AirPods have revolutionized how we listen to music, podcasts, and take calls. Their seamless integration with Apple devices and compact design make them incredibly convenient. However, one common concern among AirPods users is keeping track of battery life. There’s nothing worse than being caught off guard with dead AirPods, especially during a workout, commute, or important call. Fortunately, checking your AirPods battery is a straightforward process, and this comprehensive guide will walk you through all the different methods available.
Why is it Important to Monitor Your AirPods Battery?
Before diving into the how-to, let’s briefly discuss why it’s important to monitor your AirPods battery:
- Preventing Interruption: Knowing your battery levels helps you avoid unexpected interruptions during important tasks or enjoyable activities.
- Extending Battery Lifespan: While unavoidable, deeply discharging lithium-ion batteries repeatedly can slightly shorten their overall lifespan. Staying aware of the charge level allows you to avoid extreme discharge.
- Planning Ahead: Checking your battery lets you plan your usage accordingly. You can decide when to charge them or switch to a different listening device if needed.
- Optimizing Performance: Sometimes, low battery can affect the performance of your AirPods. Knowing the battery level allows you to anticipate and address this potential issue.
Methods to Check Your AirPods Battery Life
Apple provides several ways to check the battery status of your AirPods and charging case. Let’s explore each method in detail:
1. Using Your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
This is arguably the most convenient method, especially for users deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem.
Method 1A: Opening the Charging Case Near Your Device
This method provides a quick visual overview of your AirPods and case battery levels.
Steps:
- Unlock Your iPhone/iPad/iPod touch: Ensure your device is unlocked and the screen is on.
- Open the AirPods Charging Case: With your AirPods inside, open the charging case lid.
- Bring the Case Near Your Device: Hold the open charging case a few centimeters away from your unlocked iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
- Wait for the Pop-up: A pop-up animation will appear on your device’s screen, displaying the battery percentage for each AirPod and the charging case.
Important Considerations:
- Proximity: The case needs to be close enough to your device for the Bluetooth connection to establish and display the information.
- Bluetooth: Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. You can check this in the Control Center or in the Settings app.
- AirPods Paired: Your AirPods must be paired with your device for this method to work. If they aren’t paired, you’ll need to go through the pairing process first.
- Software Updates: Ensure your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch is running the latest version of iOS or iPadOS. Older versions may have compatibility issues.
Method 1B: Using the Batteries Widget
The Batteries widget provides a persistent display of your AirPods and charging case battery life on your device’s home screen or Today View.
Steps:
- Access Today View or Home Screen Widgets: On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, swipe right on the first page of your Home Screen to access the Today View, or long-press on an empty area of the home screen and tap the + button.
- Add the Batteries Widget: Scroll down (or search) in the widget list until you find the “Batteries” widget. Tap on it.
- Choose a Size: Select the size of the widget you prefer. Larger widgets offer more information at a glance, but take up more screen space. The medium or large size is recommended to see the AirPods battery.
- Add Widget: Tap “Add Widget” to place the widget on your Today View or Home Screen.
Important Considerations:
- AirPods Connection: Your AirPods need to be actively connected to your device for the Batteries widget to display their battery levels. Place them in your ears or open the case near your device.
- Widget Placement: Position the widget in a convenient location on your Home Screen or Today View for easy access.
- Widget Update: The battery information in the widget updates periodically. If you don’t see the latest information, try connecting your AirPods or restarting your device.
Method 1C: Through Control Center
On some devices, you can directly view the battery percentage of your AirPods within the Control Center.
Steps:
- Open Control Center: Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen (on iPhones with Face ID) or swipe up from the bottom of the screen (on iPhones with a Home button) to open Control Center.
- Look for the Audio Card: Locate the audio playback card, which usually displays the currently playing audio source and volume controls.
- Tap the AirPlay icon: In the top right corner of the music card, tap on the AirPlay icon.
- View Battery Percentage: If your AirPods are connected, their battery percentage will be displayed in the AirPlay menu.
Important Considerations:
- Connection Required: Your AirPods need to be actively connected to your device for this method to work.
- Audio Playing: This method usually works best when audio is actively playing from your device to the AirPods.
- Control Center Customization: Depending on your iOS version and Control Center customization, the audio card might not always be visible.
2. Using Your Apple Watch
If you own an Apple Watch, you can quickly check your AirPods battery life directly from your wrist.
