The single most frustrating part of owning any laptop is dealing with a battery that’s running low. For Apple fans, you probably use your MacBook for a lot of things, right? Maybe you work on it, play games on it, take it on the go to watch movies or just browse the web on it. Whatever you do, you don’t want your MacBook to run out of battery in the middle of it.
But don’t worry, I have some good news for you. There are many easy and effective ways to prolong your MacBook’s battery life. Here are my top 11 tips to ensure that you won’t run out of juice and that your MacBook will keep running all day long.
Note: The steps below were performed on the latest macOS Ventura Version 13.4.1 (c). Settings may vary, depending on your operating system.
Sometimes when we’re done using our laptops, it’s easy for us to just close the screen without fully shutting it down. However, shutting down your MacBook completely overnight, or even for a minute before you turn it back on, will help keep your battery and computer healthy. To fully shut down your MacBook:
How to turn off your computer
You can optimize charging on your MacBook to help save its overall battery life.
How to adjust your battery settings
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You can also make the display on your MacBook turn off more quickly, which saves energy as well.
How to adjust display to turn off more quickly
Your computer screen takes a lot of energy, so turning down the brightness a little on your MacBook also helps save the battery.
How to turn down the brightness
To turn down the brightness on your MacBook, you have a few options. You can use the keyboard shortcuts or the System Preferences.
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Just like your iPhone, your MacBook has a Low Power Mode that you can turn on at any time to save the battery while using it. To use low power mode on a MacBook, you need to have macOS Monterey or later installed on your device. This feature is only available for MacBook (early 2016 or later) and MacBook Pro (early 2016 and later) models.
How to turn on Low Power Mode
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You can see which apps on your computer are taking up the most amount of energy, by using the Activity Monitor app. It shows you which apps are using the most energy over time. This is the best way to measure the battery impact of your apps.
How to use Activity Monitor app to discover energy-wasting apps
You should get in the habit of fully closing out your apps when you’re not using them. Some apps run in the background and continue to wear down your battery. Closing out of them means more than just simply clicking the red X icon.
How to fully close out of apps
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If you have an external drive plugged into your MacBook, or if you’re also charging your iPhone with a cable that’s plugged into your MacBook, unplug them all. Charging other devices from your MacBook’s battery will drain it more quickly.
You want to always make sure that you have the latest software update at all times. Making your MacBook run on old software will use up its battery quickly. To check whether you need a software update:
How to update your software
Always be sure to back up your computer before you update your software.
If you’ve done all the steps above, and you’re still finding that your battery is draining quickly, it could be that your overall battery health is dying. To check your battery health:
How to check your battery health
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Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth if you don’t need them. They consume energy even when they aren’t used. However, also keep in mind that you may also lose some functionality, such as internet access, file sharing, wireless printing, wireless mouse and keyboard controls and syncing with other devices. You should consider your needs and preferences before turning them off.
How to turn off Bluetooth
How to turn off WiFi
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Replace the battery if you’re finding that your computer cannot function for any period without a charger. Bring it to the Apple Store, or save a few dollars by looking up your computer’s model and ordering a replacement yourself to take to a local repair shop.
How to look up your Mac’s model number
If you want to avoid those dreaded moments when your MacBook unexpectedly runs out of battery, these tips are here to save the day. By following these simple steps, like shutting down your computer properly, adjusting battery settings and managing brightness, you can significantly extend your MacBook’s battery life.
Don’t forget to utilize features like Low Power Mode, close energy-draining apps, and quit unnecessary ones to maximize efficiency. It’s also crucial to keep your software up to date and unplug external accessories when not in use.
And if all else fails, assessing your battery health and considering a replacement might be the way to go. With these top 11 tips in mind, you can confidently use your MacBook all day long without worrying about battery issues.
Should Mac users have to be responsible for making sure their batteries last? What more could Apple be doing to help? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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