The MacBook is one of the most in-demand laptops on the market. If you’ve been using your laptop for a while and it’s always on low battery, or if you’re just looking to see your battery‘s health, then this article can help you.
Simple ways to check MacBook battery health
Note: These methods to check your Mac’s battery health depends upon your machine’s OS. So we have shown them separately for each operating system.
If you have macOS Big Sur:
- First, click on the Apple icon located in the left corner inside the menu.
- Then look for System Preferences.
- Next, in the System Preferences, click on the
- Enter into the Battery menu on your Mac.
- Here you will see the Battery Healthoption at the bottom; click on it.
- Now you will see a pop-up menu stating your device’s battery condition.
If you have macOS Catalina or older OS:
Hold down the Option key and click on the battery icon located in the menu bar to see your device’s battery status menu.
Here you will see your machine’s battery health on the screen’s topside as either: Normal or service recommended.
Normal means that your battery is working normally.
Service Recommended means that your battery’s efficiency is not up to the mark, and it needs a replacement. In this case, you might face some glitches or lag issues because of poor battery health.
Now, let’s check out the battery’s cycle count, which is vital as your battery’s health status is based on the battery cycles.
What is meant by MacBook’s battery cycle count, and how to check it?
The cycle count states the battery’s full charge and discharges cycle. This option indicates when you completely charged your Mac to 100%.
Most Macs, especially new models, come with 1000 battery charge cycles. You can see the complete details on Apple’s official website as per Mac models. If you cross that mark, you might have to replace your Mac’s battery.
To track the battery cycle count of your Mac, follow these steps:
- Press command key + space key to enter in the Spotlight Search menu.
- Now, go to the System Information and click on the menu.
- Then select Power Option from in the Hardware menu.
- You will see the necessary information from the System Power Settings menu on the screen’s right side.
- Then look for the Health information menu to view the battery’s Cycle Count. The figure represents your MacBook’s charge cycle.
For example, if the cycle count shows 370, it means your MacBook will work fine for up to 3 years of regular use, but it also depends on your exact usage.
Want detailed info about your MacBook’s battery?
If you want more information about your Mac’s battery, the best option is to use third-party apps such as coconutBattery as it provides detailed and understandable insights about your MacBook’s battery health.
Moreover, the app is user-friendly and free to download. The app provides all the necessary info about your MacBook’s battery, such as battery temperature, manufacturer, charge cycles, and much more. Besides, you can also unlock additional features such as Wi-Fi support, Battery Analyzer, notifications, and others by subscribing to its Plus version.
Here is how to use coconutBattery to check MacBook’s battery health:
First, install coconutBattery on your machine.
Open the app, and you will find battery details like Current Charge, Full Charge Capacity, Cycle Count, Health Status, and more.
Now you know how to check your MacBook’s battery health, below are some tips and tricks to get the max out of your Mac.
Are You Using Optimized battery charging?
Most of us like to keep our MacBook’s battery connected to the power source. While it might be convenient for the users but it is not suitable for your battery. At this point, enabling an Optimized battery charging feature can be handy for you. However, this handy feature is available in the latest Macs.
Besides, the optimized battery charging function will not stop charging your battery to full, but it will help your OS understand your device usage, and in some cases, it might restrict the charge to 80% or 90% if and when needed.
To enable it:
- First, click the Apple icon available in the menu bar.
- Then visit the System Preferences.
- Then go to the Battery menu.
- Now, activate the Optimized battery charging feature.
Also Read: How to get Microsoft Office for Free on Mac
