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How to check your Magic Mouse battery

Three places macOS shows the battery level of a Magic Mouse, and how to see it in the menu bar before it runs out.

Updated

The charging port of a Magic Mouse is on its underside, so you cannot use the mouse while it charges. That makes a late warning a real problem. macOS shows the level in three places. Here is each one, and how to get a warning earlier.

Control Center

  1. Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar.
  2. Click Bluetooth.
  3. Read the battery level next to your Magic Mouse.

To make this one click, open System Settings, click Menu Bar, and select Bluetooth. In macOS Sequoia or earlier, go to Control Center and set Bluetooth to Show in Menu Bar.

System Settings

  1. Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
  2. Click Bluetooth.
  3. Look under the name of your Magic Mouse for its percentage.

The Batteries widget

  1. Click the date and time in the menu bar to open Notification Center.
  2. Click Edit Widgets at the bottom.
  3. Search for Batteries and add it.

The widget shows your Mac and each connected Bluetooth accessory. See how to add a battery widget on a Mac for the devices it shows and the ones it leaves out.

Magic Mouse battery level not showing

macOS shows the level of a Magic Mouse that is turned on and connected to this Mac. The mouse itself has no battery light. If the level is missing, check these in order.

  1. Look in the right place. Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar, then click Bluetooth. The level is in that menu, not in the menu bar itself.
  2. Turn the mouse off and on. Slide the switch on the bottom of the mouse until no green shows, then slide it back.
  3. Check that Bluetooth is on. Open System Settings and click Bluetooth.
  4. If Bluetooth does not turn on, restart your Mac and try again.
  5. Pair the mouse again. Connect it to your Mac with its cable, wait 1 minute, then disconnect the cable. This pairs it with your Mac and charges it.

If the mouse does not stay connected, other wireless devices near it can interfere. Move them away and try again.

What macOS does not show

Keep the Magic Mouse battery in the menu bar

BatteryBud is a battery monitor for Mac. It lists your Magic Mouse with your other devices, one click from the menu bar. You can pin the mouse to the menu bar with its percentage.

Set a low battery alert at the level you want, for example 20%. Then you can charge the mouse at lunch, and not in the middle of your work. BatteryBud also keeps a history, which shows how many weeks a charge lasts.

The steps are the same for your other accessories. See how to check your Magic Keyboard battery and how to check your Magic Trackpad battery.

Questions

How long does a Magic Mouse battery last?

Apple says about a month or more between charges. How long yours lasts depends on how much you use it.

Can I use a Magic Mouse while it charges?

No. The charging port is on the underside, so the mouse has to lie on its side or its back while it charges. A few minutes of charging is enough for some hours of use.

Does macOS warn me when my Magic Mouse battery is low?

Yes, macOS shows a notification when the mouse is low. You cannot choose the level, and by then there is often little time left.

Why is my Magic Mouse battery level not showing on my Mac?

macOS shows the level of a mouse that is turned on and connected to the Mac. Turn the mouse off and on, check that Bluetooth is on, then open Control Center and click Bluetooth. If the level is still missing, connect the mouse to the Mac with its cable for a minute to pair it again.

Can I show the Magic Mouse battery in the menu bar?

macOS shows the level only inside the Bluetooth menu. BatteryBud can pin the mouse to the menu bar with its percentage.

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