How to show the battery percentage in the Mac menu bar
Where to turn on the battery percentage in the menu bar on macOS, and why the number sometimes jumps or differs from what you expect.
How do I show the battery percentage on my Mac?
Open System Settings, Control Center, find Battery and turn on Show Percentage. The number appears next to the icon straight away.
Why is my battery percentage not showing?
The Battery item can be hidden from the menu bar entirely. In the same Control Center settings, set Battery to Show in Menu Bar first, then turn on the percentage.
How do I see the exact charge from Terminal?
pmset -g battIt prints the percentage, whether it is charging and the time remaining.
If the number jumps around, see MacBook battery percentage not accurate.
Common questions
How do I add the battery percentage to my MacBook Air?
System Settings, Control Center, Battery, then Show Percentage. It works the same on every MacBook.
Can I check my Mac battery percentage in Terminal?
Yes: pmset -g batt shows the percentage, charging state and time remaining.