MacBook battery guides

Why the battery drains, and what to do about it. Each guide starts with what macOS already shows you.

• Why is my MacBook battery draining so fast?
  Usually one of four things: an app working in the background, the screen, a task macOS runs after an update, or heat. Here is how to tell which.
• MacBook losing battery while asleep or with the lid closed
  If your MacBook loses much more charge on some nights than others, check whether it woke repeatedly or an app prevented sleep. Compare nights on the same Mac before deciding what is unusual.
• How to check MacBook battery health and cycle count
  macOS shows three numbers that tell you how worn a MacBook battery is: its condition, its maximum capacity and its cycle count. Here is where to find each.
• Which apps use the most battery on a Mac?
  macOS can show you which apps are costing you charge, now and over the last hours. Here is where to look, how to read the numbers, and what to do about a heavy app.
• How much power does my MacBook use?
  A MacBook's power use moves all the time: a few watts while reading, many times that during a video call or a build. Here is how to see the charger side on your own Mac, and what the numbers mean.
• MacBook not charging to 100% or stuck at 80%
  Most of the time the Mac is doing this on purpose to protect the battery. Here is how to tell which reason applies, and how to charge to full when you need to.
• Battery monitor apps for Mac compared
  Each tool answers a different question: what is using energy now, how worn is the battery, how do I limit charging, or why did today's charge go faster than usual. Pick by the question you have.