For AirPods battery not showing, toggle Bluetooth, re-pair the buds, and add the Batteries widget to see charge instantly.
Your earbuds work, but the charge readout is missing. No pop-up near the phone. No tiny percentage under the icon. That missing number makes planning a commute or workout a guess. The good news: this is a simple visibility issue nine times out of ten. Follow the checks below and you’ll get the percentage back on iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch.
Battery Readouts You Can Use
Before jumping into fixes, here’s every reliable place to view charge. Pick the one that suits how you use your devices day to day.
| Where | How | Devices |
|---|---|---|
| Batteries widget | Add the widget, then open the AirPods case near the phone to refresh. | iPhone, iPad |
| Popup near the phone | Open the case next to an unlocked phone with Bluetooth on. | iPhone, iPad |
| Control Center | Open Control Center, long-press the audio card, then check the headphones entry. | iPhone, iPad |
| Settings > Bluetooth | Tap the “i” next to the buds to see case and bud levels. | iPhone, iPad |
| Menu bar Bluetooth | Click the Bluetooth icon to view left, right, and case. | Mac |
| Case status light | Green means charged, amber means charge needed. | All AirPods |
| Watch battery app | Open the Battery app or add the complication. | Apple Watch |
Why The Battery Indicator Disappears
This readout depends on Bluetooth, pairing, and a small system service that reports accessory levels. If any part glitches, the number can vanish. Common triggers include a removed widget, a stale pairing record, auto-switching to a nearby Mac, low case charge, dirty contacts, or firmware that hasn’t updated yet. The steps below clear each cause in a safe order.
Fix The No Battery Indicator On iPhone And iPad
1) Quick Refresh Steps
- Toggle Bluetooth off and on: open Settings > Bluetooth, wait five seconds, then switch it back on.
- Open the case next to the phone with the earbuds seated. Keep the lid open for ten seconds.
- Open Control Center and check the audio card. The entry should appear once the radio tidies up.
2) Re-enable A Batteries Widget
If the widget was removed, the system often stops polling accessories. Add one back on the Home Screen or Lock Screen. Once added, it refreshes as soon as the case opens near the phone. Apple’s guide explains the exact taps under add and edit widgets.
3) Clean Up The Pairing Record
- Go to Settings > Bluetooth.
- Tap the info button next to the buds, then tap Forget This Device.
- Close the case, wait 30 seconds, open the lid, and press the case button until the light flashes white.
- Hold the case near the phone to pair again. When paired, check the Batteries widget and Control Center.
4) Rule Out Auto-Switching Confusion
Auto-switching is handy, but it can hide the readout if the buds jump to another device. On each Apple device you use, open Bluetooth settings and confirm which host they’re attached to before you check charge. If needed, turn off auto-switching on spare devices while you test.
5) Refresh iCloud Sync For Accessory Data
Sign out and back in is overkill. A lighter touch works. On the phone, toggle Airplane Mode for 20 seconds, then turn it off. This resets radios and nudges the accessories service to reload paired info.
6) Make Sure Firmware Isn’t Stale
AirPods update while charging near a Wi-Fi device they’re paired with. Leave the case open near the phone for 30 minutes while both charge. For background on how updates arrive, see Apple’s note on AirPods firmware.
Pairing And Sync Checks Across Devices
iPhone Or iPad
- In Settings, tap the name of the buds near the top (just under your Apple ID) to view their page and levels.
- In Bluetooth, the info page shows left, right, and case. If any item reads “—%,” reseat that bud in the case, close the lid for 15 seconds, then open it again.
- If the phone uses Low Power Mode, wake the screen and wait a moment; the radio wakes and updates.
Mac
- Click the Control Center icon, then Bluetooth. The list shows levels once the buds connect.
- If the menu bar icon is hidden, enable it in System Settings > Control Center > Bluetooth.
- Still no readout? Remove the device in System Settings > Bluetooth and pair again from the pop-up card.
Apple Watch
- Open the Battery app. Scroll to see connected accessories.
- Add the Batteries complication for a glance view.
- If the watch grabs the buds from your phone, the phone may stop showing levels. Disconnect on the watch, then check the phone again.
