A MacBook battery wears out; that is unavoidable. But how quickly is partly up to you. With a few habits and the right settings you can save your MacBook battery, so it lasts years longer before it needs replacing. This article explains how a MacBook battery wears, which settings help and which myths you can forget.
Blue Apple repairs MacBooks in Amsterdam and replaces MacBook batteries when they are really worn.
How does a battery wear?
A lithium-ion battery loses capacity through charge cycles (a cycle is using one hundred percent in total, even spread over days), through heat and through staying at a very high or very low charge for long. Newer MacBooks are designed for about a thousand cycles before capacity drops below eighty percent.
Settings that help
- Optimised Battery Charging: on in System Settings, Battery (via the i symbol next to Battery Health). The MacBook learns your routine and charges the last percent just before you unplug it.
- Low Power Mode: less use per day means fewer cycles.
- Automatic brightness left on.
- Keep macOS up to date: updates often improve battery management.
Habits that help
- Avoid heat. Do not leave your MacBook in the sun or a hot car, and do not use it on a cushion or blanket during heavy work.
- Charge somewhere cool. Charging in heat is extra stressful.
- Do not often run it completely flat. Draining to zero percent is not needed and not good.
- Storing it for long? Do so at about half charge, somewhere cool, and top it up every few months.
Myths
- "You must run it completely flat first." No, that applied to old batteries. Lithium-ion gains nothing from it.
- "Always on the charger is bad." With optimised charging macOS protects the battery itself. If you almost always work on the charger, that is fine.
- "Another charger damages the battery." A good USB-C charger with enough wattage is safe. Do not use a cheap charger without certification. See which charger fits.
How healthy is your battery now?
System Settings, Battery shows battery health and maximum capacity. The cycle count is in System Information, Power. See checking battery health and cycles.
Always working at a desk?
If you almost always use your MacBook on the charger with an external display, the battery stays at a high charge for long periods. Optimised charging then often holds it around eighty percent. Also make sure the MacBook does not get warm: do not put it closed in a shut cabinet or against a radiator, and keep the vents clear. If you go away for a few weeks, do not leave it on the charger; leave it half charged and switched off.
Draining fast?
If your battery suddenly drains much faster, an app or setting is often using a lot of power. Read MacBook battery draining fast.
When to replace?
- Maximum capacity is around or below eighty percent.
- It says "Service Recommended".
- The MacBook shuts off at a few percent, or lasts only briefly.
- The battery swells: have it replaced straight away.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
We test the battery and replace it if it is worn. You hear beforehand what it costs. More on our page about MacBook battery replacement.
Frequently asked questions
How often may I charge my MacBook?
As often as you like. Topping up counts proportionally towards cycles.
Is fast charging bad for the battery?
macOS controls the charging speed itself and protects the battery. You do not need to do anything.
Can I set a maximum charge limit?
Optimised charging does this automatically. Apps that set a fixed limit exist too, but are usually not needed.
