Turn on Battery Percentage in Settings

Your iPhone can show a number next to the battery icon in the top-right corner of your screen. This number tells you exactly what percentage of charge remains. To turn this on, open Settings and tap Battery.

Inside the Battery menu, look for Battery Percentage and toggle it on. The switch will turn green when it is active. Once you do this, the percentage appears when ready in your status bar — you do not need to restart your phone or do anything else.

This setting works on iPhone XS and newer models. If you have an older iPhone with a notch or a home button, your phone may not support this feature in the same way.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap Battery, and toggle on Battery Percentage to see your charge level as a number in the top-right corner.
  • The percentage appears when ready after you turn on the toggle — no restart required.
  • This feature works on iPhone XS, iPhone 11, and all newer models.
  • If you cannot find Battery Percentage in Settings, your iPhone model may not support the feature.

Where the Percentage Appears on Your Screen

Once you turn on Battery Percentage, a number shows up right next to the battery icon in the status bar at the very top of your screen. On most iPhones, this is in the top-right corner. The number updates in real time as you use your phone — if you are at 87% and use your phone for a few minutes, the number will drop to reflect the actual charge.

The percentage is small but straightforward to read at a glance. You do not have to swipe down or open Control Center to see it anymore. This is especially useful if you want to check your battery level without opening any menus.

What to Do If the Setting Does Not Appear

If you go to Settings > Battery and do not see a Battery Percentage toggle, your iPhone model does not support this feature. iPhones with a home button (iPhone 8 and earlier) and the original iPhone X do not have this option built in.

On these older models, you can still check your battery by swiping down from the top-right corner to open Control Center. The battery icon there shows your charge level, though not as a precise number. If you need a more exact reading, you can also go to Settings > Battery and look at the Battery Health section, which shows your current charge.

Battery Percentage Stops Showing — What Happened

If the percentage was showing and suddenly disappeared, the toggle may have turned off. Go back to Settings > Battery and check whether Battery Percentage is still on. Sometimes a software update or a restart can flip this setting back to off by accident.

Another reason the percentage might not be visible is if your status bar is crowded with other icons — on some iPhones with many active connections (Bluetooth, location, VPN), the battery percentage hides to make room. If this happens, disconnect one or two of these services temporarily, and the percentage should reappear.

Using Control Center as an Alternative

If you prefer not to turn on Battery Percentage in the status bar, you can check your charge level anytime by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen. This opens Control Center, and the battery icon appears in the top-right of that panel. The icon fills with color to show roughly how much charge you have left.

Control Center also shows the percentage if you have the Battery Percentage toggle on — both methods work together. Some people use Control Center instead of the status bar display because it keeps the top of the screen less cluttered.

Battery Percentage on the Lock Screen

Starting with iOS 16, you can also add a battery widget to your lock screen. This shows your iPhone's charge level, and you can customize how it looks. To add it, long-press your lock screen, tap Customize, and then tap the + button to add a widget. Search for Battery and select the battery widget.

This is useful if you want to see your charge level without unlocking your phone or opening Control Center. The lock screen widget updates whenever you check your phone, so you always know where you stand on battery life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my battery percentage disappear sometimes?

If your status bar has many active icons (Bluetooth, location, VPN, cellular signal), iOS hides the percentage to save space. Turn off one or two of these services, and the percentage will return. You can also check Settings > Battery to make sure the toggle is still on.

Can I see battery percentage on iPhone 8 or earlier?

These models do not have a Battery Percentage toggle in Settings. Use Control Center instead — swipe down from the top-right (or up from the bottom on older iPhones) to see the battery icon. You can also check Settings > Battery > Battery Health for your current charge level.

Does showing battery percentage drain my battery faster?

No. Displaying the percentage uses almost no power. The number is just a visual display of information your phone already tracks. Turning it on or off makes no measurable difference to how long your battery lasts.

What if the percentage shows but the number is wrong?

Your iPhone calculates battery percentage based on the health of your battery. If the number seems off, restart your phone — sometimes the calculation needs to reset. If it stays wrong, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health to see if your battery needs service.