The battery warning on the MacBook is frequently ignored, especially when you are near a wall outlet because the battery quickly goes back to normal when you plug in the charger. But if you have an old MacBook Pro with problems like battery depletion and other concerns. This could be a little or more complicated issue if warning signs are ignored. So, what are the reasons your MacBook battery dies fast?
Common reasons your MacBook battery dies fast include overuse, having the wrong settings, the storage methods you are using, a malfunctioning wall adapter, a slow charging battery, and when the battery isn’t charging fully.
But if the battery still dies fast or continues failing, it’s time to diagnose and rectify the issue. This article will examine frequent MacBook and MacBook Pro battery issues and possible remedies.
The reason your MacBook battery dies fast.
The fast-draining battery could be due to the battery power consumed by different browsers. Also, the recent update to the new macOS operating system might be the root reason, resulting in temporary difficulty.
But this problem quickly goes away on its own, or a new macOS patch or upgrade will be pushed through, and once downloaded, the problem will be resolved.
However, it is known to occur around the time of new releases, and it is a problem that many Mac users are not prepared to deal with.
1. Overuse
The battery drains twice as fast, maybe because you’re using your phone or tablet twice as much. On the other hand, battery drain may have appeared suddenly if you’ve lately made significant changes to your workflow, such as an increase in the amount of multitasking you do.
2. The wrong settings
While you’re working, your computer’s default settings consume unnecessary amounts of energy.
3. Storage methods
If you put your MacBook into extended storage with a full or no battery, the battery will suffer. Apple also warns against keeping lithium-ion MacBooks uncharged for more than two days.
4. A malfunctioning wall adapter
Although it may appear straightforward, there are situations when the problem isn’t with your computer, but instead, with the power adapter, you’re using to charge it.
5. The battery is slow.
You may have accidentally dropped your laptop, which may have resulted in physical damage to the battery. For example, your MacBook Pro won’t charge if the wall adapter is dusty or broken. Likewise, after plugging in a charger, if its LED doesn’t light up or if you witness sparks, the charger is most likely to blame.
6. The battery isn’t charging fully.
It’s very common for it to stop charging between 93% and 98% of the way through a charge. This truly is a feature that prevents short charging cycles, which cause the battery to wear out. However, if it doesn’t reach 90%, you may have a problem.
How to fix the MacBook battery dying fast
1. Apps are draining the battery.
Right above your Mac’s battery icon is a list of the most power-hungry apps. See which applications use the most power and why.
You may also save battery life by minimizing the number of apps running in the background and not multitasking as much. Changing a few basic settings could help save the battery life on your MacBook Pro while you work.
- Always switch off Bluetooth if you aren’t utilizing any Bluetooth devices. Take a look at the Bluetooth symbol on top of your menu bar and select “Turn Bluetooth Off,” and you’re done.
- Dimming the screen’s brightness a few notches is beneficial for your eyes and the battery simultaneously. If you’re using an older MacBook, you may dim the display using the function key F1. Tap on the smaller-sun icon on the new MacBook Pros with Touch Bars.
- Use the F5 function key to dim the keyboard backlighting on MacBook Pros. If yours is too bright even in the middle of the day, you may want to try this.
- Choose “Battery” or “Energy Saver” from the “System Preferences” menu. Keep your computer and display awake for a shorter time so that you may save battery.
As previously said, these actions can help you get more battery life out of your phone, especially if you previously used significantly different settings.
Lithium-ion batteries, which are used in most MacBook Pro models, should be charged (or depleted) to 50% before being kept for more than a few days.
Every six months, you should charge your computer by 50% to prevent capacity loss.
There are various solutions:
- If the problem persists, try a different outlet.
- Find and replace chargers that have frayed wire insulation.
- Make sure you’re using the correct wattage adapter for your MacBook Pro model by checking out this page on Apple’s official website.
- You should thoroughly clean the charging port and MagSafe connector.
- Look for pins that are jammed down in the MagSafe connection. You can try plugging and unplugging it or pushing the pins to one side to see if they come loose.
Your MacBook battery is most likely dead and has to be replaced. However, before making any assumptions, verify the battery’s condition.
- In the upper left corner of your screen, click on the Apple menu. Hold the Option key. “About This Mac” will be replaced with system details. From the left menu, choose System Info, then “Power.”
