A controller that runs out in the middle of a game gives you little warning on a Mac. Apple’s support pages explain how to pair an Xbox or PlayStation controller, and they do not say where macOS shows its battery. Here is each place to look, what each controller tells you by itself, and how to get a warning before it runs out.
The Bluetooth menu
- Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar.
- Click Bluetooth.
- Find your controller in the list. If it reports a level to macOS, the level is next to its name.
Not every controller reports a level this way. If yours shows none, the controller is not broken. See Bluetooth battery level not showing on a Mac for the causes.
System Settings
- Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Click Bluetooth, and look under the name of your controller.
- Click Game Controllers in the sidebar, and select your controller.
Game Controllers is in macOS Ventura 13 and later. It appears in the sidebar after you connect a controller, and it is where you change buttons and feedback. Some people report a battery indicator for a DualSense there. Others report none, and Apple’s page does not mention one.
Steam
The Steam client shows a battery indicator for wireless gamepads in its header, with a notice when a gamepad is low. Valve added this to the client in April 2026. It only helps while Steam is open.
What each controller tells you
| Controller | Battery | On the controller |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox Wireless Controller | Two AA batteries, or a rechargeable pack | No battery light. An Xbox console shows the level on its Home screen |
| PS5 DualSense | Built in, charges over USB-C | The light bar pulses orange while it charges and goes dark when it is full |
| PS4 DualShock 4 | Built in, charges over Micro-USB | The light bar pulses while it charges |
| Nintendo Switch Pro Controller | Built in, charges over USB-C | The charging light next to the USB port turns off when it is full |
An Xbox controller with AA batteries does not charge over a cable. The cable powers it, and only a rechargeable pack charges.
Which controllers work with a Mac
Apple lists these controllers for a Mac.
- Xbox. Xbox Wireless Controller with Bluetooth (Model 1708), Xbox Wireless Controller Series S and Series X, Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 and Xbox Adaptive Controller.
- PlayStation. DualSense, DualSense Edge, DualShock 4 and the Access controller.
To pair an Xbox controller, turn it on and hold the Pair button until the Xbox button flashes. To pair a DualSense, hold the PS button and the Create button until the light bar flashes. Then open System Settings, click Bluetooth, and click Connect next to the controller.
What macOS does not show
- No documented place for the level. What you see depends on the controller and on your version of macOS.
- Nothing in the menu bar. You have to open a menu or a settings page.
- No alert you can set. You cannot choose a level for a warning.
- No history. You cannot see how many hours a charge or a pair of AA batteries lasts.
Keep the controller battery in the menu bar
BatteryBud is a battery monitor for Mac. From version 1.2.0, an Xbox Wireless Controller connected over Bluetooth shows its level in BatteryBud, with history and alerts like any other device. Other controllers show their level when they report one.
Set a low battery alert at the level you want, for example 20%. Then you can change the batteries or connect the cable between two games. The history shows how long a charge lasts, which is useful when you compare AA batteries with a rechargeable pack.
If your controller is missing, open Settings, then Devices, in BatteryBud. A button there makes a short report of what is connected, which you can send to us.
A wireless headset has the same problem. See how to check a gaming headset’s battery on a Mac.