How to check your iPhone & AirPods battery from your Mac

Updated July 2026 · 3 min read

Your Mac can show nearby Apple devices’ battery: connect an iPhone or iPad by USB and it appears in Finder; AirPods and Magic accessories show their level over Bluetooth (System Settings → Bluetooth, or the Control Center battery widget). Apple Watch is the exception — it pairs with your iPhone, so its battery shows there, not on the Mac. macOS shows charge level but not health %.

Your Mac already knows a surprising amount about your other Apple gear — you just have to know where to look.

iPhone & iPad (over USB)

Connect the device with a cable and open a Finder window — it appears in the sidebar, and the trust screen shows its charge level. Handy, but Finder doesn’t show battery health or cycle count.

AirPods & Magic accessories (over Bluetooth)

Open System Settings → Bluetooth and hover over a connected device to see its battery.
Or add the Battery widget to Control Center / the menu bar — it lists connected accessories (Magic Mouse, Keyboard, Trackpad, AirPods).

What about Apple Watch?

Your Apple Watch pairs with your iPhone, not your Mac, so it doesn’t show up in the Mac’s Bluetooth list or battery widget. To check its charge, look on the paired iPhone (the Batteries widget) or glance at the Watch itself.

What macOS won’t show you

macOS shows current charge, but not device health %, and it scatters everything across Finder, Bluetooth settings and Control Center — with no single view.

Everything in one place

Mac 4 Breakfast has a Devices tab that brings them together: iPhone and iPad over USB, plus AirPods and Magic peripherals over Bluetooth — so every battery you own is one glance away, next to your Mac’s own.

Frequently asked questions

Can I see my iPhone’s battery health on a Mac?

macOS shows your iPhone’s charge level (in Finder over USB), but not its battery-health percentage by default. A dedicated app can read and display device battery health on the Mac.

Why don’t my AirPods show a battery level on my Mac?

They must be connected to that Mac over Bluetooth and recently used. Open the case near the Mac, ensure they’re paired, then check System Settings → Bluetooth or the Control Center battery widget.

Can I see my Apple Watch battery on my Mac?

Not natively — the Apple Watch pairs with your iPhone, not your Mac, so it doesn’t appear in the Mac’s Bluetooth or battery widget. Check its charge on the paired iPhone (the Batteries widget) or on the Watch itself.

See all of this, live, in one app

Mac 4 Breakfast shows your battery health, charging, every Apple device and smart insights — natively and privately, for one price.

Download free for macOS See pricing and Pro