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Imac battery percentage?
- Thread starter surfbug
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As far as I'm aware, there is no way to add the keyboard battery level to the top menu items. However, you can add the language symbol (flag) to the top menu and by selecting it, you can then access the keyboard menu which will give you the battery percentage. That's how I have mine set up.
you're not going to see a battery icon on a desktop as there's no installed batteries. if you are wanting an icon for bluetooth accessories then I suggest an app like istat menus.
if it's a Bluetooth keyboard, then in the bluetooth system preference set that to show bluetooth in the menu bar, then you get a bluetooth dropdown which, when you select the device in the dropdown, will show you the battery level.
If you have a "smart" UPS, it has a signal line going to your iMac to provide status so that it can power down once the preset thresholds (battery charge state, length of running on battery, etc) are crossed. This assumes that the UPS can "talk" to the iMac either through a native driver or software provided by the UPS manufacturer. In this case, the iMac would also be able to display battery percentage.
Otherwise, as others have pointed out, there is no battery percentage to display.
Otherwise, as others have pointed out, there is no battery percentage to display.
You need to click on the US flag, and then select "Open Keyboard Preferences". At the bottom of the dialog box which opens you will see keyboard battery percentage. Sort of an indirect way to show it, but I know of no other way to do it. I'm using the Apple Magic Keyboard rechargeable model.
Or, if you have the Bluetooth status enabled on the display top, click the Bluetooth icon and you can hover on the keyboard status to see the keyboard battery percentage. This works with the Magic Trackpads as well.
I know that some Linux desktop machines are capable of detecting a connected UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) system and automatically show a battery icon in the status bar, same as if the machine were a laptop. I have a UPS connected to a different computer, but never tried to connect it to the iMac to see what happens... 🤷♂️ It's too much trouble to pick up the iMac and take it to the other room where the UPS is, or vice-versa.
You will see the battery indicator on an iMac if the UPS is capable of communicating status with the machine. I know APC UPS units do this via a USB cable. No special software is needed.
Yes, USB cable. I suspected that it would be just as plug-and-play with an iMac as it is with a Linux machine.
