Apple’s latest MacBook lineup comes with the brand’s own Apple Silicon M1 Processor. So, you can expect more battery life and more hours of work on your MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. However, if you are facing battery issues on the Apple computers, a few tweaks can help repair it.
Before moving forward, let’s first learn how you can check the health of your battery.
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How to Check MacBook’s Battery Percentage
When you are working on your laptop, the most frustrating thing is to keep an eye on the available battery. If the system shuts down all of a sudden, you will lose any unsaved work, which can be even more annoying.
Apple pulled out the option to check the available battery percentage from the menu bar with the launch of macOS 11. So if you are using macOS Big Sur, you will have to tap on the battery icon to check how much battery is left.
In addition, there’s one more implementation that prevents you from overcharging your MacBook battery. It’s very obvious that your MacBook charger remains plugged in most of the time; Apple gives you the flexibility to put the charging On Hold so that it won’t reach the 100% mark.
How to Check Your MacBook’s Battery Health
You should check your battery’s health on a regular basis using Apple’s built-in tool that tells you about the battery capacity and if you need to replace it. To see your battery’s health report, click on the battery icon in the menu bar. Tap on Battery Preferences, click on Battery Health under the Battery tab.
The pop-up window will display the current status along with the maximum capacity of the battery. If you want to get insight into the total number of charge cycles, click on the Apple icon, and click System Information while pressing and holding down the Option key on the keyboard.
In the Power section, look for the Health Information, where you can see the metrics surrounding the battery’s health, cycle count, and capacity level.
Save Battery by Dimming Display
Keeping your display on is one of the biggest resource hogs. Lowering the screen brightness to a comfortable level soothing your eyes must be the first thing that you do to save battery percentage. The brighter the display, the higher will be the battery consumption and the shorter the battery life. Tweak the display to dim and shut down after a certain period of inactivity.
To do this, click on the Apple menu, go to System Preferences, and then click Battery. Adjust the option to slightly dim the display. Also, customize the duration for which you wish to keep the display on. After the specified time, the display will turn off, saving you significant battery life.
Delete Files & Terminate Unnecessary Apps
Certainly, an important thing that you must do on all your digital devices, regardless of the operating system you are using. When you delete the redundant and duplicate files, you can claim storage space on the storage media. No old data means better system performance in the long run.
Similarly, removing applications that you do not require on a regular basis can free up storage. These apps run in the background and consume system battery and memory which results in constant slowdowns. Also, deleting unnecessary apps will free up system resources that can be used by other apps and processes.
Stay Updated With Software Updates
Installing the most recent version of macOS will give you the best battery life. You should consistently check if any new update is available for the operating system. To know if any update is available, navigate to the System Preferences and tap on Software Update.
Select the checkbox available with Automatically keep my Mac up to date and click on the Advanced button to check for updates. Once you tweak these settings, you don’t have to manually install the updates, as your system will automate the process.
Turn Off Bluetooth When Not in Use
When you switch the Bluetooth on, it remains enabled till you turn it off manually. Not to mention, it consumes a lot of battery power. So, it’s advised that you turn off the Bluetooth when you are not using it and disconnect all connected speakers and microphones connected via Bluetooth.
In addition, disable the Radio by clicking the Control Center icon available in the menu bar. Next, click on Bluetooth and then slide the switch to Off. Please note that disabling the Bluetooth will not allow you to use the Continuity feature for sharing data across Apple devices.
The Conclusion
Battery overconsumption is a common issue that most users experience as the computer starts aging. Following the tips mentioned in this article, you can’t just improve your laptop’s battery life, but optimize the system for better performance as well.