How to Charge an Airthings View Plus

On this page (9 sections)

1. Does the Airthings View Plus have a rechargeable battery?
2. How do you power the Airthings View Plus for the first time?
3. Do you ever need the USB C cable?
4. How do you know when the batteries are running low?
5. Which AA batteries should you use?
6. Where should you place a battery-powered monitor?
7. What do the readings mean once the monitor is running?
8. When should you replace the batteries rather than troubleshoot?
9. The short version on charging an Airthings View Plus

You don't charge an Airthings View Plus. It runs on 6 AA batteries, so when power runs low you replace them instead of plugging in a charger.

The box includes a USB C cable, but that cable is for setup and firmware updates, not for recharging the monitor.

If you searched for how to charge Airthings View Plus, the short answer is that this model is battery powered by design.

That matters for how you set it up. The View Plus is meant to sit on a shelf or hang on a wall without a cable running to it, so battery power is a feature, not a limitation.

You'll get the longest life from a fresh set of AA cells and a spot with a solid Wi-Fi signal.

Does the Airthings View Plus have a rechargeable battery?

No. The View Plus uses 6 AA batteries, and Airthings rates them at about 2 years of average life.

There is no built-in rechargeable pack to top up.

That's worth knowing before you buy, because some air monitors run from a wall adapter and some carry a rechargeable cell. This one is in the replaceable-battery group.

Airthings ships a set of AA batteries in the box along with the USB C cable, so you can get going straight away.

The 2-year figure is an average. Wi-Fi strength, how often the eInk screen refreshes and how much the app pulls data all affect real battery life.

A weak signal makes the radio work harder, so a monitor placed far from the router can drain cells faster than one near it. The unit itself is small and light, at roughly 4 by 4 by 2 inches and under 6 ounces, so there's no weight argument for keeping it near an outlet either.

How do you power the Airthings View Plus for the first time?

Fit the 6 AA batteries, and let the monitor start up. The battery compartment sits on the rear of the unit, and the cells go in as marked.

Once the batteries are in, the eInk screen wakes and the monitor looks for your Wi-Fi network. Airthings says setup runs through the Airthings app, so have your phone nearby and your network name and password ready.

The app walks you through joining the monitor to Wi-Fi and creating or signing in to your account. The account only needs your email and name, and the monitor won't work without the app.

If the screen stays blank after you fit the batteries, check that each cell sits the right way round and that the compartment cover is fully seated. A fresh set from the box should be enough for first use.

Do you ever need the USB C cable?

The included USB C cable is for setup help and updates, not for everyday charging. It connects the monitor to a computer or adapter when the app asks for a firmware update.

Treat it as a maintenance cable. You won't leave it plugged in as a power lead, because the View Plus is designed to run cable-free on its batteries.

Keep the cable somewhere you can find it, since firmware updates are the main time you'll need it. It's worth tucking into the same drawer as your spare AA cells so both are at hand when the monitor needs attention.

If you misplace the cable, a standard USB C cable works for the same job. You don't need a special Airthings charger.

How do you know when the batteries are running low?

The Airthings app tells you when power is low, and the monitor's screen can show a low-battery state. Watch for that notice rather than waiting for readings to stop.

The unit's alarm is visual rather than audible, so the screen and app are where the warning shows up.

Because the monitor saves data to the cloud, a short gap while you swap batteries won't wipe your history. Airthings says readings are stored securely in the cloud and the app shows trends over time, so a battery change is a brief interruption, not a reset.

Plan the swap for a moment when you're home. It takes a couple of minutes, and the monitor rejoins Wi-Fi on its own once the new cells are in.

The monitor and app both need internet access, so confirm the connection came back before you walk away.

Which AA batteries should you use?

Use fresh AA batteries and fit all 6 at once. Mixing old and new cells, or different brands, can shorten life and cause uneven drain.

Airthings doesn't name a required battery chemistry in the product details. Alkaline AA cells are the common choice for a device like this.

Rechargeable NiMH cells work too, but their lower nominal voltage can mean shorter runs between charges. Either way, fit the full set of 6 together so all the cells start from the same state.

Keep a spare set in a drawer so a low-battery notice doesn't leave you without readings for long. If you monitor radon, gaps in the record are the thing you most want to avoid, since radon levels rise and fall over days and weeks.

