Check battery on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac
The fastest way to see your AirPods battery is to open the case near your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. A battery widget appears on your screen showing the charge level of each earbud and the case itself. This works whether your AirPods are inside the case or already in your ears.
On iPhone or iPad, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, then look for the battery percentage displayed there. On Mac, click the battery icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Both show your AirPods charge alongside your device's own battery.
If you use AirPods Pro or AirPods Max, you can also ask Siri: "How's my battery?" and Siri will read the charge levels aloud. This works on any Apple device where Siri is enabled.
Key Takeaways
- Open your AirPods case near your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to see a battery widget showing the charge of each earbud and the case.
- On iPhone or iPad, swipe down from the top-right corner to Control Center to view battery percentage in one place.
- On Mac, click the battery icon in the menu bar to see your AirPods charge alongside your device battery.
- You can ask Siri "How's my battery?" on AirPods Pro or AirPods Max to hear charge levels read aloud.
- The battery widget disappears after a few seconds, but you can check again anytime by opening the case or accessing Control Center.
What the battery indicator colors mean
The battery widget uses color to show charge status at a glance. A green battery icon means your AirPods are charged above 20 percent. Yellow means the charge is between 5 and 20 percent. Red means the battery is below 5 percent and your AirPods will stop working soon.
When you see yellow or red, it is time to put your AirPods in the case to charge. The case itself charges your AirPods, so if the case battery is low, your earbuds will not charge even when you close the lid. Check the case battery in the same widget—it appears as a separate battery icon below the earbud batteries.
Check battery when AirPods are not connected
If your AirPods are not currently paired to your device, you cannot see their battery level on that device. However, you can still check the battery by opening the case near any other Apple device you own that is signed into the same iCloud account.
If you do not have another Apple device nearby, the only way to know the charge is to put your AirPods in the case and look at the LED light on the front. A green light means the case is fully charged. An amber light means the case has some charge left. A red light means the case battery is very low. This light only tells you about the case battery, not the earbuds inside.
Charge your AirPods when battery is low
When your AirPods battery drops to red, put them in the case and close the lid. The case transfers its charge to the earbuds. A full case charge gives your AirPods several hours of listening time—the exact length depends on which model you own and what you are doing (calls use more battery than music).
To charge the case itself, connect it to power using the cable that came with your AirPods. Most newer AirPods cases use USB-C, but some older models use Lightning. Check the port on the bottom of your case to see which one you have. The case takes about an hour to fully charge from empty.
While your AirPods charge in the case, you cannot use them. If you need to keep listening, charge the case while wearing your AirPods, or switch to a different device temporarily.
Battery drain and what uses power fastest
AirPods battery drains faster during phone calls than during music listening. Active Noise Cancellation (on Pro and Max models) also uses more power than standard mode. If you notice your battery dropping much faster than usual, turn off ANC or switch to Transparency mode to extend listening time.
Bluetooth range affects battery too. If your AirPods are far from your device, they work harder to stay connected and drain faster. Keeping your device within 30 feet of your AirPods helps them use less power.
Temperature also matters. Cold environments drain batteries faster than warm ones. If you use your AirPods outside in winter, expect shorter battery life than you would indoors.
Reset your AirPods if battery readings seem wrong
Sometimes the battery percentage shown on your device does not match how long your AirPods actually last. This usually means the battery sensor needs to reset. To reset your AirPods, put them in the case and hold the setup button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the LED light flashes amber, then white.
After the reset, your AirPods will no longer be paired to your devices. You will need to pair them again by opening the case near your iPhone and following the on-screen instructions. Once paired, the battery readings should be accurate again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the battery widget disappear after a few seconds?
The widget is designed to show briefly so you can glance at the charge without keeping your screen on. If you need to check again, just open the case near your device or swipe to Control Center again. The information updates every time you check.
Can I see my AirPods battery on an Android phone?
No. AirPods only show battery information on Apple devices. If you use Android, you can see the charge by opening the case near an iPhone, iPad, or Mac that is signed into your iCloud account, but not on the Android phone itself.
What does it mean if the LED light on my case does not light up?
The LED light only turns on when you open the case or press the setup button. If it never lights up even after you press the button, the case battery may be completely empty. Plug the case into power and wait a few minutes, then try again.
How long should my AirPods battery last before I need to replace them?
AirPods batteries degrade over time. After about two to three years of regular use, you may notice they do not hold a charge as long as they did when new. When the battery life becomes too short for your needs, you can contact Apple about a battery replacement or purchase new AirPods.
Do I need to fully drain my AirPods before charging them?
No. Modern AirPods use lithium batteries that do not need to be fully drained before charging. In fact, charging them more often—even from 50 percent—is better for long-term battery health than waiting until they are completely empty.