PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.

4 iPhone Models Can't Display the Battery Percentage in iOS 16

The iPhone XR, 11, 12 mini, and 13 mini don't display the battery percentage in the status bar.

 & Matthew Humphries Former Senior Editor

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

Our Expert
LOOK INSIDE PC LABS HOW WE TEST
65 EXPERTS
43 YEARS
41,500+ REVIEWS

Some iPhone owners making the upgrade to iOS 16 will be disappointed to find the new battery percentage display in the status bar isn't working.

As MacRumors reports, this isn't a bug. Apple updated a support document to confirm that the battery percentage won't be displayed in the status bar on some older iPhone models. More specifically, the iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 mini, and the iPhone 13 mini will only show the visual representation of battery level.

Adding the battery percentage to the status bar was high on the list of requested features by iPhone users, and Apple finally delivered it alongside a bevy of other new features in iOS 16. It's a more convenient way of seeing how much battery you have left without having to swipe down from the top-right corner of your display. Apple hasn't explained why these four models of iPhone can't show the percentage.

If you own an iPhone that supports the battery percentage display, it can be enabled by navigating to Settings > Battery. The iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation), iPhone 8 or earlier, and all iPad models always show the battery percentage in the status bar. Another way to view battery information is by adding the Batteries widget to your Home Screen or Today View.

About Our Expert

Matthew Humphries

Matthew Humphries

Former Senior Editor

My Experience

I started working at PCMag in November 2016, covering all areas of technology and video game news. Before that I spent nearly 15 years working at Geek.com as a writer and editor. I also spent the first six years after leaving university as a professional game designer working with Disney, Games Workshop, 20th Century Fox, and Vivendi.

I hold two degrees: a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and a Master's degree in Games Development. My first book, Make Your Own Pixel Art, is available from all good book shops.

My Areas of Expertise

  • PC components and system building
  • Raspberry Pi
  • Software development
  • Storage technology
  • Video games and gaming hardware

Read full bio