How to Check AirPod Battery Life [All Methods in 2024]

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Worrying about having enough of a charge to make it through your commute, work call, or even the song you’re listening to is part and parcel of using wireless headphones or earbuds like the Apple AirPods. Luckily, you don’t have to play a guessing game when it comes to your AirPods’ batteries.

If you’re here, you’re probably wondering how to see what percent your AirPods are on so you can recharge before your commute or an important work call. To help you out, we’ve put together this guide on how to check AirPod battery levels using all the available methods in 2024. So if you’re ready, let’s get right to it!

How to Check AirPod Battery Life on iPhone and iPad

There’s a pretty good chance that if you have AirPods, you probably also have an iPhone or an iPad — or both! If you do, then you’re in luck because Apple always optimizes its products to work perfectly within the ecosystem.

If you’re wondering how to check AirPod battery on iPhone or iPad, it’s really easy! Just follow these steps on how to check charge on AirPods on your iOS or iPadOS device:

  1. If your AirPods aren’t already connected to your iPhone or iPad, the first thing you need to do is to pair them. Go to your iPhone/iPad’s settings and turn on Bluetooth.
  2. Grab your AirPods and hold them next to your phone (while in the case). Flip open the case’s lid, and your AirPods should pair with your device. Follow the rest of the instructions on your screen.
  3. Once paired, the next time you open the lid on your AirPods case, a pop-up will show up on your iPhone/iPad’s screen. This pop-up will show the battery status of both your earbuds and their case.

The above is the first and simplest method for how to check AirPod battery life using your iPhone or iPad. It’s pretty simple, but there’s one caveat: it will only work if your earbuds are inside their case.

How to See AirPods Battery Using the Battery Widget

But what if you’re wearing your AirPods, can you still check their battery life? Yes, you can — just follow the steps below for how to see AirPod battery using the AirPod battery widget.

NOTE: You need iOS 14+ for this method to work.

  1. While on your device’s home screen, tap and hold on any empty space until the app icons start shaking.
  2. Tap on the + icon in the upper-left corner of your device’s display.
Tap on the + icon in the upper-left corner of your device’s display.
  1. Scroll down until you find the Batteries widget on the left-hand side. Tap on Add Widget.
Scroll down until you find the Batteries widget on the left-hand side. Tap on Add Widget.
  1. Once you add it, it will show up on your homepage as below. Feel free to rearrange your icons and widgets until you are satisfied!
Battery life widget

How to Check Battery on AirPods Using Siri

You might not have guessed it, but one of the methods for how to check your AirPods battery is by using Siri. You can use Siri on your iPhone, iPad, and even on your MacBook or other Mac computer. Using this method is really simple — just summon Siri and ask her how much charge is left on your AirPods!

Of course, there may be some situations where you may not want to talk out loud. Thankfully, you can also type to Siri if you have that setting enabled. For more information on turning on the “type to Siri” setting, you can access Apple’s guide here.

But what questions do you ask Siri for how to check your AirPods charge level?

It’s pretty simple. Siri uses natural language, so you can ask questions like:

  • Siri, what’s the battery level on my AirPods?
  • Siri, how much battery do my AirPods have left?
  • Siri, how much charge is left on my AirPods?

Note that if you’re wearing your earbuds, you’ll have to be more specific by asking Siri about the remaining battery life on your earbuds or case.

Related: We also discussed how to mirror iPhone on TV with and without Wi-Fi.

How to Check AirPod Battery Life on MacBook

We’ve already established that one of the best methods for how to check AirPods battery on your Mac is by using Siri. But how else can you look at your AirPods’ charge level on your Apple computer? Follow these instructions for how to check AirPod Pro battery on your Mac (also works for non-pro AirPods!):

  1. Pair and connect your AirPods to your MacBook. Make sure that your Mac’s Bluetooth is on.
  2. Go to your top menu bar and click on the Control Center icon to bring up the panel below.
Bluetooth
  1. Click on Bluetooth to bring up the currently-connected devices. If your AirPods are connected to your Mac, they will show up on the panel alongside a few menu items that will allow you to turn features like Transparency or Noise Cancellation on or off. On the Bluetooth panel, you’ll see the individual charge of your left and right earbud.

How to Check AirPods Battery Without Case

If you don’t have your case handy, what do you do? After all, there are just some moments where you might’ve left your AirPods case upstairs while you’re working downstairs. Or you could’ve left them at home while you ran a quick errand. So, is there any method how to check AirPods Pro battery levels without having your case in hand?

The answer is yes! Try using Siri or checking the battery widget on your iPhone or iPad. You can also use the control center on your Mac. Note that these methods require your AirPods to be currently connected to your device.

Related: Why Do My AirPods Keep Disconnecting?

How to Check AirPod Battery Without Connecting to Any Device

Okay, so — we’ve discussed literally every method you can use to check how much charge your AirPods have left — including how to check without a case! But what if you don’t currently have a device to connect your AirPods to? Can you check your AirPod batteries without connecting to a device?