Can you run the View Plus on mains power instead?

There's no mains-powered mode to fall back on. The View Plus is built around its 6 AA cells and cable-free placement, and the included USB C cable is for setup and updates rather than as a power supply.

If your main reason for asking about charging is that you'd rather not think about batteries, a mains-powered monitor is the better fit. If you just want to keep this one running, spare cells are the simple answer.

Where should you place a battery-powered monitor?

Pick a spot with steady air movement and a strong Wi-Fi signal, away from direct sun and drafts. Battery power means you aren't tied to an outlet, so choose the location for the reading, not the cable.

Radon is heaviest near the floor, so a lower shelf or a spot at knee height in a regularly used room makes sense. Keep the monitor off the floor itself and away from exterior doors that swing open to outdoor air.

For a wider look at siting and reading any monitor, our guide to home air quality monitors covers placement room by room. The operating range is 39 to 104°F with humidity under 85%, so a normal living room or basement corner sits comfortably inside it, while a steamy bathroom or a spot in direct sun may not.

Signal strength matters for battery life as well as data. A spot near the router keeps the radio working less and the readings flowing.

Check the app's connection status after setup to confirm the monitor is reporting.

What do the readings mean once the monitor is running?

Each sensor reports a different pollutant, and the app shows them as separate numbers rather than one score. The View Plus tracks radon, PM2.5, CO2, VOCs, humidity, temperature and air pressure.

Radon needs the most patience. Airthings says the digital detector uses a passive diffusion chamber with alpha spectrometry, and radon readings settle over days and weeks rather than minutes.

Give it time before you draw conclusions about your home. The same always-on setup is what lets you confirm a mitigation system is still working, since a rise in the reading shows up as a trend rather than a one-off number.

For the other sensors, our guide to how to read air quality monitor numbers explains what typical ranges look like. If you're comparing particle readings, PM2.5 vs PM10 clarifies what each size means.

Treat a single high reading as a prompt to look for a source, not a verdict. Cooking, cleaning products and opening a window all move the numbers.

The app also shows a local pollen forecast from Breezometer, which helps separate outdoor triggers from indoor sources.

When should you replace the batteries rather than troubleshoot?

Replace the cells when the app reports low power. If readings stop or the screen goes dark, fresh batteries are the first thing to try.

If a new set doesn't revive the monitor, check the Wi-Fi connection next. A monitor that lost its network can look offline even with good batteries.

Reopen the app, confirm the network details and let it reconnect. The app also sends notifications and improvement tips, so silence from the app is another clue that the connection, not the sensor, is the problem.

Airthings backs the View Plus with a 5-year extended warranty when you register within 30 days of purchase on the Airthings website. Registration is free.

If the monitor won't power up with fresh cells and a known-good network, that warranty is the route to take.

The short version on charging an Airthings View Plus

There is no charging step: the View Plus runs on 6 AA batteries, rated for about 2 years, and you swap them when the app says power is low. Keep the USB C cable for setup and updates, and keep a spare set of AA cells on hand.

Choose this monitor if you want cable-free placement and don't mind a battery change every couple of years. If you'd rather never touch batteries, look at a mains-powered monitor instead.

Either way, a strong Wi-Fi spot and a sensible location will do more for your readings than any power choice.

Frequently asked questions

How do you charge an Airthings View Plus?

You don't charge it. The View Plus is battery powered and runs on 6 AA batteries, so you replace them when they run down rather than connecting a charger.

The included USB C cable is for setup and updates, not for recharging the monitor.

How long do the batteries last in an Airthings View Plus?

Airthings rates the batteries at about 2 years of average life. Real time depends on Wi-Fi signal strength and how often the screen and app are active, so expect some variation between homes.

What batteries does the Airthings View Plus use?

It takes 6 AA batteries. Airthings includes a set in the box along with a USB C cable, so you can set it up and start monitoring without buying batteries first.

Does the Airthings View Plus need to stay plugged in?

No. It's designed for cable-free placement and runs on its batteries.

You can put it on a shelf or wall without needing an outlet nearby.

Can I leave the Airthings View Plus plugged in all the time?

The monitor is built around battery power and cable-free placement. If you want continuous readings without battery changes, keep spare AA cells on hand and swap them promptly when the app warns you that power is low.