How to check battery health on MacBook

Posted By Volodymyr Chubei | 23 Dec 2024

A MacBook is a portable device, so for comfortable use throughout its lifetime, it is necessary to maintain the battery in working condition.

In this article we will talk about battery indicators that are considered to be within the normal range and how to check battery health on a MacBook with different operating systems. You will also learn about the average battery lifetime and after how many charging and discharging cycles it needs to be replaced with a new one.

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Test battery MacBook

You can test your MacBook battery using special applications or built-in tools. For example, there is a universal program to check the actual battery status, this is CoconutBattery with an intuitive interface.

To check MacBook battery, you need to download the software from the official website and install it on the device.

Once the application is ready to go:

Double click on the program icon to launch it.
A window will open in which you can see the information about the MacBook, battery and charger.

Normal battery capacity is at least 80%. With a decrease in this indicator, the battery lifetime is significantly reduced. The annual capacity loss that is considered to be normal is no more than 10%.

MacBook battery operating temperature limits are from 50 to 95°F (10-35°C). If the battery is overheated frequently, it may cause damage and failure. For this reason it is important to keep the vents open and not put anything on top of the keyboard.

The program window will display a message that the battery, power adapter, or motherboard needs to be replaced, for example, if it is damaged by liquid ingress.

To prolong the battery lifetime, it is recommended to follow a few simple rules:

update macOS timely so that you can use up-to-date battery optimization settings;
regularly check the condition of the MacBook battery and do not delay the replacement, if there are such recommendations. You can find original replacement parts on our TechToro.io website;
use the built-in power saving settings in macOS;
to save battery charge, turn off programs that are running in the background;
From time to time, clean your MacBook of junk files that slow down performance and discharge your battery.

Also: How to replace a MacBook battery

How to test MacBook battery in macOS Ventura

In addition to third-party software, MacBooks have built-in battery testing tools.

To check battery status on a MacBook in macOS Ventura:

Select System Preferences from the Apple menu.
Scroll down to the "Battery" icon and click on it.

A window with information about the battery will open on the right. Opposite "Battery Health" should be the value "Normal". If there is a problem with the battery and a replacement is required, the status "Recommended service" will be displayed.

For more detailed information about the battery condition, you can click on the button with the letter "i". The capacity information and the option to enable/disable "Optimized Battery Charging" will open. It is recommended to activate this function, because the battery loses its charging capacity and charging power when constantly connected to the network.

How to check battery health on MacBook in macOS Monterey or older versions

To test battery health on Macbooks with macOS Monterey:

Navigate to System Preferences via the Apple menu.
Double click on "Battery".
In the lower right corner, click on "Battery Status".

The battery information will be displayed in the utility window.

For MacBook users on macOS Catalina, checking the battery status is even easier – just hover your mouse over and hold it on the battery icon in the menu bar. A window will pop up with information about the battery status.

To avoid problems when replacing the battery and other parts, it is important to follow a number of rules:

use chargers from Apple – non-original USB-C and MagSafe power adapters can damage your MacBook and result in costly repairs;
buy batteries only from reliable sellers – cheap, counterfeit batteries don't hold a charge well, swell often, or don't work at all.

If problems with the battery are detected, it is not recommended to delay the replacement or repair of parts and assemblies related to the device charging. It is important to use only original accessories in order to avoid malfunctions and disruption of the device operation as a whole.

You can order your MacBook battery and other parts at Techtoro.io. We have only original components that have passed all kinds of tests before going on sale. We guarantee the functionality and reliable operation of all MacBook parts purchased from our company.

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FAQ

1. How many years should a MacBook battery last

Notebook batteries' lifetime is up to five years depending on usage conditions. After this period, as a rule, a battery needs to be replaced with a new one.

2. How many cycles before replacing MacBook battery

Apple considers a MacBook battery to be worn out after 1,000 cycles, which equates to five years of use.

You can buy an original battery for Macbook and other parts on the Appleparts.io website – a service for affordable spare parts for Apple branded equipment.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Volodymyr Chubei
Computer Repair Specialist at TechToro.io

Volodymyr was born in Ukraine and has found his passion for electronics from his childhood. At the age of 13, he was capable of soldering some basic elements of a logic board and today he is one of the co-founders of TechToro.io