Yes!

For this, you’ll need to have your case in hand, and your earbuds need to be in their case. That said, you can then look at the indicator light on your case — every AirPods model has this light.

Once you find the indicator light, open the lid. When the case lid is open and you have your earbuds in the case, the light color will show the earbuds’ charge. If you don’t have your earbuds in the case, the indicator light refers to the charge left on the case.

If the indicator light is green, that means your earbuds (or case) are fully or almost fully charged. You won’t have to worry about your earbuds running out of a charge during your commute or important call.

If the indicator light is amber or orange, your earbuds are successfully charging OR your case has less than a full charge remaining. If your case indicates amber/orange, it’s time to plug it in or you’ll lose juice for recharging your earbuds!

You can learn more about the case lights on Apple’s guide here.

How to Check AirPod Battery Using Android

It’s entirely possible to use your AirPods with an Android phone, but you should be aware that the experience likely won’t be as seamless. Apple designs its products and accessories to work best with each other, so you likely won’t get the same features, benefits, and ease of use that you’d get from pairing your AirPods with other Apple devices.

Because connecting your AirPods to an Android device means losing the battery check function, you’ll need to use a third-party app like MaterialPods. Simply download and install this app to check your AirPod batteries on your Android phone.

Is There a Way to Check AirPod Battery Health?

Although you can certainly do an AirPods battery check in a number of different ways, there isn’t quite a way to check their battery health just yet. The best way for you to tell is simply to test them yourself to see how long they last on a single charge. However, be careful about draining your earbuds and case to zero too frequently, as this can further degrade their battery health!

If you feel like your AirPod battery percentage is dropping too rapidly, it may be time to get a battery replacement (or buy new AirPods!).

Related: How to Rename Your AirPods

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should the battery life on the AirPods last on a single charge?

AirPod battery life will vary depending on the model. According to Apple’s claims (which have been confirmed as accurate by many who have owned and reviewed AirPods before), here’s what you can expect:

  • AirPods 2nd Gen: ~5 hours listening time, 3 hours talk time
  • AirPods 3rd Gen: 6 hours of without Spatial Audio, 5 hours with Spatial Audio; 4 hours talk time
  • AirPods Pro: 4.5 hours listening time, 3.5 hours talk time
  • AirPods Pro 2: 5 hours listening time, 3 hours talk time

Note that the time listed above refers to the charge the earbuds hold between recharges in the case.

If I charge my AirPods too frequently, will it affect my battery?

Apple’s AirPods use lithium-ion batteries as their power source. Even with overcharging protection, batteries that are constantly kept at 80+% will experience stress and may degrade over time. Here are some best practices when using li-ion batteries:

  • Don’t allow your earbuds to fall below 20% (ideally, start recharging by 30%)
  • If you won’t use your AirPods for quite some time, charge them to about 50% and remove them from the case before storing in a cool, dry space (just don’t lose them!)

My AirPods battery life drains too quickly, what can I do?

If your AirPod battery check tells you that your earbuds’ battery is discharging too fast, there are a few things you can do:

  • Lower your volume and disable features like automatic ear detection and noise cancellation then observe
  • Reset your AirPods using the case
  • Fully discharge and recharge your AirPods and the case
  • As a temporary solution, use only one earbud at a time so you can recharge between uses
  • Get a battery replacement ($49-$69 fee depending on your warranty status, free with AppleCare+)

If the earbuds still won’t hold a charge very long and you don’t feel like paying for a battery replacement, it may be time for a new pair. However, if only one AirPod dies faster than the other, you may still be able to fix it.

Why can’t I check my Airpods battery?

If you’re having trouble seeing the battery life of your AirPods, try:

  • Closing/reopening the case after a few seconds
  • Disconnecting the AirPods from other devices
  • Charging the case for a bit before trying again (if they are 0%, they won’t show up)
  • Reset your AirPods

How do I pull up the AirPod menu?

When your AirPods connect with your iPhone or iPad, you’ll normally get a pop-up. If that isn’t showing up, first make sure that you recharge your case/earbuds because they won’t connect or show up at 0%. Then, make sure that you turn on your WiFi and Bluetooth. Lock your device, unlock it, then open the lid of your AirPods case to see whether the pop-up shows up. If it doesn’t, reset your AirPods and reconnect them to your device.

The Bottom Line

Like any device powered by lithium-ion batteries, AirPods will hold less of a charge over time. There are many reasons you may want to check your AirPod battery level, such as to know whether they need a recharge soon or to be more aware of when to charge to best protect your AirPods’ battery health.

We hope that this guide on how to check AirPod battery levels has helped you figure out the method best suited to your situation. Good luck!

Not 100% sold on buying the AirPods for your everyday earphones? Consider one of the best AirPod alternatives in 2024 instead!

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