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As an avid AirPods user, I know how frustrating it can be to have your earbuds die on you mid-song or during an important phone call. That’s why checking your AirPods’ battery life regularly is crucial, ensuring they’re always fully charged. In this article, I’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of checking your AirPods’ battery life on various Apple devices and provide some tips on extending their battery life.

A simple way to check the battery on your AirPods
Introduction to AirPods
AirPods are wireless earbuds developed by Apple Inc. They were first released in December 2016 and have since become one of the most popular wireless earbuds on the market. AirPods offer a seamless and convenient listening experience, with easy connectivity to all your Apple devices. They come with a charging case that provides multiple charges and ensures that your AirPods are always ready to use.
Why it’s Important to Check Your AirPods’ Battery Life
Checking your AirPods’ battery life is important for several reasons. First, it lets you plan your usage and avoid running out of juice when you need your AirPods the most. Second, it helps you monitor the health of your AirPods’ battery and identify any potential issues early on. Lastly, it ensures that you’re getting the best possible listening experience, as low battery levels can affect the sound quality of your AirPods.
How to Check Your AirPods’ Battery Life on an iPhone
Checking your AirPods’ battery life on an iPhone is a straightforward process. Here’s how to do it:
- Ensure that your AirPods are connected to your iPhone.
- Open the Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of your iPhone screen.
- Look for the “Now Playing” widget, which should display your AirPods’ battery life percentage.
- Alternatively, open your iPhone’s “Settings” app, go to “Bluetooth,” and look for your AirPods’ name. The battery life percentage should be displayed next to your AirPods’ name.
How to Check Your AirPods’ Battery Life on a Mac
If you’re using your AirPods with a Mac, you can easily check their battery life by following these steps:
- Ensure that your AirPods are connected to your Mac.
- Click on the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top-right corner of your Mac screen.
- Look for your AirPods’ name in the list of connected devices.
- The battery life percentage should be displayed next to your AirPods’ name.
How to Check Your AirPods’ Battery Life on an Apple Watch
If you’re using your AirPods with an Apple Watch, you can check their battery life by doing the following:
- Ensure that your AirPods are connected to your Apple Watch.
- Swipe up from the bottom of your Apple Watch screen to access the Control Center.
- Look for the battery icon, which should display your AirPods’ battery life percentage.
How to Extend Your AirPods’ Battery Life
To extend your AirPods’ battery life, you can try the following tips:
- Use one AirPod at a time – this can help conserve battery life and ensure you always have one earbud charged and ready to use.
- Turn off Automatic Ear Detection – this feature can drain your AirPods’ battery as it constantly checks whether the AirPods are in your ears.
- Use the AirPods with a lower volume – high volume levels can drain your AirPods’ battery faster.
- Store your AirPods in their charging case when not in use – this ensures that they’re always fully charged and ready to use.
Common Battery-Related Issues and Solutions
If you’re experiencing battery-related issues with your AirPods, here are some common issues and solutions:
- Low battery life – if your AirPods’ battery life is lower than expected, try resetting your AirPods and charging case, or contact Apple Support for further assistance.
- Inconsistent battery life – if one AirPod has significantly lower battery life, try resetting your AirPods and charging case, or contact Apple Support for further assistance.
- Charging issues – if your AirPods aren’t charging properly, try cleaning the charging contacts on your AirPods and charging case, or contact Apple Support for further assistance.
Other Useful Tips for Maintaining Your AirPods
Here are some additional tips for maintaining your AirPods:
- Clean your AirPods regularly – this helps prevent earwax buildup and ensures that your AirPods are hygienic to use.
- Protect your AirPods from water and sweat – AirPods aren’t water-resistant and can be damaged by exposure to water and sweat.
- Store your AirPods safely – avoid leaving them in a hot car or exposing them to extreme temperatures.

Hold down on a blank space on your home screen until the apps do a little dance.
2. Find the Batteries Widget
At the top of the screen, there will be a search bar where you can search through all the widgets available to your device.
3. Click on the Batteries Widget in the Search Widget Tab

Type “batteries” into the search bar.
Type “Batteries” into the search bar and select the Batteries Widget.
4. Choose Your Style and Add a Widget

Choose your Batteries Widget style.
Swipe to choose the style of Battery Widget that you prefer and click “Add Widget” at the bottom of the screen.
5. Move Your Battery Widget to a Desired Location

Customize your home screen and move the Batteries Widget to wherever you want.
Hold down on the Batteries Widget you just added to your home screen to move it to your desired location.
There you have it; now you can easily check the battery status of your AirPods, the charging case, your phone, and other Bluetooth devices, such as an Apple Watch, directly from your home screen.
Note: If your AirPods are not connected to your device, they will not appear on the Batteries Widget. But this is an easy way to check your AirPods battery charge if you use them on your iOS device.
How to Check the AirPod Battery Status MacOS
Checking the battery charge status on your AirPods via your Mac is incredibly easy.
1. Click on the Bluetooth icon
Click on the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar in your screen’s upper right-hand corner to connect your AirPods to your Mac.

Click the Bluetooth icon to connect your AirPods and check the battery charge.
2. Connect Your AirPods To Your Mac

Click “Connect” to check the battery charge of your AirPods on your Mac.
3. Hover Your Cursor Over the Name Of Your AirPods

Hover over the Bluetooth menu to see your AirPod battery level.
Hover over the device name in the Bluetooth menu to see the individual battery level for each of your AirPods.
Use the Status Light

The status light on your AirPods case can tell you the charge status of your AirPods and your AirPods case.
Apple included a small light on the AirPods case, though the location may vary depending on what model AirPods and case you have. Regardless, the different colors can tell you how much juice your case has and your AirPods.
If your case is open with the AirPods inside, the light will tell you the charge status of the AirPods themselves. If your AirPods are not in the case, the light will show you the charge on the case.
A green light means the device is fully charged. An orange light means there is less than one charge remaining, and it’s probably a good idea for you to charge up your AirPods and/or case. Fully charged, your AirPod charging case should contain multiple charges, but many factors affect your battery life, such as listening volume, device settings, and environment.
Apple claims that AirPods should get about five hours of listening time or three on a single charge. AirPods Pro gets about four-and-a-half hours of listening time and three-and-a-half hours of talk time on just one charge.
And if there’s no charge at all, you know what to do.
Frequently Asked Questions About AirPods’ Battery Life
- How long do AirPods’ batteries last?
- AirPods’ batteries can last up to 5 hours on a single charge and 24 hours with the charging case.
- How do I know when my AirPods need to be charged?
- You’ll receive a notification on your iPhone when your AirPods’ battery life is low. You can also check the battery life percentage on your AirPods’ charging case or your iPhone, Mac, or Apple Watch.
- How long does it take to charge AirPods?
- It takes about 15 minutes to charge AirPods to provide up to 3 hours of listening time and about 2 hours to charge fully.
Conclusion
Checking your AirPods’ battery life is essential for ensuring that they’re always ready to use and that you’re getting the best possible listening experience. By following the step-by-step guides provided in this article and implementing the tips and solutions for extending your AirPods’ battery life, you can enjoy your AirPods for longer and avoid the frustration of running out of juice mid-song or call.