Check Battery on Your iPhone or iPad
The fastest way to see your AirPods battery is to open the charging case near your unlocked iPhone or iPad. Within a few seconds, a battery card will pop up on your screen showing the charge level of each earbud and the case itself. This card appears automatically when your device detects the case via Bluetooth — you do not need to open an app or tap anything.
If the pop-up does not appear, make sure Bluetooth is turned on in your Settings app. Open Settings, tap Bluetooth, and confirm the toggle is green. Then hold the case near your phone again. The battery card should display within a few seconds, showing percentages for the left earbud, right earbud, and charging case.
You can also check battery in the Control Center without opening the case. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen (or up from the bottom on older iPhones), then look for the battery widget. If your AirPods are connected, their battery percentage appears there. If you do not see the widget, swipe left to find it, or add it by tapping the plus icon.
Key Takeaways
- Hold your AirPods charging case near your unlocked iPhone to see a pop-up showing the battery percentage of both earbuds and the case.
- The Control Center battery widget displays your AirPods charge level without needing to open the case.
- 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 the Control Center or the Batteries widget on the watch face.
- If you do not see battery information, check that Bluetooth is on and your AirPods are paired to the device.
Check Battery on Your Mac
On a Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen. A dropdown menu will appear listing all your paired Bluetooth devices. Find your AirPods in the list and hover your cursor over them — the battery percentage for each earbud and the case will display next to the device name.
If you do not see the Bluetooth icon in your menu bar, open System Settings, click General, then click About. Look for Bluetooth in the sidebar. If it is not there, go back to System Settings, click General, then Bluetooth, and make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
Check Battery on Your Apple Watch
Swipe down from the top of your Apple Watch screen to open the Control Center. Look for the battery percentage display — if your AirPods are connected, their battery level appears here alongside your watch battery.
You can also add a Batteries widget to your watch face to see AirPods battery at a glance. Press and hold the watch face, tap Edit, then scroll to find the Batteries widget. Tap the plus icon to add it. Once added, the widget shows your AirPods charge level whenever you look at your watch.
What the Battery Percentages Mean
Each earbud shows its own battery percentage separately. If one earbud reads 100% and the other reads 80%, that earbud with 80% charge will run out first. The case battery percentage tells you how many times you can fully charge both earbuds before the case itself needs to plug in.
When an earbud drops below 10%, you will hear a low battery alert in your ear. At that point, place the earbud back in the case to charge. Most AirPods models charge to full in about 15 to 20 minutes inside the case, though this varies by model.
Troubleshooting When Battery Information Does Not Show
If the battery pop-up does not appear on your iPhone, first confirm your AirPods are paired. Go to Settings, tap Bluetooth, and look for your AirPods in the list. If they are not there, forget the device and pair them again by holding the setup button on the case until the light flashes white.
On Mac, if you do not see battery information when you hover over your AirPods in the Bluetooth menu, try disconnecting and reconnecting them. Click the X next to your AirPods name in the Bluetooth menu, then hold the case near your Mac and let it pair again.
If your AirPods are connected but the battery percentage shows as 0% or does not update, try restarting your device. Power off your phone, Mac, or watch completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Then check the battery again.
Battery Drain and Charging Tips
Battery drains faster when Bluetooth is on but your AirPods are not in use. If you will not be using them for a while, place them in the case to stop the drain. The case itself drains slowly even when closed — if you store your AirPods for weeks without use, the case battery will drop slightly.
Charge your case regularly to keep it ready. Most AirPods cases charge via Lightning cable or USB-C, depending on your model. Plug the cable into the small port on the back of the case and wait about 30 minutes for a full charge. You can check the case battery percentage the same way you check the earbud battery — it appears in the same pop-up or widget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the battery percentage sometimes not show up on my iPhone?
The pop-up appears only when Bluetooth is on and your AirPods are within range. If Bluetooth is off, the card will not display. Also, if your iPhone screen is locked, the battery card may not appear — unlock your phone and try again. If the issue continues, restart your iPhone and re-pair your AirPods.
Can I check AirPods battery on Android phones?
No. The automatic battery pop-up only works on Apple devices. Android phones can connect to AirPods via Bluetooth, but they do not display the battery percentage. You can see the charge level only by checking your iPhone, Mac, or Apple Watch.
What does it mean if one earbud shows much lower battery than the other?
One earbud may have been used more than the other, or it may have a hardware issue causing faster drain. If the difference is extreme and consistent, contact Apple Support. For normal use, just place both earbuds in the case to charge them together — they will both reach full charge at roughly the same time.
How often should I charge my AirPods case?
Charge the case whenever the battery drops below 20%. This keeps it ready to charge your earbuds on the go. If you use your AirPods daily, charge the case every few days. The case battery lasts longer than the earbuds because it is not actively playing audio.
Can I see battery percentage while my AirPods are playing music?
Yes. On iPhone, swipe to the Control Center and tap the battery widget while your AirPods are in use. On Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar. The battery percentage updates in real time, so you can check it without pausing your music.