macOS has a Batteries widget that you can put on the desktop or in Notification Center.
Add the Batteries widget
- Click the date and time in the menu bar to open Notification Center.
- Click Edit Widgets at the bottom. You can also Control-click the desktop and choose Edit Widgets.
- Search for Batteries.
- Pick a size, then click the widget or drag it to the desktop.
What it shows
The widget shows your Mac and each Bluetooth accessory connected to it: AirPods, a Magic Keyboard, a Magic Mouse or a Magic Trackpad. An accessory leaves the widget when it disconnects.
What it leaves out
- Your iPhone and iPad.
- AirPods that are connected to another device.
- Any history. The widget shows the level now.
Which devices the Batteries widget shows on a Mac
| Device | Shown | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| This Mac | Yes | A MacBook, which has a battery |
| AirPods | Yes | While they are connected to this Mac |
| Beats | Yes | While they are turned on and connected to this Mac |
| Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad | Yes | While it is turned on and connected to this Mac |
| iPhone | No | It is not a Bluetooth accessory of the Mac |
| iPad | No | It is not a Bluetooth accessory of the Mac |
| Apple Watch | No | It connects to the iPhone, not to the Mac |
| AirPods connected to another device | No | They come back when they connect to this Mac |
For the devices in the last rows, macOS has other places. See how to show your iPhone battery on a Mac and how to check AirPods battery on a Mac.
Batteries widget not showing devices
The widget lists a device only while it is a Bluetooth accessory connected to this Mac. Here are the causes, and the fix for each.
- The accessory is connected to another device. AirPods that play from your iPhone are connected to the iPhone. Connect them to the Mac and they appear.
- The accessory is turned off. Turn it on. A Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad shows green at its switch when it is on.
- Bluetooth is off on the Mac. Open System Settings, click Bluetooth, and turn it on.
- The device is an iPhone, an iPad or an Apple Watch. The widget on a Mac does not list them, and no setting adds them.
- The widget itself is hidden. Open System Settings, click Desktop & Dock, go to Widgets, and select On Desktop next to Show Widgets. If windows cover the desktop, click the wallpaper to move them away.
To see every device in one place, you need a battery monitor for Mac.
More battery widgets
BatteryBud is a menu bar app that adds three widgets for the desktop and Notification Center:
- Batteries shows a ring for each device.
- Battery List shows each device with its name, its level and a short status.
- Battery Chart shows the last 24 hours or the last 7 days of one device.
They show every device BatteryBud knows, your iPhone and iPad included.