Add the Battery Widget in Three Steps

The battery widget shows your iPhone's remaining charge and the battery level of any connected devices—AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad—all from your home screen without opening Settings. You add it the same way you add any widget: long-press your home screen, tap the plus button, find the Batteries app, and choose the widget size you want.

The widget comes in two sizes. The small version shows only your iPhone's battery percentage. The medium version displays your iPhone battery at the top and lists connected devices below it, so you can see at a glance whether your AirPods need charging.

Key Takeaways

  • Long-press any empty space on your home screen, then tap the plus button in the top left corner to open the widget menu.
  • Search for "Batteries" in the widget menu, then tap it to see the small and medium widget options.
  • The medium widget shows your iPhone battery plus any connected devices like AirPods or Apple Watch.
  • You can place the widget on any home screen page, and it updates automatically whenever your device battery changes.

Step-by-Step: Adding the Battery Widget

Start on your home screen—any page works. Long-press an empty area (not on an app icon) until a menu appears at the bottom of the screen. Tap the plus button in the top left corner. This opens the widget gallery.

In the widget gallery, you will see a search box at the top. Tap it and type "Batteries"—the app name is plural. The Batteries app will appear in the results. Tap it to see the available widgets.

Two options appear: a small widget showing only your iPhone battery, and a medium widget showing your iPhone plus connected devices. Tap the one you want, then tap "Add Widget" at the bottom right. Choose which home screen page you want it on, then tap "Add" to confirm.

Where to Place Your Battery Widget

You can put the battery widget on any home screen page—your main page, a secondary page, or even your lock screen if you use iOS 16 or later. Many people place it on their main home screen so they see it every time they unlock their phone.

If you want it on your lock screen, the process is slightly different. Long-press your lock screen, tap "Customize," then tap the plus button to add widgets. Search for Batteries the same way, but note that lock screen widgets are smaller and show less information than home screen widgets.

What the Battery Widget Actually Shows

The small widget displays a single line: "iPhone" followed by a percentage. It updates whenever your battery level changes, so you always see your current charge without opening Settings.

The medium widget is more useful if you use multiple Apple devices. It shows your iPhone battery at the top in large text, then lists each connected device below it with its own battery percentage. If you have AirPods Pro, an Apple Watch, and an iPad all paired to your iPhone, the widget will show the battery for all of them. Devices that are not currently connected do not appear on the widget.

Troubleshooting: Widget Not Showing or Updating

If you added the widget but it is not showing battery information, make sure Bluetooth is turned on. The Batteries app needs Bluetooth to detect connected devices. Go to Settings, tap Bluetooth, and confirm the toggle is green.

If the widget shows your iPhone battery but not your connected devices, check that those devices are actually paired and connected. Open Settings, go to Bluetooth, and confirm each device appears in the list with a checkmark. Some devices like AirPods only show up in the widget when they are actively connected—if they are in their case or powered off, they will not appear.

If the widget is not updating at all, try removing it and adding it again. Long-press the widget, tap "Remove Widget," then follow the steps above to add it fresh. Restart your iPhone if the problem continues.

Removing or Resizing the Battery Widget

To remove the widget, long-press it until a menu appears, then tap "Remove Widget" and confirm. To resize it, long-press the widget, tap "Edit Widget," and choose the size you want. Not all widgets offer multiple sizes, but the Batteries widget does.

If you want to move the widget to a different home screen page, long-press it and drag it to the edge of the screen. Hold it there until the next page appears, then release it on the page where you want it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put the battery widget on my lock screen?

Yes, on iOS 16 and later. Long-press your lock screen, tap "Customize," then tap the plus button to add widgets. Search for Batteries and select the lock screen version. Lock screen widgets are smaller and show less detail than home screen widgets.

Why does my battery widget only show my iPhone and not my AirPods?

Your AirPods must be connected to your iPhone for them to appear in the widget. If they are in their case or powered off, they will not show. Open Bluetooth settings and confirm your AirPods appear in the connected devices list.

Does the battery widget drain my iPhone battery?

No. Widgets use very little power, and the Batteries widget in particular only checks your battery level when you look at your home screen. It does not run in the background constantly.

Can I customize what the battery widget shows?

The widget automatically shows your iPhone battery and any connected devices—you cannot pick and choose which devices appear. If you want to hide a device from the widget, disconnect it from Bluetooth in Settings.