How do you turn battery percentage on iphone 11

Q: Why doesn t iPhone 11 show battery percentage?

Every iPhone until 2017s iPhone X had the ability to show a percentage battery life figure at the top of the screen. It was removed because Apple had to conserve space in order to add Face ID and other sensors in the radical redesign that came with the iPhone X.

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.

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How do you put battery percentage on iPhone 11?
Why doesn t iPhone 11 show battery percentage?
How do I make my iPhone battery percentage show permanently?

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

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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.

Although Apple brought back the option for a battery percentage icon in iOS 16, it has now confirmed that several iPhones will not be able to display it.

Every iPhone until 2017's iPhone X had the ability to show a percentage battery life figure at the top of the screen. It was removed because Apple had to conserve space in order to add Face ID and other sensors in the radical redesign that came with the iPhone X.

During the iOS 16 beta process, Apple finally brought back the battery percentage. It's probable that this is because the new Dynamic Island design of Face ID cutouts leaves enough room for the indicator.

It's not been the most popular design of battery level indicator, but it also wasn't clear whether it would be available for all iPhones. Now Apple has listed four iPhones that do not and presumably never will show the percentage on their front screens.

The iPhones that have not got the indicator back are:

iPhone XR
iPhone 11
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 13 mini

This listing comes in a new support document, though it is specifically just a list. There is no further detail about why these particular models are excluded.

There are, though, some instructions about getting details of the battery charge remaining on these and all other iPhones. Specifically, it recommends both Control Center, and the Batteries widget.

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.

Before now, the option to show battery percentage in the status bar has only been available on pre-iPhone X models and iPhone SE models that have no notch, where space at the top of the screen isn't at a premium.

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.

That's all changed in iOS 16, and the status bar percentage indicator is now available on newer iPhones with a notch – but not all models.

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.

Open Settings on your iPhone.
Scroll down and tap Battery.
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.