The quickest way to see your AirPods battery
Open Control Center on your iPhone by swiping down from the top-right corner (or up from the bottom on older models), then look for the battery icon showing your AirPods and case. The percentage appears next to each device — your left earbud, right earbud, and charging case all show separately. This is the fastest method and works whether your AirPods are in your ears or in the case.
If you don't see the battery icon in Control Center, swipe left to find additional controls, or add it manually by going to Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls and tapping the plus sign next to Battery.
Key Takeaways
- Control Center shows your AirPods battery percentage for each earbud and the case in one glance.
- The Batteries widget on your home screen displays AirPods battery without opening Control Center.
- Your iPhone's lock screen can show AirPods battery if you add the Batteries widget there.
- Battery percentage updates when your AirPods connect to your iPhone, so check again if the number seems old.
Using the Batteries widget on your home screen
Add a Batteries widget to your home screen for a permanent view of your AirPods battery. Long-press an empty area of your home screen, tap the plus icon, search for "Batteries," and select it. The widget shows your AirPods, iPhone, Apple Watch, and any other connected devices in one place.
You can resize the widget by long-pressing it and dragging the handles. A small widget shows only icons, while a larger one displays the percentage next to each device name. This method works even if you haven't unlocked your phone recently, as long as your AirPods have connected to your iPhone within the last few days.
Adding battery information to your lock screen
iOS 16 and later let you add a Batteries widget directly to your lock screen. Long-press your lock screen, tap Customize, then tap the plus icon to add a widget. Search for "Batteries" and select it — the widget will appear on your lock screen and show your AirPods battery at a glance.
Lock screen widgets are smaller than home screen ones, so they typically show only icons and percentages without device names. This is useful if you check your AirPods battery frequently throughout the day.
Checking battery in the Settings app
Go to Settings > Bluetooth, find your AirPods in the list of connected devices, and tap the information icon (the small "i" in a circle). The next screen shows the battery percentage for each earbud and the case. This method takes longer than Control Center but works if you prefer to keep battery information out of your quick-access menus.
The battery percentage here updates only when your AirPods are actively connected to your iPhone. If you've been using them with another device, the percentage may not reflect their current charge until they reconnect to your iPhone.
Understanding what the percentages mean
Each AirPod shows its own battery level separately, so you might see 85% on the left and 72% on the right if they've been used unevenly. The case battery is listed separately and shows how much charge is stored in the case itself — not how many times it can recharge your AirPods. A case at 20% can still fully charge your AirPods once or twice, depending on the model.
When one earbud drops to 10% or lower, your iPhone sends a notification. At 5%, the earbud will stop working soon. The case continues charging your AirPods even if it's at 1%, so you don't need to charge the case when ready unless you plan to use your AirPods away from power for several hours.
Why your battery percentage might not update
Battery information only syncs when your AirPods are connected to your iPhone. If you've been using them with a Mac, iPad, or Apple Watch, the percentage shown on your iPhone may be several hours old. Put your AirPods back in their case, wait a few seconds, then open Control Center again — the updated percentage should appear.
If your AirPods are connected but the battery still shows an old percentage, try disconnecting and reconnecting them. Go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap the information icon next to your AirPods, and select "Forget This Device," then reconnect by opening the case near your iPhone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see my AirPods battery on my iPhone if they're connected to another device?
No. Your iPhone only shows battery information for AirPods that are currently connected to it. If your AirPods are paired with a Mac or iPad, your iPhone will not display their battery level. Switch your AirPods back to your iPhone to see the current percentage.
What does it mean if my AirPods show 0% battery?
Your AirPods are completely drained and will not turn on. Place them in the case to charge. If they still show 0% after 15 minutes in the case, try forgetting the device in Bluetooth settings and reconnecting — sometimes the battery reading gets stuck.
Why does my left AirPod have much lower battery than my right?
One earbud may have been used more if you've been taking calls or listening with only one in. Both earbuds drain at roughly the same rate during normal listening, but if one was in your ear longer, it will show lower battery. This is normal and does not indicate a problem.
Can I see AirPods battery without unlocking my iPhone?
Yes, if you added the Batteries widget to your lock screen. Swipe to that lock screen page and the battery percentage appears without unlocking. You can also use Siri — say "Hey Siri, what's my AirPods battery?" and it will read the percentage aloud.
Does the case battery drain if my AirPods are not in it?
No. The case only drains when it is actively charging your AirPods. An empty case sitting on a shelf will hold its charge for weeks. However, a fully charged case will slowly lose about 5% of its charge per month if left unused.