Turn on battery percentage in Settings

Your iPhone can show you the exact battery percentage in the status bar at the top of the screen. This takes about 30 seconds to turn on and works on most recent iPhones.

Open the Settings app on your home screen. Tap Battery, then tap Battery Health & Charging. Look for the toggle next to Battery Percentage and turn it on. The percentage will appear in the top-right corner of your screen next to the battery icon, and it updates whenever you unlock your phone or pull down Control Center.

If you don't see a Battery Health & Charging option, your iPhone model may not support this feature — older models like the iPhone 6 and earlier do not have this setting. On those phones, you can still see your battery percentage by swiping down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, where the battery icon displays the number.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging and toggle on Battery Percentage to see the number in your status bar.
  • The percentage appears in the top-right corner next to the battery icon and updates when you unlock your phone.
  • iPhones older than iPhone XS do not have the Battery Health & Charging menu, but you can still see the percentage in Control Center.
  • Control Center (swipe down from the top-right) always shows your current battery percentage, even if you turn off the status bar display.

What to do if the toggle is grayed out

If the Battery Percentage toggle appears but is grayed out or won't turn on, restart your iPhone. Hold down the power button and volume down button together until the power-off slider appears, then slide to power off. Wait 10 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on.

If the toggle is still grayed out after a restart, check that you are running the latest version of iOS. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available update. Apple sometimes fixes settings bugs in new iOS versions.

Using Control Center to check battery without the status bar display

Even if you don't turn on the status bar percentage, you can always see your exact battery level by opening Control Center. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen (or swipe up from the bottom on older iPhones with a home button). The battery percentage appears in the top-right corner of the Control Center panel.

This is useful if you want to check your battery without cluttering your status bar, or if your iPhone does not support the status bar percentage feature. Control Center also shows you which apps are using the most battery power if you tap Battery in Settings and scroll down to Battery Usage by App.

Why your battery percentage might not appear even when turned on

If you turned on Battery Percentage but the number is not showing in your status bar, check whether you have Low Power Mode turned on. When Low Power Mode is active, your iPhone sometimes hides the percentage and shows only the battery icon to save screen space. Turn off Low Power Mode in Settings > Battery, or swipe up from the bottom (or down from the top-right) to open Control Center and tap the battery icon to disable it.

Another reason the percentage might not appear is if you have customized your status bar through Focus modes. Some Focus settings can hide the battery percentage. Go to Settings > Focus, tap the Focus mode you are currently using, and check that Battery Percentage is not turned off under Status Bar.

Older iPhones and battery percentage display

iPhones from iPhone XS and newer have the Battery Health & Charging menu in Settings. If you own an iPhone X, iPhone 8, or earlier, you will not see this option. On those phones, the only way to see your battery percentage is through Control Center.

If you are using an older iPhone and want a permanent display of your battery percentage, you can add a battery widget to your lock screen or home screen. Swipe right on your home screen to open the widget panel, tap the plus button, search for Battery, and add the Battery widget. This shows your iPhone's battery level and the battery levels of any connected devices like AirPods or Apple Watch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does showing battery percentage drain my battery faster?

No. Displaying the percentage in your status bar uses a negligible amount of power. The number updates only when you unlock your phone or open Control Center, so it does not affect battery life in any measurable way.

Can I change the color or size of the battery percentage?

No. The battery percentage appears in the same size and color as the rest of your status bar and cannot be customized. If you want a larger or colored battery display, use a battery widget on your lock screen or home screen instead.

Why does my battery percentage sometimes jump from one number to another?

Battery percentages are estimates based on how your iPhone measures power drain. When you first turn on the percentage display, or after a restart, your phone may recalibrate and show a different number than before. This is normal and does not mean your battery is damaged.

Will turning on battery percentage affect my iPhone's performance?

No. This is a display setting only and does not change how your iPhone runs or how fast it processes information. You can turn it on or off at any time without affecting performance.