Over time, a MacBook’s battery can lose its capacity after several recharge cycles. If you notice that your battery isn’t holding a charge as long as it used to, you may need to replace it. In this article, we’ll discuss how to check the battery cycles on your MacBook, the typical lifespan of a MacBook’s battery, and ways to prolong your MacBook’s battery life.
Why check the battery health on a MacBook
If you’re a MacBook Air or Pro user, it’s essential to keep an eye on the health of your laptop’s battery. Pay attention to any warning signs of a potentially malfunctioning MacBook battery, such as rapid battery drain or failure to charge.
Typically, a MacBook battery drains quickly when you’re running memory-intensive applications or using your laptop intensively. It’s crucial to regularly monitor your battery status and check its serviceability. Fortunately, macOS continuously monitors your battery’s health, enabling you to identify and address any issues before your battery dies unexpectedly. In this article, we’ll explain how you can do this.
How to check battery condition on a MacBook
On older versions of macOS, such as Catalina, checking the power status of your MacBook Pro was a breeze. You could easily access this information directly from the menu bar. To do this, simply press and hold the Option (Alt) key and click on the Battery icon in the menu bar. This will reveal advanced options of the battery menu, enabling you to view all the crucial data about your MacBook’s battery life. However, if you’re using a newer version of macOS, the steps to access this information may differ.
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If you’re using macOS High Sierra or a more recent version of macOS, you’ll need to access the System Preferences window to check your MacBook’s battery condition.
To check your battery life on a MacBook running macOS High Sierra or later, follow these steps:
- Click on the Apple icon in your menu bar.
- Press and hold the Option (Alt) key.
- Instead of “About this Mac,” you will see the option for “System Information.” Select System Information.
- From the sidebar, go to Power Options.
- In this section, you can find information on your battery health, including the battery condition.
Your MacBook battery can have one of four conditions, each indicating its overall health:
- Normal – Your battery is in excellent condition and is functioning optimally.
- Replace Soon – Your battery has deteriorated over time and now holds a charge for a shorter period than before. While it still functions, you will need to replace it soon.
- Replace Now – Your battery is still functioning, but its charge capacity has decreased significantly. You should replace the battery as soon as possible to avoid damaging your MacBook.
- Service Battery – This indicates that the battery is damaged and overheated, posing a risk to other components of your MacBook. You must replace the battery immediately.
To check your MacBook’s battery life on macOS Ventura, follow these steps:
- Open System Settings.
- Go to the General section.
- Click About.
- Scroll down until you see “System Report” and click on it.
- After clicking on “System Report,” a window will appear where you can check the battery life of your MacBook.
- To check the condition of your battery, switch to the “Power” section from the sidebar.
Read Also: How to Keep Your Mac Computer Secure
Frequently asked questions about MacBook batteries:
Q: Is it bad to leave a MacBook plugged in?
A: By default, your MacBook’s battery will stop charging once it’s full, so you don’t need to unplug it. However, Apple does not recommend leaving your MacBook plugged in constantly. The battery is lithium-based, and its electrons need to move occasionally to function well for a long time.
Q: What is a good battery cycle count for MacBook Pro?
A: Aim for a battery cycle count of no more than 1000 for modern models of MacBook Pro. Once the cycle count reaches 1000, the battery may start to drain faster, and its capacity may be reduced by 20% or more over time.
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