Having trouble with your battery running out too quickly on your Mac laptop? Need to learn how to optimize battery life and fix issues? Look no further, help is here!
Optimize Battery Life
Depending on your computer’s configuration and how you use it, your laptop’s battery life will vary. To make the most of your computer’s battery, here are some settings and steps to follow.
Check Battery Preferences
By visiting the Battery settings in System Preferences, found by clicking Apple menu > System Preferences and then selecting Battery or Energy Saver, you can take control of your Mac laptop’s battery life.
For the best battery life settings, change these inputs:
- Turn on āSlightly dim the display while on battery power.ā By setting your Mac to this, the display will dim to 75% brightness when it’s unplugged from power.
- Turn off āEnable Power Nap while on battery power.ā By disabling certain iCloud features, your Mac will consume less power and improve standby time.
- Turn on āAutomatic graphics switching.ā With this feature, MacBook Pro models with multiple graphics processors can automatically switch between them based on power needs to help conserve battery.
- Turn on “Low power mode.” By reducing your energy usage, you can increase your battery life.
Adjust Display Brightness
Your device’s display usually conserves power by automatically adjusting the brightness, but you can turn this feature off. If you do, make sure to turn it back on later to save battery life. You can set your brightness to automatically adjust by going to the Apple menu, opening System Preferences, clicking on Displays, and turning on “Automatically adjust brightness.”
Check Battery Health
You can monitor the health of your battery by checking the Battery preferences or Battery status menu. There are two different ways to open this setting, depending on your macOS.
If you have macOS Big Sur or later, you’ll access this menu by opening the Apple menu > System Preferences, then clicking Battery, then selecting Battery in the sidebar, then clicking on Battery Health.
To see your battery status in macOS Catalina or earlier, hold down the Option key and click on the battery icon in the menu bar.
One of two indicators will appear, the Normal indicator, which means your battery is functioning the way it should, and the Service Recommended indicator. The Service Recommended indicator means the battery is not holding a charge as well as it did when it was new, or there may be another problem with the battery. When this appears, it is best to take it to a professional. Contact Dave’s Computers for further assistance.
Diagnose Battery Issues
If you want to conserve battery life on your device, it is important to check your hardware and make sure that no apps or features are needlessly sucking up power.
Run Diagnostics
Use the built-in diagnostics on your Mac to fix any battery issues.
Check the Battery Status Menu
The battery status menu, located on the right side of your computer’s menu bar, tells you how much charge is left in your battery and whether it is currently charging.
The battery status menu not only tells you how much power you have left, but also which apps are using the most energy. If your goal is to save battery life, consider closing any of the listed apps.
By using optimized battery charging in macOS Big Sur or later, you will be able to see extra information on your Mac screen when it is connected to power. This includes whether charging is paused and when your battery will be completely charged. If you need your full charge sooner than anticipated, go ahead and click “Charge To Full Now.”
Resolve Charging Issues
If you’re having trouble with your Mac not recognizing a power adapter or charging to 100%, follow the information below.
If Your Mac Is Not Charging at All
Use an AC adapter that has the correct wattage for your computer. If you use a power adapter with too low of wattage, then it might not charge your computer correctly. It’s best to use the power adapter that came with your computer to ensure it meets the proper wattage.
If you’re having trouble charging your laptop through a USB-C port or MagSafe connection, try the following:
First, check to see if your power adapter is plugged in correctly and firmly. If that doesn’t work, shut down your Mac and close the display for 30 seconds before trying to charge again. If you have an Intel-based Mac, you can also reset the SMC. Lastly, if none of these solutions work for you, please feel free to reach out to Dave’s Computers for more help.
If Your Mac Won’t Charge To 100%
In macOS Big Sur and later, or in earlier versions like Catalina, you might see that your battery doesn’t show as being fully charged (100%) even after it’s been connected to a power adapter for some time. This is normal behavior and will help extend the overall life of your battery.
Service Your Mac Laptop Battery
If you’re still having trouble with your Mac not charging, please feel free to reach out to Dave’s Computers for more help. We’ll be able to diagnose and attempt to resolve any charging issues you might be experiencing.