Steps:
- Open Control Center: Press the side button on your Apple Watch to open Control Center.
- Tap the Battery Percentage: Tap on the battery percentage icon in Control Center.
- Scroll Down: Scroll down until you see your connected Bluetooth devices, including your AirPods.
- View AirPods Battery: The battery percentage for each AirPod will be displayed.
Important Considerations:
- AirPods Connection: Your AirPods must be actively connected to your Apple Watch for this method to work.
- WatchOS Version: Ensure your Apple Watch is running the latest version of watchOS for optimal compatibility.
- Bluetooth: Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your Apple Watch.
3. Using Your Mac
You can also check your AirPods battery life on your Mac, although the process is slightly different from iOS.
Steps:
- Connect Your AirPods: Ensure your AirPods are connected to your Mac. You can do this by placing them in your ears and playing audio from your Mac.
- Click the Bluetooth Icon: Click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen. If you don’t see it, go to System Preferences > Bluetooth and check “Show Bluetooth in menu bar.”
- Hover Over AirPods: In the Bluetooth menu, hover your mouse cursor over your AirPods in the list of devices.
- View Battery Levels: A small pop-up window will appear, displaying the battery percentage for each AirPod. Unfortunately, this method does *not* show the charging case battery.
Alternative Method Using the Bluetooth Menu in System Preferences
- Open System Preferences: Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select “System Preferences.”
- Select Bluetooth: In System Preferences, click on the “Bluetooth” icon.
- Locate Your AirPods: Find your AirPods in the list of Bluetooth devices.
- Control-Click or Right-Click: Control-click (or right-click) on your AirPods in the list.
- View Battery Information: A contextual menu will appear. If available, select the option to view more information about your AirPods. This *may* show the battery levels, but this option is not always consistently available. Similar to the menu bar method, this typically only shows the battery of the AirPods themselves, not the case.
Important Considerations:
- Bluetooth Enabled: Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your Mac.
- AirPods Connected: Your AirPods must be actively connected to your Mac for this method to work.
- Menu Bar Icon: Ensure the Bluetooth icon is visible in your menu bar. If it’s not, enable it in System Preferences > Bluetooth.
- macOS Version: Some older versions of macOS might not fully support displaying AirPods battery information.
- Case Battery: Unfortunately, macOS does *not* directly display the battery level of the charging case through the Bluetooth menu.
4. Checking the AirPods Case Light
While not as precise as the other methods, the AirPods charging case has an LED indicator light that can give you a general idea of its charge status.
Location:
- AirPods (1st and 2nd Generation): The status light is located inside the charging case, between the AirPods slots.
- AirPods (3rd Generation) and AirPods Pro: The status light is located on the front of the charging case.
Interpreting the Light:
- Green: Indicates that the AirPods are fully charged, or the case has more than one full charge remaining for the AirPods.
- Amber: Indicates that the AirPods have less than one full charge remaining, or the AirPods are currently charging.
- White (Flashing): Indicates that the AirPods are ready to pair with a device.
- Amber (Flashing): Indicates that there is an error or pairing issue.
Steps:
- Open the Charging Case: Open the lid of the AirPods charging case.
- Observe the Light: Check the color of the LED indicator light.
Important Considerations:
- General Indication: This method only provides a general indication of battery status. It doesn’t give you a precise percentage.
- AirPods Inside: For the case light to accurately reflect the case’s charge level, the AirPods should be inside the case.
- Charging: If the AirPods are charging inside the case, the light might be amber even if the case itself has a full charge.
Troubleshooting Battery Issues
If you encounter issues with your AirPods battery, here are some troubleshooting steps you can try:
- Clean Your AirPods and Charging Case: Use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth to clean the charging contacts on your AirPods and inside the charging case. Dirt or debris can interfere with charging.
- Update Your Devices: Ensure your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and Apple Watch are running the latest software versions. Software updates often include bug fixes and performance improvements that can address battery-related issues.
- Reset Your AirPods: Resetting your AirPods can resolve various issues, including battery drain problems. To reset, place your AirPods in the charging case, close the lid, wait 30 seconds, open the lid, and then press and hold the setup button on the back of the case until the status light flashes amber, then white.
- Check for Firmware Updates: AirPods receive firmware updates automatically when connected to your Apple devices. Make sure your AirPods are connected to your iPhone or iPad to receive any available firmware updates.
