How to see your AirPods battery on a Mac
Short answer: macOS shows it already. Click Control Center in the menu bar, then Sound, and choose your AirPods; or click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar. For a percentage that is always visible, use a menu bar app (AirBattery is free; ToothFairy and AirBuddy are paid) or a notch app that shows AirPods as they connect (Ledge, Alcove, Atoll, Droppy).
Built into macOS
- Control Center. Apple's instructions: open the lid of the case or take the AirPods out, hold them close to your Mac, click Control Center in the menu bar, click Sound, then choose your AirPods.
- Bluetooth menu. Apple's AirPods guide: click Bluetooth in the menu bar to see the battery percentage. If the icon is missing, turn it on in System Settings > Menu Bar.
- Batteries widget. macOS has a Batteries widget for the desktop and Notification Center (Control-click the wallpaper, Edit Widgets). Apple documents it for Beats; whether it lists your AirPods is worth checking on your own Mac.
Apps that keep it in view
| App | Where it shows | Price | macOS | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirBattery | Menu bar, Dock, widgets | Free, AGPL-3.0 | 11+ | All your devices; can show other Macs on the network |
| ToothFairy | Menu bar icon per device | US$6.99 (App Store) | 10.13+ | One-click connect, hotkeys |
| AirBuddy 3 | Pop-up, menu bar, widgets, lock screen | US$20 one-time | 14+ | iPhone-style pop-up when the case opens |
| Ledge | Notch, on connect | Free, GPL-3.0 | 26+ | Battery and the case animation; low-battery alert. Notched MacBooks only |
| Alcove | Notch | US$13.99 | 15+ | AirPods support and low-battery warnings in its changelog |
| Atoll | Notch, lock screen | Free, GPL-3.0 | 14.6+ | Headphone indicators and Bluetooth widgets |
| Droppy | Beside the notch | US$9.99 | 14+ | "Connect them and they show up beside the notch with their battery" |
NotchNook shows connected Bluetooth devices but does not list AirPods battery; boring.notch has a Bluetooth live activity on its roadmap, not yet shipped.
Which to choose
- You glance at it now and then: the built-in Bluetooth menu is enough.
- Always visible, free: AirBattery in the menu bar.
- The iPhone-style pop-up: AirBuddy, or a notch app.
- You want a notch app anyway: Ledge on macOS 26, Atoll or Alcove on earlier versions, and Droppy on any display.
FAQ
How do I check AirPods battery on a Mac?
Click Control Center in the menu bar, click Sound and choose your AirPods, or click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar. Keep the AirPods close to the Mac with the case open or the buds out.
Is there a free app to show AirPods battery in the Mac menu bar?
Yes. AirBattery is free and open source (AGPL-3.0), runs on macOS 11 and later, and shows battery levels in the menu bar, Dock and widgets.
Can the MacBook notch show AirPods battery?
With a notch app. Ledge, Alcove, Atoll and Droppy show AirPods with their battery when they connect.
Can my Mac warn me when my AirPods battery is low?
Not with a notification of its own. AirBuddy has battery alerts, and the notch apps Ledge, Alcove and Droppy show a low-battery warning for AirPods.
Related
- Best notch apps for MacBook in 2026
- How to get a Dynamic Island on a MacBook
- Ledge: a free, open-source notch app for MacBook
Sources
- Apple Support, Charge your AirPods; Apple AirPods User Guide, battery in the Bluetooth menu
- AirBattery README; ToothFairy site and App Store listing; AirBuddy site
- Alcove: tryalcove.com, FAQ, its changelog feed (
api.tryalcove.com/changelog), Homebrew cask - Atoll README and release notes; Droppy site; NotchNook site; boring.notch README roadmap
- Ledge README and release notes, version 1.2.2