- You can check your battery’s health by going to the Power tab and counting the cycles.
- You’re OK to go if the condition is described as “fair” or “normal.” However, the battery may need to be changed if it reads “poor” or “check battery.”
You should also compare the number of cycles to this chart from Apple, which illustrates how many cycles your Mac’s battery will survive before it begins to degrade. Batteries will continue to function after this point, but they will progressively lose their ability to perform at a high level.
For battery replacement, it is suggested that you use Apple’s service rather than do it alone. Additionally, the more recent your MacBook Pro is, the less likely you will perform the manual upgrade. Using this tutorial, you’ll learn how to have a damaged battery fixed and how much it will cost you to do so.
You can do it yourself if you’re a computer whiz. To begin with, get a new MacBook Pro battery.
- Charge your Mac to 100% using the adapter and use it for two hours with the charger connected before attempting a more elaborate solution.
- Disconnect it and let your MacBook’s battery run out entirely before shutting it down manually.
- Power up your MacBook after at least five hours of inactivity.
- You’ve calibrated the battery now.
It’s possible the MacBook SMC has to be reset to repair the battery charge and indication. However, you’ll get there if you follow these steps:
Shut off your computer.
- Using the left-side keyboard’s SHIFT+CONTROL+OPTION combo, press and hold for 10 seconds.
- Release any keys that are still pressed.
- To start your Mac, press the power button once.
2. Dim the display’s illumination.
Lightbulbs with a higher lumen output use more power, which is also true of the screen illumination. You can tweak the display settings in your preferences. Automatically adjusting brightness should be checked.
3. Keep track of the battery life cycle.
The number of charge-discharge cycles a MacBook battery may go through throughout its lifespan is called a “battery cycle.” Yes, this is a very constant figure. However, count cycles are far more useful than a simple charge meter for battery health.
- A system report may be accessed by clicking the Apple menu > About this Mac > System information.
- You may find out more about the available power by scrolling further down this page.
The lifecycle of the MackBook battery is 1000 times.
How to preserve the MacBook’s lifespan.
These easy methods can help you prolong the life of your MacBook’s battery. However, a year or so after purchase, you’ll notice that the battery in your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or MacBook is much less long-lasting when not connected to the wall.
So it’s critical to understand how to maintain battery health, improve performance, and avoid costly repairs or battery replacements.
- Don’t overcharge the MacBook: It’s natural to see 100% on the menu bar at the top of the screen, but MacBooks aren’t built to run on 100% battery.
- Apple advises just charging to 50% regularly, citing that holding your laptop at maximum capacity for long periods might reduce battery life.
- Don’t let the battery go too low: Total discharge is as dangerous as prolonged use at full capacity, and the smaller the capacity when you shut down for a break, the higher the risk. Anything under ten is considered risky.
- In the case of a depleted battery, Apple warns that the battery may go into a deep discharge condition, rendering it unchargeable.
- Don’t leave your MacBook unattended: The MacBook’s battery life will likely die after a long time. Apple recommends removing your device from storage every six months and charging it to 50% battery capacity.
- Many of us mistake a business MacBook for an iMac with a smaller screen and a charging cable. A bad idea that will eventually kill the battery.
- The main issue is that the increased heat from being plugged in damages the battery.
- Avoid extreme temperatures: Extreme temperatures, low humidity, and high humidity will harm battery cells.
- The MacBook’s battery is especially vulnerable to severe temperatures when in use. Apple states the MacBook has a “comfort zone” of 10 to 35 degrees centigrade (50 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit), but it should be stored between 20 and 45 degrees centigrade (-4 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit).
- For starters, don’t put your laptop in direct sunlight or an unheated shed in the winter. If your MacBook is in a case, keep an eye on how hot the case becomes. Remove the case when charging.
- Software updates: It’s best to keep MacOS updated to take advantage of current battery optimizations.
Conclusion
There are so many reasons your MacBook battery can die fast which include overuse, having the wrong settings, the storage methods you are using, a malfunctioning wall adapter, a slow charging battery, and when the battery isn’t charging fully. But if the battery still dies fast or continues failing, it’s time to diagnose and rectify the issue.
