How to Add AirPods Battery Widget: A Comprehensive Guide
Want to keep an eye on your AirPods battery life without constantly opening your charging case or diving into settings? You’re in the right place. Adding a battery widget to your iPhone or iPad’s home screen or Today View is the perfect solution. Here’s a breakdown of how to do it, step-by-step:
The Short Answer: To add an AirPods battery widget on your iPhone or iPad, long-press on an empty area of your home screen, tap the “+” button, search for “Batteries,” select a widget size, and add it to your screen. Once added, simply open your AirPods case (with AirPods inside) near your device to display their battery status.
Adding the Battery Widget to Your iPhone or iPad
Adding the battery widget is a straightforward process, and once set up, it offers at-a-glance information about the battery levels of your connected devices, including your AirPods.
Step 1: Enter Jiggle Mode
On your iPhone or iPad’s home screen, find an empty area (or create one by moving icons around). Long-press on this empty space. The app icons will start to “jiggle,” indicating that you’re in editing mode.
Step 2: Open the Widget Gallery
In the top-left corner of the screen, you’ll see a “+” button. Tap this button to open the Widget Gallery.
Step 3: Find the Batteries Widget
Scroll through the Widget Gallery until you find the “Batteries” widget. Alternatively, you can use the search bar at the top of the screen and type “Batteries” to quickly locate it.
Step 4: Choose a Widget Size
The Batteries widget comes in three sizes: small, medium, and large. Each size displays different information.
- Small: Shows a single battery icon representing one device.
- Medium: Displays the battery levels of up to four devices, arranged horizontally.
- Large: Shows the battery levels of up to four devices and also includes a graph of recent battery usage for the selected device.
Swipe left on the preview to see the different sizes. Choose the size that best suits your needs and screen real estate.
Step 5: Add the Widget
Once you’ve selected your desired size, tap the “Add Widget” button. The widget will be placed on your current home screen.
Step 6: Position and Finalize
The widget will likely be placed at the top of your home screen. You can tap and hold on the widget to drag it to your desired location. Once you’re satisfied with its placement, tap “Done” in the top-right corner of the screen to exit editing mode.
Step 7: Connect Your AirPods
For the widget to display your AirPods battery information, you need to ensure that your AirPods are connected to your iPhone or iPad. Open your AirPods charging case (with the AirPods inside) near your device. A connection prompt should appear on your screen. Follow the on-screen instructions to connect your AirPods if they’re not already paired.
Step 8: View Battery Information
Now, whenever you open your AirPods case near your connected iPhone or iPad, the Batteries widget will update to display the battery percentage of each AirPod and the charging case itself.
Tips and Troubleshooting
- Widget Not Updating? Ensure that Bluetooth is turned on and your AirPods are connected to your device. Also, try restarting your iPhone or iPad.
- Multiple AirPods? The widget will only display information for the AirPods that are currently connected to your device.
- Sharing AirPods? Battery information will be displayed based on the Apple ID that the AirPods are associated with.
- Smart Stacks: Consider adding the Batteries widget to a Smart Stack for a dynamic display of relevant information throughout the day.
FAQs: AirPods Battery Widget
Here are some frequently asked questions related to the AirPods battery widget, along with detailed answers:
1. Why isn’t the Battery Widget showing my AirPods?
There are several reasons why your AirPods might not be showing up in the Battery widget:
- Bluetooth is Off: Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your iPhone or iPad. Go to Settings > Bluetooth and ensure the toggle is turned on.
- AirPods Not Connected: Ensure your AirPods are properly connected to your device. Open the AirPods case near your iPhone or iPad. If they aren’t automatically recognized, you may need to manually pair them through the Bluetooth settings.
- Outdated Software: Ensure your iPhone or iPad is running the latest version of iOS or iPadOS. Outdated software can sometimes cause compatibility issues.
- Widget Glitch: Try removing and re-adding the Battery widget. Sometimes, the widget itself can encounter a temporary glitch.
- Battery Depleted: Although unlikely, ensure your AirPods or their charging case have sufficient battery. If they are completely drained, they won’t appear in the widget.
2. Can I see the battery percentage of each AirPod individually?
Yes, the Battery widget shows the individual battery percentage for both the left and right AirPod, as well as the charging case battery level. This allows you to easily identify if one AirPod is draining faster than the other.
3. Does the Battery Widget drain my iPhone’s battery?
The Battery widget has a minimal impact on your iPhone or iPad’s battery life. Widgets are designed to be efficient and only update periodically.
4. Can I add multiple Battery widgets to my home screen?
Yes, you can add multiple Battery widgets to your home screen. This can be useful if you want to display different sizes or configurations of the widget. For example, you could have a small widget showing a single device and a larger widget displaying multiple devices.
5. The widget only shows the charging case battery. Why?
If the widget is only displaying the charging case battery, it likely means that the AirPods themselves are inside the case and charging. Once you remove the AirPods from the case and use them, their individual battery levels should appear in the widget.
6. Can I see AirPods Max battery on the Battery Widget?
Yes, the Battery widget supports AirPods Max in the same way it supports AirPods and AirPods Pro. Simply ensure that your AirPods Max are connected to your iPhone or iPad, and their battery level will be displayed in the widget.
7. Is there a way to get a notification when my AirPods battery is low?
While the Battery widget provides a visual indication of battery levels, iOS doesn’t have a built-in notification feature for low AirPods battery. However, third-party apps are available on the App Store that can provide low battery notifications for your AirPods.
8. Can I customize the Battery Widget’s appearance?
Currently, the Battery widget offers limited customization. You cannot change the color, font, or other visual elements. The appearance is consistent with the overall iOS design.
9. How often does the Battery Widget update?
The Battery Widget updates periodically and automatically. The update frequency is optimized to balance providing accurate information with conserving battery life. Opening your AirPods case near your device will usually trigger an immediate update.
10. I’m using an older iPhone. Will the Battery Widget work?
The Battery widget functionality is available on iPhones and iPads running iOS 14 and later. If you have an older device running an earlier version of iOS, you won’t be able to use the widget feature.
11. My AirPods are connected, but the widget shows “No Accessories.” What does this mean?
This usually indicates a temporary glitch or a communication issue between your AirPods and your iPhone or iPad. Try the following:
- Restart your iPhone or iPad.
- Turn Bluetooth off and then back on.
- “Forget” the AirPods in your Bluetooth settings and then re-pair them. Go to Settings > Bluetooth, find your AirPods, tap the “i” icon next to them, and select “Forget This Device.” Then, follow the pairing process again.
- Ensure your AirPods firmware is up to date. Although there’s no manual way to update AirPods firmware, they typically update automatically when connected to your iPhone or iPad.
12. Can I see other Bluetooth device batteries on the Battery Widget?
Yes, the Battery widget is not limited to just AirPods. It can display the battery levels of other connected Bluetooth devices such as Apple Pencils, keyboards, mice, and certain headphones. As long as the device supports battery level reporting over Bluetooth, it should appear in the widget.
By following these steps and addressing these common questions, you can easily add and effectively use the AirPods battery widget to stay informed about the power levels of your favorite wireless earbuds. Enjoy!
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