If you have noticed that your MacBook is dying faster than it used to, or if it randomly shuts down when the battery meter still shows 20%, you might have a hardware problem. Like all modern electronics, MacBooks use lithium-ion batteries. These batteries degrade over time through normal charging and discharging cycles.
Before you spend money on a replacement or buy a new laptop entirely, you should diagnose the exact condition of your current hardware. By learning how to check the battery health on your MacBook, you can quickly find out if your battery is failing or if a rogue software application is simply draining your power too quickly.
The Easy Method: macOS Battery Settings
For most users, the quickest way to check your battery health is through the modern System Settings menu. This method works on macOS Ventura, Sonoma, and newer.
- Click the Apple Logo () in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Select System Settings from the drop-down menu.
- Scroll down the left-hand sidebar and click on Battery.
- Look for the section labelled Battery Health on the right side of the window.
- Click the small “i” (Information) button next to the health status.
A popup window will appear showing your Maximum Capacity percentage. When your MacBook was brand new, this number was 100%. If your maximum capacity is now 85%, it means your battery can only hold 85% of its original factory charge.
If the Maximum Capacity falls below 80%, macOS will display a “Service Recommended” warning, indicating it is time to have the battery physically replaced by Apple.
The Advanced Method: Checking the Cycle Count
While the percentage in System Settings is helpful, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Apple rates its MacBook batteries by “Charge Cycles.” One complete cycle occurs when you use 100% of the battery’s power (this could be using 50% one day, charging it fully, and using 50% the next day).
Modern MacBooks are designed to retain at least 80% of their original capacity for exactly 1,000 charge cycles. To find out exactly how many cycles your machine has been through, you must use the System Information tool.
- Hold down the Option (⌥) key on your keyboard.
- While holding Option, click the Apple Logo () in the top-left corner.
- Because you are holding the Option key, the first menu item will change from “About This Mac” to System Information. Click it.
- In the new window that opens, look at the left sidebar under the Hardware section and click on Power.
- In the main right-hand pane, look under the Battery Information heading for the Health Information section.
- Find your exact Cycle Count.
If your cycle count is 350, your battery is still very healthy. If your cycle count is 995, your battery is at the end of its intended lifespan, and you should begin budgeting for a replacement.
Tips for Prolonging MacBook Battery Life
If your battery is still healthy and you want to keep it that way, ensure that Optimised Battery Charging is turned on in your Battery Settings.
This intelligent feature learns your daily routine. If you leave your MacBook plugged into the wall all day, the software will purposely stop charging the battery at 80% and hold it there. Keeping a lithium-ion battery permanently pinned at 100% causes chemical stress; holding it at 80% drastically extends the overall lifespan of the hardware.
