Where to find your AirPod case battery on your iPhone or iPad

The easiest way to see your AirPod case battery is to open the case near your iPhone or iPad. A battery widget appears on your lock screen or home screen showing the charge level of both your AirPods and the case itself. This widget updates automatically when you unlock your device or swipe to your lock screen.

If the widget does not appear, swipe right from your lock screen to open the lock screen widgets panel, then tap the plus button to add the Batteries widget. Once added, it will show all your paired devices with batteries — including your AirPods case — in one place.

You can also check the battery in the Control Center. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen (iPhone X and later) or swipe up from the bottom (iPhone 8 and earlier), and the battery percentage for your AirPods and case appears near the top of the panel.

Key Takeaways

  • Open your AirPod case near your iPhone or iPad to see a battery widget on your lock screen showing both the case and AirPod charge levels.
  • Add the Batteries widget to your lock screen by swiping right, tapping the plus button, and selecting Batteries from the widget menu.
  • Check the Control Center (swipe down from the top-right on newer iPhones, or up from the bottom on older models) to see battery percentages at a glance.
  • The case battery drains when it charges your AirPods, so a low case battery means your AirPods will not charge fully even if they are plugged in.

What the battery percentages mean

The battery widget shows three separate numbers: one for your left AirPod, one for your right AirPod, and one for the case. Each percentage tells you how much charge that item holds right now. If your left AirPod shows 60% and your right shows 58%, they are slightly out of balance — this is normal and happens because one ear is used slightly more than the other.

The case battery is separate from the AirPod batteries. A full case can charge your AirPods multiple times. If your case shows 20% battery, your AirPods will charge, but the case itself will run out of power sooner. Once the case battery reaches 0%, you cannot charge your AirPods until you plug the case in.

Checking battery on Mac, Apple Watch, or Android

On a Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Your AirPods and case battery levels appear in the dropdown menu next to the device name. This works on any Mac running macOS 11.1 or later.

On an Apple Watch, open the Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. The battery percentage for your AirPods appears in the Batteries section. Android devices do not show AirPod battery in a native widget, but you can open the Bluetooth settings menu and look for your AirPods in the paired devices list — some Android phones display battery there, though it varies by manufacturer.

Why your case battery matters more than you think

Many people focus on their AirPod battery and ignore the case, but the case is what keeps your AirPods charged throughout the day. If you are out and your case battery is low, your AirPods will drain faster because the case cannot top them up. A case at 5% battery can still charge your AirPods once or twice, but after that you are stuck.

Charge your case regularly, not just your AirPods. Plug the case into power when you get home, even if the AirPods inside are not fully drained. This habit keeps both the case and the AirPods ready for the next day. If you use your AirPods heavily — eight hours or more per day — check the case battery in the morning and plug it in if it is below 50%.

Battery widget not showing up

If you open your AirPod case and no battery widget appears, your iPhone or iPad may not be close enough to the case, or Bluetooth may be turned off. Move the open case within a few inches of your device and wait a few seconds. If Bluetooth is off, turn it on in Settings or Control Center.

On older iPhones (iPhone 8 and earlier), the battery widget may not appear on the lock screen at all. Instead, check the Control Center or the Batteries widget on your home screen. If you have never added the Batteries widget, go to your home screen, long-press an empty area, tap the plus button, search for "Batteries," and add it.

If your AirPods are not showing up in any battery display, they may not be paired with your device. Go to Settings, tap Bluetooth, and look for your AirPods in the list. If they are not there, hold the setup button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the light flashes white, then try pairing again.

How battery percentage changes during the day

Your AirPod battery percentage drops as you use them. One hour of listening typically drains 15 to 20% of the battery, depending on volume level and whether you are using active noise cancellation. If you turn off noise cancellation, your AirPods last longer on a single charge.

The case battery also drains when it is charging your AirPods, even if the case is not plugged into power. Putting your AirPods in the case for 15 minutes can restore 30 to 40% of their charge, but this uses up case battery. If you are traveling and cannot plug in, use the case sparingly — only charge your AirPods when they drop below 20%.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does one AirPod show lower battery than the other?

One ear is usually used slightly more than the other during calls and listening, so the batteries drain at slightly different rates. A difference of 5 to 10% is normal. If one AirPod is consistently much lower, it may have a hardware issue and should be serviced by Apple.

Can I see the battery percentage without opening the case?

Yes. Check the Batteries widget on your lock screen or home screen, or open the Control Center. You do not need to open the case — it just makes the widget appear faster. If your AirPods are in the case and the case is closed, the battery levels may take a few seconds to update.

What should I do if my case battery is always low?

Plug your case into power more often. If your case drains to 0% regularly, you are using your AirPods more than the case can support in a day. Consider carrying a portable charger or plugging the case in during lunch or breaks at work.

Does the battery percentage update in real time?

The battery widget updates when you unlock your device or swipe to the lock screen. It does not update continuously while you are using your AirPods. Check the widget every few hours if you want to track battery drain throughout the day.

Why does the battery widget show 0% for my case?

Your case is completely drained and cannot charge your AirPods until it is plugged into power. Plug the case into a USB-C or Lightning cable (depending on your AirPod model) for at least 30 minutes. The case battery should show a percentage again once it has some charge.