How to Check Bluetooth Battery Levels on macOS: The Complete Guide
Never Run Out of Juice Again
On modern versions of macOS, keeping track of your Bluetooth devices’ battery life is easier than ever—whether you’re incorporating Bluetooth into your smart home, investing in the latest wireless gadgets, or simply relying on your Magic Mouse and AirPods for daily productivity.
The fastest way to check the battery level of supported Bluetooth devices is via the Bluetooth controls in System Settings, the menu bar, or Control Center. This guide covers every method available on macOS, from the simplest clicks to advanced Terminal commands, so you can always know when your devices need charging.
Quick Overview: Methods for Checking Bluetooth Battery
| Method | Best For | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| System Settings > Bluetooth | Detailed view of all connected devices | Moderate |
| Menu Bar Bluetooth Icon | One-click quick check | Fastest |
| Control Center | Quick access without leaving current app | Fast |
| Per-Device Settings Panes | Keyboard, Mouse, Trackpad-specific info | Moderate |
| Batteries Widget | Dashboard-style overview | Fast |
| Third-Party Apps | Unsupported or third-party devices | Variable |
| Terminal (ioreg) | Power users, scripting, logs | Advanced |
Method 1: Check via System Settings (Most Detailed)
For a comprehensive view of all your connected Bluetooth accessories, System Settings is your best bet.
Step-by-Step Instructions
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Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner.
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Select System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS).
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Click Bluetooth in the sidebar.
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View all connected devices. Each will display a small battery icon or percentage next to its name.
| Device Type | What You’ll See |
|---|---|
| Magic Mouse | Battery percentage |
| Magic Keyboard | Battery percentage |
| AirPods | Battery percentage (case and individual buds) |
| Third-Party Devices | May show percentage if supported |
Pro Tip: This view gives you an at-a-glance overview of remaining charge for all connected accessories.
Method 2: Add Bluetooth to the Menu Bar (One-Click Access)
For a persistent, one-click way to check battery levels, add Bluetooth to your menu bar.
For macOS Ventura and Later
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Open System Settings.
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Click Control Center in the sidebar.
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Scroll to Bluetooth.
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Set the dropdown to “Show in Menu Bar.”
For macOS Monterey and Earlier
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Open System Preferences > Bluetooth.
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Check the box for “Show Bluetooth in menu bar.”
How to Use
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Click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar (it looks like a stylized “B”).
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A dropdown will appear showing all connected devices and their battery percentages.
Result: Instant, one-click access to your devices’ battery status without navigating away from your current app.
Method 3: Use Control Center for Quick Access
Control Center offers another quick way to check Bluetooth battery levels.
Step-by-Step Instructions
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Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar (top-right).
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Click the Bluetooth tile to expand it.
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Connected devices and their battery levels will appear.
Tip: This method is ideal if you prefer a centralized hub for system controls.
Method 4: Check in Per-Device Settings Panes
Apple also surfaces battery information in the relevant settings panes for specific devices.
| Device | Navigation Path | Where to Look |
|---|---|---|
| Keyboard | System Settings > Keyboard | Battery level at the bottom of the window |
| Mouse | System Settings > Mouse | Battery level at the bottom of the window |
| Trackpad | System Settings > Trackpad | Battery level at the bottom of the window |
Best For: When you’re already in System Settings and want device-specific information.
Method 5: Add the Batteries Widget to Notification Center
For users who prefer a dashboard-style overview, adding the Batteries widget to Notification Center or the desktop lets you monitor charge states in one place.
How to Add the Batteries Widget
For Notification Center:
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Click the date/time in the menu bar to open Notification Center.
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Scroll to the bottom and click Edit Widgets.
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Find Batteries in the widget list.
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Choose your preferred size (small, medium, large).
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Drag it to the Notification Center.
For Desktop (macOS Sonoma and later):
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Click the date/time in the menu bar.
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Click Edit Widgets.
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Find Batteries and drag it to your desktop.
Result: At-a-glance battery status for your Mac and all supported peripherals without digging into menus.
Advanced: Monitoring Battery Health and Unsupported Devices
Apple doesn’t expose detailed cycle counts or degradation metrics for Bluetooth accessories on macOS. However, you can still infer battery health through behavior.
