Controller battery on PC: every way to check it, compared
Windows settings, the Xbox app, Steam, DS4Windows or a taskbar utility: what each method shows, for which controllers, and when it is enough.
Updated September 24, 2026 · Controllers
There are five ways to see a controller's battery on a Windows PC: Windows Bluetooth settings, the Xbox Accessories app and Game Bar, Steam, DS4Windows, and a taskbar utility such as BatteryOnPC. None of them covers every case, because Windows only reads Xbox controllers natively: PlayStation and Nintendo controllers need Steam or a dedicated tool.
| Method | Controllers | What you see | Where and when | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Bluetooth settings | Xbox controllers over Bluetooth | A percentage under the controller name | Only when you open Settings | Free, built in |
| Xbox Accessories app, Game Bar | Xbox controllers, including on the wireless adapter | The battery level | Only while the app or the Game Bar is open | Free, from Microsoft |
| Steam | The controllers Steam supports (PlayStation, Switch Pro, Steam Controller…) | The battery next to the controller name | Only inside Steam, while it is running | Free |
| DS4Windows | Mainly PlayStation controllers | A percentage in its window | Only in its window, and it also remaps the controller | Free, open source |
| Tray icons based on XInput | Xbox and XInput controllers | Four steps: empty, low, medium, full | Permanently, in the taskbar | Free |
| BatteryOnPC | PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam Controller, 8BitDo, Flydigi, plus mice, keyboards and headsets | One icon per device with its level (precise for PlayStation controllers), and notifications | Permanently, whatever you play | One-time purchase |
Which one should you use?
- Only Xbox controllers, and opening Settings now and then is fine: Windows is enough, and over Bluetooth it is also the most precise.
- You only ever play inside Steam: Steam shows the level for free.
- You already use DS4Windows to remap a PlayStation controller: its window shows the percentage.
- You play outside Steam, mix several controllers, or want a warning before the battery dies: a taskbar utility is the only option that keeps the level in view.
What sets the utilities apart
Three details decide whether a battery tool is pleasant or a source of trouble:
- Passive reading: the tool should only listen to the controller. One that sends it commands can make a game lose the controller mid-session.
- Getting along with others: it has to work alongside Steam and DS4Windows instead of fighting them for the controller.
- Warnings: a level you have to look at is easy to forget. A notification at the threshold you choose is what actually saves the match.
Each case in detail: the DualSense, the Xbox controller and DS4Windows. Every device BatteryOnPC reads is listed on the compatibility page.