Reset, Clean, And Charge The Hardware
Reset Safely
Place both earbuds in the case. Close the lid for 30 seconds. Open the lid. Hold the case button until the light flashes amber, then white. Pair again near the phone. This clears stale data and often restores the readout on every device that shares your Apple ID.
Clean The Contacts
Dust on the stem or case contacts can block the case from reporting charge. Use a dry lint-free cloth on the metal tips and the two contact pads inside the case. Don’t poke inside the mesh. Skip sprays and liquids. After cleaning, reseat each earbud and check again.
Charge The Case First
If the case is low, the buds may connect but skip level reports. Plug the case in for ten minutes, then open it near the phone. The light on the case helps: green for charged, amber for low. A short top-off often brings the percentage back.
What The Case Light Tells You
The case light gives quick hints: green = charged, amber = needs charge, white = pairing. If no light, charge the case, then try with the lid open.
To check a single bud, place one in the case with the lid open. The light reflects that bud. Swap sides to see which needs time on the charger.
Widget And System Settings That Matter
- Add at least one Batteries widget to Home Screen or Lock Screen. It keeps the system service active.
- Keep Bluetooth in the Control Center quick toggles so you can refresh radio state in two taps.
- Don’t stack multiple Batteries widgets of different sizes on the same screen while testing. Use one, then add others once the readout returns.
- Keep iOS or iPadOS current. Small point releases often include fixes for accessory reporting.
- If you use Focus, pick a Home Screen with the Batteries widget visible.
Troubleshooting Checklist By Symptom
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Popup never appears | Bluetooth stale or auto-switch picked another host | Toggle Bluetooth, open case next to phone, stop auto-switch on spare devices |
| Widget shows “—%” | Widget removed earlier or case not seen | Add a Batteries widget, open case near phone and keep lid open |
| Only one bud shows | Dirty contacts or bud not seated | Clean tips and pads, reseat, close lid 15 seconds, reopen |
| Case level missing | Case below reserve or firmware mid-update | Charge case for 10–30 minutes near Wi-Fi, then check again |
| Mac shows levels, phone doesn’t | Auto-switch latched to Mac | Disconnect on Mac, open case next to phone, wait for the card |
| Watch shows levels, phone doesn’t | Watch grabbed the session | Close audio on watch, check the phone widget again |
| Levels lag or freeze | Low signal or background process paused | Wake the phone, keep the case open, refresh Control Center |
Mac-Specific Tips
Use the menu bar Bluetooth icon for a quick glance. If you don’t see it, enable the icon in Control Center settings. For sticky cases, remove the device, press the case button to get a white flash, then pair again from the pop-up in the top-right corner. Keep the case open while you check the menu item so the level has time to post.
When A Reinstall Helps
If the readout keeps vanishing after a day or two, remove the widget, reboot the phone, then add the widget again. Re-pair the buds once more. This sequence forces a fresh accessory cache and clears older layout data that can hide device tiles.
Firmware And Software Notes
Updates arrive on their own when the case and host device charge near each other on Wi-Fi. Leave them together for at least 30 minutes. You can confirm the version on the Bluetooth info page. If it still shows an older build, reset, pair again, and repeat the charge session. Apple’s overview on firmware updates spells out the conditions.
Last Checks Before Service
- Swap to another phone on your Apple ID and check the widget there.
- Test with only one bud in the case, then the other; compare readings.
- Charge with a different cable and brick to rule out power issues.
- If none of this brings the percentage back, book a hardware check at an Apple Store or an authorized provider.
Quick Reference: The Fastest Routine
- Open case next to phone with Bluetooth on.
- If no card shows, toggle Bluetooth, keep the lid open ten seconds.
- Add one Batteries widget. Check again.
- If still missing, Forget This Device, reset the case, pair again.
- Leave the case open near the phone on power for 30 minutes.
You’re Back In Control
With the right widget in place and a clean pairing, the percentage shows up and stays put. Keep one quick method at hand—the widget, the Control Center card, or the menu bar icon—and checking charge becomes second nature. Keep the case clean; keep your phone fully charged and updated.