You updated your iPhone to iOS 16, expecting to enable the new battery percentage icon, but Can’t See Battery Percentage On iPhone. Don’t panic – certain iPhones don’t display the percentage. Here’s which models are affected and why.
Can’t See Battery Percentage on iPhone? Here’s Why
Apple finally reintroduced battery percentage displays in the status bar with the iOS 16 update. However, some iPhone models like the iPhone XR, 11, 12 mini, and 13 mini don’t support the feature. If your iPhone model is unable to display the percentage icon, don’t worry – you have a few workarounds.
First, open Control Center by swiping down from the top right of your screen. The battery percentage will display here even if not shown in the status bar. You can also add a Battery widget to your home screen for at-a-glance percentage checking. Ask Siri “What is my battery percentage?” to have it spoken aloud. When charging, a popup will indicate the percentage too. While not as convenient as the status bar icon, these options allow you to monitor battery level on iPhones without native support.
Some exclusions stem from hardware limitations, but check for iOS updates as Apple may expand compatibility. With handy workarounds, you can still easily view battery percentage on iPhone models lacking the status bar feature.
iPhones Without Battery Percentage
Apple confirmed these iPhones don’t show battery percentage:
- iPhone XR
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 13 mini
The percentage is also missing on third-party app status bars. Apple provided no explanation for excluding these models.
Why No Battery Percentage Display?
While Apple hasn’t commented, the excluded iPhones have a few things in common. All four have LCD displays rather than OLED. They also have larger bezels with no dynamic island.
The mini iPhones likely don’t have enough screen space to fit the percentage icon legibly. The LCD resolution may impact icon crispness too.
Enabling Battery Percentage on Supported iPhones
To enable battery percentage on supported iPhone X and later models:
- Go to Settings > Battery
- Toggle on ‘Battery Percentage’
The percentage will now display inside the battery icon in the status bar.
Viewing Percentage on iPhones Without the Feature
If your iPhone doesn’t support battery percentage, use these workarounds:
- Open Control Center to view percentage
- Add a Battery widget to your Home Screen
- Ask Siri “What is my battery percentage?”
- Monitor when charging – a popup will show percentage
While unfortunate, the exclusion likely stems from technical limitations on certain iPhone models. Check if a software update adds support in the future. With workarounds, you can still easily monitor your battery percentage.
