Check AirPods 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. 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.
If the widget does not appear, swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open Control Center, then look for the battery percentage there. You can also open the Batteries widget by swiping right on your home screen, tapping the edit button (the plus sign), searching for "Batteries," and adding it. Once added, the widget shows your AirPods charge whenever you glance at your home screen.
For a more detailed view, open the Settings app, tap Bluetooth, find your AirPods in the list of connected devices, and tap the information icon next to the name. This screen displays the battery percentage for each earbud separately and shows whether they are currently connected.
Check AirPods Battery on Mac
On a Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen. Your AirPods appear in the dropdown list with their current battery percentage displayed next to the name. If you do not see the Bluetooth icon, go to System Settings, click Bluetooth, and check the box next to "Show Bluetooth in menu bar."
You can also add a battery widget to your Mac desktop. Click and hold on an empty area of your desktop, select "Edit widgets," search for "Batteries," and add it. The widget displays your AirPods charge level alongside other connected devices.
Check AirPods Battery on Android
Android does not show AirPods battery in the same way as Apple devices, but you can still see the charge level. Open the Bluetooth settings on your Android phone, find your AirPods in the list of paired devices, and tap on them. Some Android phones display battery information on this screen; others do not.
A more reliable method is to use the Find My app if you have an Apple ID and are signed in on your Android device. Open Find My, tap the Devices tab, select your AirPods, and scroll down to see the battery status. If you do not have access to Find My on Android, the charging case LED light is your backup: green means fully charged, amber means low battery, and no light means the case is dead.
Read the Charging Case LED Light
The LED light on your AirPods charging case tells you the battery status when you cannot access your phone or computer. Press and hold the setup button on the back of the case for a few seconds until the light flashes. A green light means the case and AirPods are fully charged. An amber light means the battery is low. No light or a red light means the case needs to charge.
This method works on any device and requires no app or connection. It is especially useful when you are away from your phone or troubleshooting a connection problem.
Key Takeaways
- Open your AirPods charging case near an unlocked iPhone or iPad to see a battery widget showing the charge of each earbud and the case.
- On Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar to view AirPods battery percentage in the dropdown list.
- On Android, check Bluetooth settings or use the Find My app if you have an Apple ID to see battery information.
- Press and hold the setup button on the back of your charging case to check the LED light: green is full, amber is low, and no light means the case is dead.
What the Battery Percentages Mean
Each AirPod shows its own battery percentage separately, so you may see one earbud at 80% and the other at 75%. This is normal and happens because the earbuds charge at slightly different rates. The case battery is listed separately and shows how much charge is left to power the earbuds when they are inside.
When either earbud drops below 10%, your iPhone or Mac will send you a notification. At that point, you have roughly 30 minutes of listening time left before the earbud dies. Putting the earbud back in the case for even five minutes restores enough charge for an hour of use, depending on the model.
Troubleshooting When Battery Information Does Not Show
If your AirPods battery does not appear in the widget or Bluetooth settings, first make sure Bluetooth is turned on and your AirPods are paired to the device. Unpair and re-pair them: go to Bluetooth settings, tap the information icon next to your AirPods, and select "Forget This Device." Then open your AirPods case near the device and follow the pairing steps again.
If the problem persists on iPhone, restart your phone by powering it off and back on. On Mac, restart your computer. For Android, clear the Bluetooth cache by going to Settings, Apps, Bluetooth, Storage, and tapping "Clear Cache." These steps usually restore the battery display within a few minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my two AirPods show different battery percentages?
Each earbud has its own battery and charges independently, so they naturally drift apart by a few percentage points over time. This is normal. If one earbud is consistently much lower than the other, it may have a hardware issue, but a difference of 5 to 10 percent is expected.
How long does it take to charge AirPods from 0 to 100 percent?
A single earbud charges from empty to full in about 15 to 20 minutes in the case. The case itself takes roughly 30 to 45 minutes to charge fully using the Lightning or USB-C cable, depending on the model. Wireless charging cases take slightly longer.
Can I use my AirPods while they are charging in the case?
No. When AirPods are inside the case, they are not connected to your device and cannot play audio. You must remove them from the case to use them. However, you can put one earbud back in the case to charge while using the other one.
What does it mean if the case battery is full but the earbuds show low battery?
The earbuds may not have charged properly in the case. Try placing them back in the case for 10 to 15 minutes and check again. If the problem continues, the charging contacts inside the case or on the earbuds may be dirty. Clean both with a dry, lint-free cloth and try again.