Signs of Battery Wear
| Symptom | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Rapid Drain | Drops from 100% to 20% much faster than before. |
| Erratic Percentage | Jumps around instead of declining smoothly. |
| Unexpected Shutdowns | Device powers off even when reporting charge. |
Why It Matters: Checking these indicators regularly helps you spot failing batteries early and avoid dead devices in the middle of a Zoom call or gaming session.
Method 6: Third-Party Apps for Unsupported Devices
For third-party accessories that don’t show a battery percentage in Apple’s menus, third-party utilities can help.
| App | Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Magic Battery | Displays battery levels for Apple devices (AirPods, Magic Mouse, etc.) | Apple peripherals and AirPods |
| Logitech Options+ | Logitech-specific mice and keyboards | Logitech accessories |
| Battery Indicator | Simple menu bar app for various devices | General Bluetooth devices |
| iStat Menus | Comprehensive system monitoring with battery info | Power users |
What Third-Party Apps Can Offer
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Compact or detailed views of multiple device batteries.
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Low-battery notifications that pop up when an accessory hits around 20%.
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Support for a broader range of devices, including iPhones and iPads.
Method 7: Terminal Commands for Power Users
For users who want to dig deeper, macOS offers Terminal commands using ioreg to read battery percentage values directly from the system’s hardware registry.
Basic ioreg Command
ioreg -l -r -n AppleDeviceManagementHIDEventService -r | grep -E "BatteryPercent|Product"
What This Command Does
| Component | Purpose |
|---|---|
| ioreg -l -r | Recursively reads the I/O registry. |
| -n AppleDeviceManagementHIDEventService | Filters for Bluetooth HID devices. |
| grep | Extracts battery percentage and product name. |
Advanced Use: This is useful if you want to script alerts, log discharge patterns over time, or monitor devices that don’t appear in the GUI.
Warning: This command may not work on all devices or macOS versions. Apple’s hardware registry structure can change with updates.
Comparison Table: Quick Reference
| Method | Steps | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| System Settings | Apple > System Settings > Bluetooth | Detailed device list |
| Menu Bar | Add Bluetooth to menu bar | One-click quick check |
| Control Center | Click Control Center > Bluetooth | Quick access |
| Per-Device Settings | Keyboard/Mouse/Trackpad panes | Specific device info |
| Batteries Widget | Add to Notification Center/Desktop | Dashboard overview |
| Third-Party Apps | Install Magic Battery, Logitech Options+, etc. | Unsupported/third-party devices |
| Terminal (ioreg) | Run ioreg command in Terminal | Power users, scripting |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check my AirPods battery on Mac?
Open System Settings > Bluetooth, or click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar. AirPods will show battery levels for the case and individual buds.
Why doesn’t my third-party Bluetooth device show battery percentage?
Not all Bluetooth devices broadcast battery information in a way that macOS can read. Try a third-party app like Magic Battery or check if the manufacturer offers its own utility.
Can I check Bluetooth battery from the menu bar?
Yes. Add Bluetooth to the menu bar via System Settings > Control Center, then click the Bluetooth icon anytime to see connected devices and their battery percentage.
How do I know if my Magic Mouse battery is dying?
Monitor how quickly the percentage drops. If it drains much faster than before or the percentage jumps erratically, the battery is likely wearing out.
Is there a way to get low-battery notifications for Bluetooth devices?
Third-party apps like Magic Battery offer low-battery notifications that pop up when an accessory hits around 20%.
Quick Reference Summary
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open System Settings > Bluetooth for a detailed view. |
| 2 | Add Bluetooth to the menu bar for one-click access. |
| 3 | Use Control Center for a quick glance. |
| 4 | Add the Batteries widget for a dashboard overview. |
| 5 | Try third-party apps for unsupported devices. |
| 6 | Use Terminal (ioreg) for advanced monitoring. |
Final Thoughts: Stay Charged, Stay Productive
Checking your Bluetooth devices’ battery levels on macOS is easier than ever—whether you prefer the detailed view in System Settings, the one-click convenience of the menu bar, or the dashboard-style overview of the Batteries widget.
For third-party and unsupported devices, third-party apps offer a reliable alternative. And for power users, Terminal commands provide a way to script alerts and log discharge patterns.
The bottom line: With these methods, you’ll never be caught off guard by a dead Magic Mouse or drained AirPods in the middle of an important call again.
