How to increase MacBook battery life? The MacBook’s battery life has been significantly improved thanks to the use of Apple chips in recent products, and it can provide users with a long charge in optimal conditions. Of course, over time, this will reduce the health of the batteries, and the same is true for new MacBooks.
However, to prevent premature destruction of the MacBook battery and improve its health, steps can be taken that have beneficial effects in the long run and delay the need to replace the battery. Also, buying a new battery and replacing it can impose a lot of additional costs on the consumer, which can be largely prevented only by observing the above points.
Table of Contents
- Use of optimal charging capability
- No permanent connection to the charger
- Avoid undesirable temperatures
- Use AlDente software
- Check MacBook battery status
- MacBook battery replacement
Use of optimal charging capability
Apple’s various products, including iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks, are equipped with Optimized Charging capability, which can monitor the user’s usage pattern and select the appropriate charging settings based on it.
Experts emphasize that the optimal charge range for lithium batteries is between 40 and 80%, and full charge of such batteries (100%) can lead to faster cell destruction; Because the battery stores more voltage inside when fully charged, which will put more pressure on the components.
It is said that smart devices must use a special mode to maintain a voltage of 4.55 volts per cell. Also, not charging more than 80% of the total capacity can increase the useful life of the product. Many manufacturers, including Apple, follow this rule under different names in their products.
As a result, it is recommended that users activate optimal charging mode on their device to ensure improved MacBook battery life. To do this, first, go to System Preferences and then first select the Battery option and select Battery again from the menu on the left. When the device detects the user’s habits, it avoids overcharging and full in case of unnecessary. This feature was first made available in Mac OS Catalina; So if you are using older versions of this operating system, you will not see the said options.
For example, if you connect your device to the charger at all hours of the night and leave the house at 8 o’clock every day; The MacBook prevents the last 20% charge until near the time of leaving the house. For this reason, if one day you decide to disconnect your device from the charger a little earlier, you will find that the battery is not fully charged; While connected to the charger all night.
No permanent connection to the charger
It is not possible to overcharge the MacBook battery with a long connection to the charger. Also, the long connection process will not cause overheating or damage to other components. Of course, this happens when the battery starts to inflate. In such cases, it is recommended that you take your device to a specialist Apple repair shop as soon as possible.
Optimal charging capability can eliminate many of the adverse effects of a long-term charger connection; However, some problems will still persist. If you never disconnect your laptop from the charger; The operating system may have problems slowing down charging and preventing the battery from fully charging.
This is why it is recommended that you do not always use your device when connected to a charger. Ideally, after the charge reaches 40%, the charging process starts and continues up to 80%. Such a process prevents the high voltage caused by achieving a full charge (90 or 100%).
Managing the time and amount of charge by the user can be used as an auxiliary method along with the internal capabilities of the operating system such as optimal charging, which will have favorable effects in the long run. Of course, it does not require much care and effort to do this, and it is enough to disconnect it from the charger when you are not using your laptop. Even if your MacBook is on at all hours of the day, it is recommended that you use only battery power for a few hours to prevent premature breakdowns.
Avoid undesirable temperatures
As a general rule, heat can be a detrimental factor to various electronic and digital components, including MacBook batteries. Of course, according to research by the US Department of Energy in 2021, cold can also cause serious damage to such devices and will be no different from heat. Severe cold causes cracks in the metals, which inside the lithium batteries will cause the cathode to separate from other parts. Storing the cathode at sub-zero temperatures results in a 5% loss of total capacity compared to normal batteries after 100 charge cycles.
So to have a healthier MacBook battery, it is better not to expose it to undesirable and severe temperatures. Placing the device inside the car during cold winter nights or hot summer days is relatively common. MacBooks are not very durable products and are not designed to be used in harsh conditions.
Use AlDente software
If you want to get the most out of your MacBook battery, you can take advantage of battery management peripherals. AlDente is one of the free titles in this field, which allows you to set limits for charging the device and auto-shutdown. By default, the maximum charge is set to 80%.
The free version of the program, in addition to the charge limiter, also supports the ability to empty the charge. In this case, even if the device is connected to the charger, it will use the energy stored in the battery and there will be no need for manual removal of the charger by the user.
AlDente software runs on Big Sur Macs and later, and will perform best on MacBooks produced from 2016 onwards. Older devices will likely not support some of the app’s features, But the charge limiter works on most post-2013 models.
If you use the software or similar examples, you will most likely experience longer battery life on your MacBook. Of course, the downside is that you can not get the maximum charge of the device, and to fix it, you have to disable AlDente. It is also recommended that you disable Apple’s optimal charging feature for better performance.
AlDente claims that a full charge (zero to 100) every two weeks is required to keep the battery calibrated. Also, if the battery indicator does not work properly, 4 full charges can calibrate the necessary settings and the total capacity will return to the previous state.
Check MacBook battery status
If you want to know the current status of your MacBook battery, first go to the Battery section in System Preferences and then select Battery from the menu on the left. Then click on Battery Health and see an overview of battery status.
For more details, including the number of charge cycles that have elapsed, click on the Apple logo in the upper left corner, and on the page that opens, select About This Mac. Then select System Report from the Overview tab. Now go to the bottom of the page to reach the Power section. Under Health Information you will be able to see the number of charge cycles completed along with other information.
Modern MacBooks are designed to last 1,000 charge cycles, which is about three years of the normal use of the device. This value is estimated to be 300 cycles for older models. Reporting the MacBook’s battery status can help the user choose the right time to replace it.
MacBook battery replacement
Typically, the useful life of other components used in MacBooks, such as the processor, RAM, and graphics card, is longer than the battery life; As a result, by changing the battery of your device, you can use it for a few more years. Of course, power-hungry users may want to buy newer models and no longer need to replace the battery.
If you also purchased the AppleCare + service when you purchased your MacBook, your device will be covered by Apple services for up to 3 years, including the battery. In such a case, you can go to the official Apple centers to check the MacBook battery status, and in case of any problem, replace the part without paying.
If your device is out of free after-sales service, you can get battery service for a fee. That’s $ 199 for the MacBook Pro and 12-inch MacBook; It will be $ 129 for the MacBook Air. Also, if your device is relatively old, Apple may no longer provide the appropriate official services.
Users can also purchase the MacBook battery in person and perform the replacement process. Companies like iFixit offer batteries for a wide range of products, including MacBooks, which come with a replacement guide.
Source: How-To-Geek
