Show Battery Percentage macOS Big Sur: How-To
To show the battery percentage in macOS Big Sur, click the Apple menu, select System Preferences, then Dock & Menu Bar, and check the box for Show Percentage under the Battery section. This setting adds the percentage number directly inside the battery icon in your menu bar.
Where the Setting Lives in Big Sur
Apple moved the battery percentage toggle in macOS Big Sur. In earlier versions like Catalina, you could find it in Energy Saver preferences. Starting with Big Sur (macOS 11), the option is part of the Dock & Menu Bar pane, which controls everything that appears in the top-right menu bar.
Here is the exact path:
- Click the menu (Apple logo) in the top-left corner.
- Choose System Preferences…
- Click Dock & Menu Bar.
- In the left sidebar, scroll down and select Battery.
- On the right, tick the box next to Show Percentage.
The change applies immediately—you do not need to restart or log out. The percentage appears as a number inside the battery glyph, for example showing “87%� within the icon shape.
Why the Percentage Is Hidden by Default
Apple’s default design hides the numeric percentage, showing only the battery icon. The company’s reasoning is aesthetic: a clean menu bar with minimal text. The icon itself fills and empties to give a rough visual sense of charge, and a warning appears when you reach low levels.
However, many users find the icon alone insufficient. The difference between 40% and 25% is hard to judge visually, especially when you are away from a charger. Showing the exact number helps you decide whether to close apps, reduce screen brightness, or find an outlet before it becomes urgent.
How to Read the Menu Bar Battery Icon
Once enabled, the battery icon in the menu bar shows both the icon fill and the percentage. The icon also changes color and shape based on status:
- Black fill – normal battery level, Mac running on battery or plugged in.
- Green fill – battery is fully charged (or nearly full) while connected to power.
- Yellow fill – Low Power Mode is on (if your Mac supports it).
- Red fill – battery is critically low, usually below 10%.
- Lightning bolt – the Mac is plugged in and charging.
Clicking the battery icon opens a small menu showing the percentage, remaining time (if the system can estimate it), and a list of apps that are “Using Significant Energy.� This list is useful for finding battery drain culprits.
What If You Don’t See the Battery Icon at All?
If the battery icon itself is missing from your menu bar, you cannot show the percentage because there is no icon to display it in. To bring the icon back:
- Open System Preferences → Dock & Menu Bar.
- Select Battery in the left sidebar.
- Make sure Show in Menu Bar is checked.
If it is already checked but the icon still does not appear, try restarting the Finder: hold Option and right-click the Finder icon in the Dock, then choose Relaunch. If that fails, a full restart usually restores the menu bar items.
Battery Percentage on MacBook Models Without Touch Bar
All MacBooks that run macOS Big Sur support the percentage display, including older models like the 2015 MacBook Pro and 2017 MacBook Air. The setting is identical across laptops. Desktop Macs (iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro) do not have a battery icon because they do not have internal batteries—they run on wall power only.
Common Issues and Fixes
Some users report that after enabling the percentage, the number does not appear immediately or shows as “—� temporarily. This usually happens right after unplugging or plugging in the charger. The system needs a few seconds to recalculate. If it persists, resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) on Intel-based Macs can resolve battery reporting glitches. For Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and later), the SMC reset is not applicable; a simple restart or updating macOS usually fixes reporting issues.
Another common misconception is that the percentage display drains battery faster. It does not. The number is drawn from the same battery sensor data the icon already uses; rendering a few extra pixels consumes negligible power.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the battery percentage show in the Touch Bar?
No, the Touch Bar does not display battery percentage by default. You can add the battery widget to the Touch Bar via System Preferences → Keyboard → Customize Touch Bar…, then drag the battery icon into the Control Strip. However, that shows the icon, not a numeric percentage.
Can I show the percentage in the menu bar without the icon?
No. The percentage is always drawn inside the battery icon. There is no built-in option to display just the number as a separate text item. Third-party menu bar apps can do this, but they require installing additional software.
Why is my battery percentage not updating?
If the number stays the same for a long time, the battery’s calibration may be off. Try draining the battery below 20%, then charging it to 100% without interruption. If the problem continues, check System Information → Power for the battery’s cycle count and health. macOS Big Sur also has a feature called “Optimized Battery Charging� that delays charging past 80% to reduce wear—this can make the percentage appear stuck at 80% when plugged in for long periods.
Does the percentage work the same on Apple Silicon Macs?
Yes. The setting and behavior are identical on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs running Big Sur or newer. The only difference is that Apple Silicon models do not have an SMC reset, but they rarely experience battery reporting issues.
Will this setting carry over to macOS Monterey or Ventura?
Yes. The same checkbox exists in macOS Monterey, Ventura, Sonoma, and later, though the System Preferences window is renamed “System Settings� starting with Ventura. The menu path changes slightly, but the option remains under Dock & Menu Bar (or Control Center in newer versions) → Battery.
Related
Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.