How to Show Battery Percentage on Your Mac (macOS Tahoe, Sequoia, Monterey & More)

You’re in the middle of work, ideas are flowing, and suddenly the screen dims, your Mac is running out of charge. That tiny battery icon in the corner doesn’t always tell the full story. Sometimes, you just want to see the exact percentage left so you know whether to plug in now or later.

Apple hides this by default, but enabling the battery percentage on your Mac is quick and makes life much easier. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to do it on macOS Tahoe, Sequoia, Ventura, Monterey, and even earlier versions, plus tips to understand battery symbols and troubleshoot if it’s not showing up.

Show Battery Percentage on macOS Tahoe 26

Apple tweaked System Settings in macOS Tahoe, but enabling percentage is still simple:

1. Open System Settings from the Apple menu .
2. Go to Menu Bar.
3. Select Battery on the right side.
4. Click Battery Options.
   
5. Turn on Show Percentage and hit Done.
   

Now you’ll see the percentage right next to your battery icon in the menu bar.

Show Battery Percentage on macOS Sequoia, Ventura, or Sonoma

If you’re on Sequoia or older builds like Ventura and Sonoma:

1. Open System Settings from the Apple menu.
2. Scroll down and select Control Center.
3. Go to the Battery section under Other Modules.
4. Toggle on Show in Menu Bar.
5. Toggle on Show Percentage.
   

That’s it, your Mac will display the percentage in real time. You can also enable Show in Control Center if you prefer to check it there.

Show Battery Percentage on macOS Monterey and Earlier

On older Macs running System Preferences:

1. Click the Apple logo  and open System Preferences.
2. Select Dock & Menu Bar.
3. Scroll down to Battery under Other Modules.
4. Check the box for Show in Menu Bar.
5. Check the box for Show Percentage.
   

This places the percentage beside the battery icon for instant clarity.

Understanding Battery Symbols on Mac

The percentage is useful, but knowing the symbols helps too:

1. Battery outline with percentage/level → Normal indicator of remaining charge.
2. Lightning bolt inside the battery → Mac is charging.
3. Plug icon inside the battery → Mac is fully charged and plugged in.
4. Empty/low battery with red bar → Battery is very low; plug in soon.
5. Flashing or critical warning symbol → Battery is almost drained.
6. Exclamation mark in the battery icon → Battery service is required (health degraded).
   

Also, when your Mac is plugged in, click the battery icon in the menu bar. You’ll see an estimate of how long it will take to fully charge, useful if you’re planning to step away. 

Other Ways to Check Battery Percentage on Mac

Sometimes, you just want a quick peek at your Mac’s battery level without enabling the battery percent. Here are a few handy alternatives that make it effortless to stay in the know:

• Click on the battery icon: In many macOS versions, simply clicking on the battery icon in the menu bar reveals the exact percentage in a pop-up or contextual hint.
• Use Control Center: Open it from the top-right corner of your screen (the toggle icon that looks like switches). The battery section there (especially in macOS Ventura, Sonoma, or Sequoia) often displays both the icon and an accurate percentage. However, this is disabled by default, and you need to enable it from Settings. 
• Ask Siri: Just say, “Hey Siri, what’s my battery percentage?” and your Mac will tell you exactly how much charge remains.
• Third‑party apps for deeper insights: If you want more than just a number, apps like iStat Menus and CoconutBattery provide detailed battery health, cycle data, temperature, and even stats for connected Bluetooth devices.

Together, these methods give you quick, flexible ways to check your battery status. 

Troubleshooting: Battery Percentage Not Showing

If you’ve enabled the option but don’t see the percentage:

• Toggle setting off and on, then restart: Go to Settings, disable both Show in Menu Bar and Show Percentage, restart your Mac, then enable them again. This refresh often clears temporary glitches.
• Reset the SMC (Intel Macs only): On Intel-based Macs, reset the System Management Controller to restore proper power management. This can resolve missing battery icons or incorrect readings.
• Software update or restart: Check for macOS updates in System Settings > General > Software Update. Updating or simply restarting can remove bugs that prevent the percentage from showing.
• Inspect battery health and connection: Open System Information > Power and check the battery’s Condition. If it shows Service Recommended, the battery may need replacement. In rare cases, internal battery connectors may need to be reseated by a technician.

Also Read: How to Fix the Battery Drain Issue on macOS

Why Show Battery Percentage on Mac?

A percentage is clearer than a vague half-full icon. It helps you decide whether to finish a movie, wrap up work, or take a break to charge. No matter which macOS version you’re running, turning on this feature takes seconds but saves you from unexpected shutdowns.

Don’t miss these related reads:

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