

Yes. Go to Settings > Battery and scroll down to see battery usage by app over the last 24 hours or last 10 days. Tap any app to see how much time it spent running in the background versus on screen. If an app uses a lot of background power, you can turn off background refresh for just that app in Settings > General > Background App Refresh.

Is 80% battery health bad?

No. Apple considers 80% normal and healthy for an older phone. Your battery will still work fine and last a full day for most people. You only need to think about replacement when the reduced capacity actually affects how you use your phone — like if you can't make it through a day without charging.

Does turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth save battery?

Turning them off saves some power, but the difference is usually small unless you're in an area with weak signal where your phone has to work harder to stay connected. If you want the biggest battery savings, focus on screen brightness, closing background apps, and using Low Power Mode instead.