How to Show Battery Percentage on the iPhone 12

Don't guess how much power your battery has left

By
Sam Costello
Sam Costello
Sam Costello
Writer
  • Ithaca College
Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others.
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Updated on June 8, 2022
Reviewed by
Ryan Perian
Ryan Perian headshot
Reviewed by Ryan Perian
  • Western Governors University
Ryan Perian is a certified IT specialist who holds numerous IT certifications and has 12+ years' experience working in the IT industry support and management positions.
lifewire's editorial guidelines

What to Know

  • From the upper-right corner of the screen, swipe down.
  • Tap and hold the screen until the icons start wiggling. Tap + > Batteries > choose widget style > Add Widget > Done.

This article explains how to view the battery percentage on the iPhone 12 as well as how to have it available on your home screen using a widget.

How to View Battery Percentage on the iPhone 12

On earlier versions of iOS, you had to turn on the battery percentage option to see this information. Not on the iPhone 12! These days, the battery percentage option is on by default—you just have to know where to find it.

  1. Swipe down from the top right corner of the iPhone 12 screen to open iOS Control Center.

  2. In the top right corner of the screen, next to the battery icon, is the battery percentage. This is how much battery your iPhone 12 has left.

    iPhone Control Center showing the battery percentage.

  3. Swipe up or tap on the background to close Control Center again.

If all you want to be able to do is periodically check the battery percentage, then that's all you have to do. If you want to easily keep tabs on the battery's status, consider adding a widget to your home screen. Battery low? Here are the different ways you can charge your iPhone 12.

One way to find the battery percentage on iPhone 12 is to ask Siri. Activate Siri using the Side button and then ask "Hey Siri, how much battery do I have left?" The battery percentage will appear on the screen.

How to Add a Battery Widget to the iPhone 12

Thanks to iPhone widgets in iOS 14, which comes pre-loaded on the iPhone 12, you can add a battery percentage widget to your home screen.

Here's how:

  1. Tap and hold the screen until the icons start wiggling.

  2. Tap +.

  3. In the widgets pop-up, tap Batteries.

  4. Choose the widget style you want to use. Swipe back and forth to see the options. The Batteries widget will also display battery info for Apple devices connected to your phone like Apple Watch or AirPods.

    How to add the battery widget on the iPhone running iOS 14.

  5. Tap Add Widget for the one you want to use.

  6. The widget is added to your home screen. Move it around to the location where you want it and then tap Done.

    Battery widget on home screen of iPhone running iOS 14.

Seeing your battery percentage is good information, but it doesn't help your battery last longer. There are ways to extend an iPhone's battery life such as using iOS Low Power Mode.

FAQ
  • How do I save battery on iPhone?

    To save battery on your iPhone, disable app suggestions, automatic updates, and Background App Refresh. Turn on auto-brightness, use content blockers in Safari, and disable Wi-Fi when you don't need it. Turn on Low Power Mode to conserve the battery when it falls below 80%.

  • Why is my iPhone battery yellow?

    If your iPhone battery icon is yellow, it means Low Power Mode is enabled. If you see a red iPhone battery icon, the battery is critically low.

  • When should I replace my iPhone battery?

    To determine if you need to replace your iPhone battery, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health. If you need a new battery, use Apple's battery replacement service.

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