How to get iphone 11 to show battery percentage

In iOS 16, Apple has introduced an option that lets you display the exact percentage of your iPhone's remaining battery in the status bar, even if you have a model with Face ID. This article explains how it works in iOS 16 Beta 5.

If you have a newer iPhone with Face ID running iOS 15, the battery icon shows a visual of the battery level, but it does not provide a specific percent, so you have to swipe into the Control Center or use the battery widget to view the battery percentage remaining.

In iOS 16, the battery level option is available on the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models, with the exception of the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini. It is also available on the iPhone X, iPhone XS, and iPhone 11 Pro/Max, but not the standard iPhone 11 or the iPhone XR. It's not clear why all notched iPhones don't support the feature, that's the situation for now.

If you have a compatible iPhone with Face ID running iOS 16 here's how to enable the percentage indicator.

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap Battery.
3. Toggle on Battery Percentage.

That's all there is to it. You'll now see a specific battery level inside the battery icon on both the Lock Screen and your Home Screens, providing a better idea of battery status at a glance.

The battery icon will change colors based on the status of the battery, and the color of the iPhone's wallpaper. When charging, for example, the battery icon will turn green and show a charging indicator. When the charge drops below 20%, the battery icon will show a red level.

If your iPhone doesn't support the new option, don't worry – you can still check the exact level of the battery using a handful of other methods.

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(Opens in a new window), this isn't a bug. Apple updated a support document(Opens in a new window) 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.

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About Matthew Humphries

Senior Editor

I've been working at PCMag since 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.

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