iOS 16 can show battery levels for connected Bluetooth accessories when the accessory reports battery status. The Batteries widget is the most convenient view.
Steps
- Touch and hold an empty area of the Home Screen until apps jiggle.
- Tap the add-widget button and search for Batteries.
- Choose a widget size and add it to the Home Screen, then tap Done.
- Connect/use the Bluetooth accessory and check whether its battery appears in the widget.
- For AirPods, opening the case near the iPhone can also show charge information.
How it works
Not every generic Bluetooth device reports a battery percentage to iOS, so absence from the widget does not necessarily mean Bluetooth is broken. Some accessories use their own companion app.
Important considerations
iOS 16 is an older release in 2026. If the iPhone supports a newer security-supported iOS version, update it; menu/widget behavior may differ slightly.
Practical guidance
You can place the Batteries widget on the Today View instead of the main Home Screen if you prefer. Apple accessories may show separate case and earbud levels depending on connection state. A device that reports only a rough battery icon may not provide a precise percentage to iOS.
Additional details
Battery reporting can update only when the accessory is actively connected. If a device disappears, wake it/reconnect Bluetooth and check again. For Apple Pencil, Beats, or hearing devices, additional battery views may be available. Generic accessories determine what telemetry iOS receives.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.