How to check battery charging status?

In short, you can confirm charging status by looking at on-device indicators (icons and text) and, when needed, by checking detailed settings or using diagnostic commands. The exact steps vary by platform, but the goal is the same: know whether the battery is charging, how full it is, and if there are any charging issues.

This guide walks you through how to verify charging status on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS/iPadOS, and other common setups. It covers quick visual checks and deeper methods for troubleshooting or history tracking.

Windows: Quick checks on a PC

Use these methods to verify charging status on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

• Look at the taskbar battery icon. It typically shows a bolt or plug symbol and a percentage, and may read “Plugged in, charging” when the laptop is charging.


• Open Settings > System > Power & battery > Battery to see current charge level and whether the device is charging.


• Use the Quick Settings/Action Center for a fast glance at whether power is supplied and the estimated battery level.


• PowerShell or Command Prompt: run Get-CimInstance Win32_Battery | Select-Object EstimatedChargeRemaining, BatteryStatus, Status to view charge percentage and a battery-status indicator. You can also try wmic path Win32_Battery get BatteryStatus for a quick numeric value.


• Generate a battery report for long-term data: powercfg /batteryreport creates an HTML file with charging history, health, and usage trends.

These Windows methods cover everyday checks with quick visuals and also provide a path to detailed historical data if you need it.

Interpreting the indicators

In general, a battery icon showing “charging” or a Power & Battery screen confirming charging indicates the system is receiving power from the adapter. If you expect charging but see “On AC power, not charging” or no change in percentage, check the power adapter, port, or battery health.

macOS: Checking charging status on Mac

Apple’s macOS provides multiple ways to verify charging status, from the menu bar to system reports.

Before the list: Quick checks cover everyday status; for deeper hardware details, System Information and Terminal can help.

• The menu bar battery icon shows whether the Mac is charging or charged, and displays a percentage when enabled.


• System Settings > Battery (on macOS Ventura and later) shows whether the battery is charging and the current charge level; it may also display “AC Connected” or similar indicators when plugged in.


• System Information > Power reveals hardware-level details such as AC Charger Connected and Charging status, plus current and full charge capacity metrics.


• Terminal: run pmset -g batt to view battery status, level, and whether the machine is drawing power from AC or Battery.

These macOS methods let you confirm charging status quickly and, if needed, pull precise hardware data for troubleshooting or planning.

What the indicators mean

A charging status in the menu bar or Settings generally means power is flowing from the charger. If the indicator stays at a low percentage or shows “Not charging” while connected, consider checking the adapter, cable, or battery health in System Information.

Linux: Command line and desktop indicators

Linux users can rely on both GUI indicators and a few robust CLI commands to check charging status.

Before the list: Linux provides both desktop environment indicators and terminal-based checks, useful for servers or headless setups too.

• Desktop environments (GNOME, KDE, etc.) typically show a battery icon in the system tray with “Charging” or “Fully Charged” and a percentage.


• Command line: cat /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/status or /sys/class/power_supply/BAT1/status shows “Charging” or “Discharging,” and cat /sys/class/power_supply/BAT0/capacity displays the current percentage (BAT0 or BAT1 may vary by hardware).


• Upower: upower -i $(upower -e | grep BAT) provides a readable summary including state (charging/discharging), percentage, and time remaining.


• ACPI: if the acpi utility is installed, acpi -V reports charging state, voltage, and temperature for a quick health check.

These Linux approaches cover both normal desktop usage and more technical needs, like scripting battery checks for automated monitoring.

Tips for Linux users

Battery device names vary (BAT0, BAT1, etc.), so adapt the commands to your system. If a command isn’t found, install the appropriate utilities (e.g., acpi, upower) via your package manager.

Android: Checking charging status on phones and tablets

Android devices provide clear indicators of charging status across a range of manufacturers and versions.

Before the list: Most checks rely on system settings and quick-access UI elements.

• Open Settings > Battery to see the current percentage and the charging state (often labeled “Charging” or “Not charging”).


• Pull down the notification shade or access Quick Settings to view a battery tile that shows charging status and percentage at a glance.


• Some devices show a charging indicator (bolt icon) on the lock screen or status bar while plugged in.


• For more advanced details, use a battery or device maintenance app from the Play Store, or use ADB: adb shell dumpsys battery to fetch current status, level, and health information.

These Android methods give you immediate status in daily use, with deeper diagnostics available for troubleshooting or calibration tasks.

Notes on Android indicators

If charging seems slow or stops unexpectedly, consider the charger’s wattage, cable quality, port cleanliness, or battery health. Some fast-charging features require compatible chargers and devices.

iOS / iPadOS: Apple devices

iPhone and iPad users can rely on familiar indicators and Apple’s Battery settings to monitor charging status.

Before the list: iOS devices emphasize simplicity, while System Settings and Control Center provide quick access to status.

• In Control Center, a lightning bolt on the battery icon indicates charging when the device is plugged in.


• Settings > Battery shows current usage and, when connected, will reflect charging status and battery level.


• You can also insert the device into a charger to see the charging state in the status bar and on the lock screen.


• For hardware details, use the Battery Health and related metrics in Settings > Battery (or System Settings on newer macOS devices, when applicable to iPadOS family).

These checks cover day-to-day status and provide troubleshooting paths if charging is stalled or inconsistent.

What to monitor

A visible charging indicator means power from the charger is being accepted. If charging does not occur as expected, verify the cable, charger, and port, and consider checking battery health if charging issues persist.

