To see your battery percentage in Windows 10, point to the battery icon on the right side of the taskbar, or select it. A box shows the percentage and the time left. Windows 10 doesn’t show the number on the taskbar all the time, but you can open it with one click.
Applies to: Windows 10 laptops and tablets. Checked against Microsoft Support on September 26, 2026.
If you don’t see a battery icon at all, it’s turned off or hidden. The steps below bring it back.
Check the battery percentage
- Point to the battery icon on the taskbar to see a tooltip with the percentage.
- Or select the icon to open the battery box. It shows the percentage, the time remaining, and the power mode slider.
If the icon is inside the hidden icons area, select the ^ arrow first. You can drag the battery icon from there onto the taskbar so it’s always visible.
Turn the battery icon back on
- Right-click an empty part of the taskbar and select Taskbar settings.
- Under Notification area, select Turn system icons on or off.
- Turn on Power.
- Go back and select Select which icons appear on the taskbar, then turn on Power there too, so it isn’t hidden.
If the Power switch is grayed out
- Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
- Expand Batteries.
- Right-click Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery, select Disable device, and select Yes.
- Right-click it again and select Enable device.
- Restart the PC.
On a desktop PC without a battery, there’s no battery icon to show.
See more battery details
Select Start > Settings > System > Battery to see the percentage, turn on Battery saver, and select See which apps are affecting your battery life.
See the percentage and time left at a glance
Point at the battery icon on the taskbar without clicking. A small box shows the percentage and, while on battery, an estimate of the time remaining. The estimate changes with what you’re doing, so treat it as a rough guide.
If the percentage looks wrong
- It jumps or drops suddenly. The battery meter may need recalibrating. Charge to 100%, use the laptop until it shuts down on its own, then charge it to 100% again without interruption.
- It stays at 0% or shows a red X. In Device Manager, expand Batteries, right-click Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery, select Uninstall device, and restart. Windows reinstalls it.
- It stops charging at 60% or 80%. That’s probably a battery-saving limit, not a fault. Lenovo Vantage (Conservation mode), HP Battery Health Manager, and Dell Power Manager can all cap charging to extend battery life. Turn the limit off in that app if you need a full charge.
- It says “Plugged in, not charging.” Besides a charge limit, the charger may be too weak, especially a phone charger on a USB-C laptop. Use the charger that came with the laptop.
Get a warning when the battery is low
Windows warns you at 10 percent by default. To change when that happens:
- Search Start for Edit power plan and open it.
- Select Change advanced power settings.
- Expand Battery, then Low battery level, and set a higher percentage, such as 20.
- Make sure Low battery notification is On, then select OK.
See the battery level of Bluetooth devices
For a wireless mouse, keyboard, or headset, go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices. Devices that report their battery show a percentage next to their name. If yours doesn’t, check the maker’s app instead.
Frequently asked questions
Can the taskbar show the percentage number all the time?
Not in Windows 10. Some laptop makers’ apps and third-party apps can add a number to the taskbar. Download apps only from trusted sources.
Is my battery wearing out?
See how to check battery health in Windows 10.
How do I change other taskbar icons?
See how to show or hide weather on the taskbar in Windows 10 and how to move the taskbar in Windows 10.
How do I get a detailed battery report?
Open Command Prompt and run powercfg /batteryreport. Windows saves a file called battery-report.html in your user folder. Open it in a browser and compare Design capacity with Full charge capacity to see how much the battery has worn.
Why does the battery drain fast?
Screen brightness, background apps, and high-performance power modes use the most battery. Check See which apps are affecting your battery life on the Battery page and close the worst offenders.
Does Battery saver change the percentage?
No. It only reduces background activity and brightness so the battery lasts longer. By default it turns on at 20%.
On Windows 11, see how to show battery percentage on Windows 11.
Microsoft’s guide is Customize the taskbar in Windows. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.