How to see your iPhone's battery percentage and health
Your iPhone shows battery percentage in the top-right corner of the screen by default — a number inside a small battery icon. If you don't see it, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Percentage and turn the toggle on. This percentage updates as you use your phone and tells you roughly how much charge remains.
To see your battery's actual health — how much capacity it has lost over time — open Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging. You'll see "Maximum Capacity," which shows what percentage of the battery's original charge it can still hold. A new iPhone shows 100%; older batteries show lower numbers. You'll also see "Condition," which tells you if the battery is Normal, Degraded, or needs service.
This health information matters because batteries naturally lose capacity with age and use. If your maximum capacity drops below 80%, your phone may feel slower during heavy use, even if the percentage shows 50% charge remaining.
Key Takeaways
- Battery percentage appears in the top-right corner of your screen, and you can turn it on or off in Settings > Battery > Battery Percentage.
- Battery health — the maximum capacity your battery can hold — is found in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging.
- Maximum capacity naturally decreases over time; Apple considers a battery degraded if it falls below 80% of original capacity.
- If your battery condition shows "Service Recommended," the battery may need replacement through Apple or an authorized repair shop.
Understanding battery percentage versus battery health
Battery percentage and battery health are two different things, and it's straightforward to confuse them. Battery percentage is what you see in the corner right now — it tells you how much charge is left before your phone dies. Battery health is how much total charge your battery can hold compared to when it was brand new.
Think of it this way: a new battery might hold 100 units of charge. After two years, it might only hold 85 units of charge (85% health). When you see 50% battery percentage, your phone is using 50% of those 85 units. The percentage tells you how full the tank is; the health tells you how big the tank has become.
What the battery condition status means
In the Battery Health & Charging section, you'll see a "Condition" line that describes your battery's state. Normal means your battery is working as expected and has no known issues. This is what you want to see.
Degraded means your battery's maximum capacity has dropped significantly — usually below 80% — and Apple is telling you the battery is aging. Your phone will still work, but you may notice it runs slower during demanding tasks or shuts down unexpectedly when the battery percentage is still above zero. Service Recommended means Apple has detected a problem and the battery should be replaced. You can still use your phone, but you should contact Apple or an authorized repair shop soon.
If you see "Unknown" or "Not Available," your phone cannot read the battery's condition. Restart your iPhone and check again. If it persists, the battery may have a hardware issue.
How to check battery usage by app
Your iPhone also tracks which apps are draining your battery the fastest. Go to Settings > Battery and scroll down to see "Battery Usage by App." This list shows the percentage of your total battery drain that each app has used over the last 24 hours or the last 10 days — tap the time period toggle at the top to switch between them.
If one app is using far more battery than others, you have a few options. You can close the app when you're not using it, turn off background app refresh for that app in Settings > General > Background App Refresh, or reduce its notification frequency. Some apps drain battery because they use location services or video playback constantly; others may have a bug that causes them to run even when you're not looking at them.
Battery settings that affect how fast your charge drains
Several settings control how quickly your battery percentage drops during normal use. Low Power Mode, found in Settings > Battery, reduces performance and limits background activity to stretch your charge further. When you turn it on, your phone slows down slightly but uses about 20% less battery.
Optimized Battery Charging, also in Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging, learns your charging habits and holds your phone at 80% capacity overnight, then charges to 100% shortly before you usually wake up. This reduces the time your battery spends at 100%, which slows aging. You can turn this on or off, and you can tell your phone to charge fully now if you need it.
Screen brightness, location services, and background app refresh all drain battery faster when enabled. You can adjust these in Settings > Display & Brightness, Privacy > Location Services, and General > Background App Refresh.
When to replace your iPhone battery
Apple recommends battery replacement when maximum capacity drops below 80% or when the condition shows "Service Recommended." You don't have to wait until then — if your phone shuts down unexpectedly or feels too slow, replacement may help even if the percentage is higher.
Battery replacement through Apple costs money and varies by iPhone model and whether you have AppleCare+. An authorized Apple repair shop can also replace the battery, sometimes for less. If your iPhone is still under warranty or covered by AppleCare+, the replacement may be covered at no cost.
You can also take your phone to a third-party repair shop, but Apple warns that non-genuine batteries may not work as well or last as long. Before you replace the battery, restart your phone and check the health reading again — sometimes the reading updates after a restart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my battery percentage drop so fast?
Fast battery drain usually comes from one of three sources: a single app using too much power, a setting like screen brightness or location services running constantly, or a battery with low maximum capacity. Check Battery Usage by App first to see if one app stands out. If not, turn off background app refresh, reduce screen brightness, and disable location services for apps that don't need it.
Is 80% battery health bad?
Eighty percent is the threshold where Apple says a battery is degraded, but it's not an emergency. Your phone will still work normally for most people. If you use your phone lightly, you may not notice any difference. Heavy users or people who run demanding apps may see slower performance or unexpected shutdowns.
Can I see battery health on an older iPhone?
Battery Health & Charging is available on iPhone 6 and newer, but the exact location and wording vary by iOS version. On very old iPhones, you may only see battery percentage, not health. If you don't see Battery Health & Charging in Settings > Battery, your phone may not support it.
Does Low Power Mode damage my battery?
No. Low Power Mode reduces performance temporarily but does not harm the battery. It actually helps your battery last longer by reducing the strain on it during that charging cycle. You can turn it on and off as often as you want.
What does "Service Recommended" mean for my battery?
Service Recommended means Apple has detected that your battery is not performing normally and should be replaced. Your phone will still work, but the battery may not hold a charge well or may shut down unexpectedly. Contact Apple or an authorized repair shop to schedule a replacement.