Summary

Across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS/iPadOS, checking battery charging status typically comes down to visual indicators—icons, bolt symbols, and percentage readouts—and built-in settings panels. For quick checks, the system tray or Control Center, and the Battery sections in Settings, are usually sufficient. When you need deeper insight, use platform-specific diagnostic commands or tools: battery reports on Windows, System Information on macOS, Upower or sysfs on Linux, and ADB or OS-level battery logs on Android. Regularly confirming charging status helps ensure devices stay powered when you need them and can illuminate charging issues before they affect performance.

How to check battery state of charge?

You can measure a battery's state of charge (SOC) using methods like Coulomb counting, which tracks current over time, or by measuring voltage and relating it to the battery's discharge curve. Other methods include using a hydrometer for specific gravity in lead-acid batteries and more advanced techniques like impedance spectroscopy. The most accurate approach often combines multiple methods and considers factors like temperature. 
Common measurement methods 
This video explains how to test a car battery using a multimeter: 32sLowe's Home ImprovementYouTube · Nov 1, 2023

• Coulomb Counting: This method estimates the SOC by integrating the current going into and out of the battery over time, starting from a known initial SOC. 
  • How it works: It measures the flow of charge to determine how much has been added or removed. 
  • Considerations: Accuracy can drift over time due to factors like self-discharge and battery aging, so periodic recalibration is necessary. 
• Voltage Method: This approach uses the battery's terminal voltage to estimate SOC by comparing it to a known discharge curve (voltage vs. SOC). 
  • How it works: A resting voltage reading can be converted to a corresponding SOC percentage. 
  • Considerations: The reading is highly dependent on the current battery load and temperature. It is most accurate when the battery has been at rest for several hours. For some battery types, like certain lithium-ion chemistries, this method is less reliable because their voltage is less dependent on their SOC. 
• Specific Gravity (for flooded lead-acid batteries): A hydrometer is used to measure the density of the electrolyte. 
  • How it works: The specific gravity increases as the battery charges, as the concentration of the sulfuric acid electrolyte changes. 
  • Considerations: This is considered one of the most accurate methods for lead-acid batteries but is not applicable to other battery types. 
• Impedance Spectroscopy: This advanced technique involves applying a small AC signal to the battery and analyzing its response. 
  • How it works: It measures the battery's internal resistance and other electrochemical properties to estimate SOC. 
  • Considerations: This method is often used in manufacturing and other high-accuracy applications and is independent of voltage. 

Mathematical formula
The state of charge (SOC) can be calculated as a percentage using the following formula: 
SOC=CreleasableCrated×100cap S cap O cap C equals the fraction with numerator cap C sub r e l e a s a b l e end-sub and denominator cap C sub r a t e d end-sub end-fraction cross 100𝑆𝑂𝐶=𝐶𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝐶𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑×100 

• Creleasablecap C sub r e l e a s a b l e end-sub𝐶𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 is the current charge level in Ampere-hours (Ah).
• Cratedcap C sub r a t e d end-sub𝐶𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 is the battery's rated capacity in Ampere-hours (Ah), a value provided by the manufacturer.

How to check battery status of car?

You can check your car battery's health by using a multimeter to measure its voltage and perform a load test. First, turn off the engine and set the multimeter to DC volts, then connect the red probe to the positive terminal and the black probe to the negative terminal. A healthy battery should have a resting voltage of at least 12.612.612.6 volts. Then, start the car and check the voltage during cranking; it should not drop below 101010 volts. 
This video demonstrates how to test your car battery's voltage and its health with a multimeter: 32sLowe's Home ImprovementYouTube · Nov 1, 2023
Step 1: Perform a voltage test 

• Turn off the engine and disconnect any chargers. 
• Remove any surface charge from the battery by turning on the headlights for about a minute, then turn them off. 
• Set a multimeter to the DC voltage setting (choose the 202020V option). 
• Connect the red probe to the positive (+) terminal and the black probe to the negative (-) terminal. 
• Read the voltage. A healthy battery will show a resting voltage of at least 12.612.612.6 volts. 

Step 2: Perform a cranking test 

• With the multimeter still connected, start the car. 
• Monitor the voltage while the engine cranks. The voltage should not drop below 101010 volts. 
• If the voltage drops below 101010 volts, the battery is likely failing and should be replaced. 
• After the car starts, the voltage should rise to about 13.813.813.8 to 14.514.514.5 volts as the alternator charges the battery. 

Additional checks

• Check the alternator: If the voltage is outside the 13.813.813.8 to 14.514.514.5 volts range with the engine running, the alternator may need to be checked. 
• Visual inspection: Look for signs of corrosion on the terminals or a bulging, cracked case. 
• Headlight test: A simple indicator is to turn on the headlights. If they are dim, the battery may be low on charge. 

This video explains how to check your car's battery and alternator with a multimeter: 1mMaddox MechanicYouTube · Sep 20, 2025

How do I see charging status on Iphone?

Just swipe down from the top-right corner of the device's display. With iOS 16 and later, you can turn on the battery percentage so it appears in your status bar.

How to check if a battery is charging properly?

In order to check the alternator is supplying the correct amount of charge, with the engine running, place the probes of your multi-meter (as previously mentioned above) on the battery terminals. A healthy charging system should give the results of between 13.6 volts and 14.4 volts at idle tick over.