- Limit Background App Refresh: On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and disable it for apps you don’t use frequently. This can help reduce battery drain on your device and, indirectly, on your AirPods.
- Turn Off Automatic Ear Detection: In Settings > Bluetooth, tap the “i” icon next to your AirPods, then toggle off “Automatic Ear Detection.” This feature uses sensors to detect when your AirPods are in your ears, and disabling it can save battery life. However, you’ll need to manually control playback.
- Contact Apple Support: If you’ve tried all the troubleshooting steps and are still experiencing battery issues, contact Apple Support for further assistance. There might be a hardware problem with your AirPods or charging case.
Tips for Extending Your AirPods Battery Life
Here are some tips to help you maximize the battery life of your AirPods:
- Store AirPods in the Charging Case: When not in use, always store your AirPods in the charging case. This ensures they are being charged and protected from damage.
- Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Like all lithium-ion batteries, AirPods are sensitive to extreme temperatures. Avoid leaving them in direct sunlight or in very cold environments.
- Charge Regularly: Don’t wait until your AirPods are completely dead before charging them. Charging them regularly can help maintain their battery health.
- Lower the Volume: Listening to music or podcasts at a lower volume can help conserve battery life.
- Use One AirPod at a Time: If you’re not using both AirPods for stereo sound, you can use one at a time and switch them out as needed. This can effectively double your listening time.
- Turn Off Spatial Audio (AirPods Pro/Max): While spatial audio is an immersive feature, it consumes more battery power. If battery life is a concern, consider turning it off. You can do this in Control Center by long-pressing the volume slider.
- Disable “Hey Siri”: If you don’t use the “Hey Siri” feature, disable it in Settings > Siri & Search. Listening for the “Hey Siri” command constantly consumes battery power.
- Consider Optimized Battery Charging: On newer iPhones, Optimized Battery Charging learns your charging habits and waits to finish charging past 80% until just before you need to use your AirPods. This can help prolong the overall lifespan of the battery. This feature is enabled by default; you can check it in Settings > Battery > Battery Health.
Understanding AirPods Battery Health
Like any rechargeable battery, the battery health of your AirPods will degrade over time. This means that their maximum capacity will decrease, and they won’t hold a charge as long as they did when they were new.
Checking Battery Health:
Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t provide a direct way to check the battery health percentage of your AirPods like they do for iPhones. However, you can get an idea of their battery health by observing their performance:
- Shorter Playback Time: If you notice that your AirPods are not lasting as long as they used to on a single charge, this is a sign that their battery health has degraded.
- Frequent Charging: If you find yourself needing to charge your AirPods more frequently than before, this is another indicator of declining battery health.
Replacing AirPods:
If your AirPods battery health has significantly degraded and you’re no longer getting acceptable playback time, you might consider replacing them. Apple offers battery service for AirPods, but it can be costly. Depending on the age and condition of your AirPods, it might be more cost-effective to purchase a new pair.
Third-Party Apps for Monitoring AirPods Battery
While Apple provides built-in methods for checking AirPods battery life, several third-party apps offer additional features and information.
Examples of Third-Party Apps:
- AirBattery (Android): This app is specifically designed for Android users and provides a pop-up notification with AirPods battery levels when you open the charging case. It also displays battery information in the notification shade and as a widget.
- Assistant Trigger (Android): Similar to AirBattery, Assistant Trigger provides battery information for AirPods on Android devices.
- Cloud Battery (iOS/macOS): While not specifically for AirPods, Cloud Battery allows you to monitor the battery levels of all your devices (including iPhones, iPads, Macs, and AirPods) from a single app.
Considerations When Using Third-Party Apps:
- Privacy: Be mindful of the permissions you grant to third-party apps. Some apps might require access to your Bluetooth data or location information.
- Battery Drain: Some apps can consume battery power in the background, so choose apps that are well-optimized.
- Reliability: Read reviews and choose reputable apps from trusted developers.
Conclusion
Keeping track of your AirPods battery is essential for uninterrupted listening and optimal performance. Whether you prefer the convenience of the pop-up animation on your iPhone, the persistent display of the Batteries widget, or the quick glance at the charging case light, there’s a method that suits your needs. By following the tips and troubleshooting steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your AirPods are always ready when you are, and that you can maximize their lifespan.