MacBook losing battery while asleep or with the lid closed

Updated 15 November 2026

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 much is normal overnight?

There is no single normal percentage for every MacBook. The length of the night, battery health, model, connected accessories and background work all matter. Record the percentage before closing the lid and after opening it for several nights. A much larger drop than this Mac's usual pattern is worth investigating; even a large drop alone cannot prove it stayed awake.

1. See what kept the Mac awake

Apps can ask macOS not to sleep (a download, a call, a backup, sometimes a bug). Open Terminal and run:

pmset -g assertions

Lines with PreventUserIdleSystemSleep or PreventSystemSleep name the process holding the Mac awake. Quit that app before closing the lid.

2. See what woke it up

macOS logs every wake with a reason. In Terminal:

pmset -g log | grep -E "Wake from|DarkWake" | tail -40

Frequent wakes for network or Bluetooth point at the settings below; wakes from USB point at an accessory that stayed plugged in.

3. Settings that stop most overnight drain

System Settings › Battery › Options: set Wake for network access to “Only on Power Adapter” or “Never”.
Unplug USB hubs, drives and displays before closing the lid; some keep the Mac or themselves powered.
Turn off Bluetooth if a mouse, keyboard or headphones keep waking the Mac.
Close apps that sync large amounts (cloud drives, mail with big accounts) or let them finish on power first.
Update macOS: sleep bugs are often fixed in point releases.

Why the pmset log is hard to read

A single night produces hundreds of lines, most of them harmless “dark wakes” where the Mac checks mail for a second and sleeps again. What matters is how long it stayed awake and which cause repeats, which takes counting by hand.

Quick answers

Why does my MacBook battery drain overnight with the lid closed?

Usually because something woke it repeatedly (network, Bluetooth, a USB accessory) or an app prevented sleep. The command pmset -g log shows each wake and its reason.

How do I stop my MacBook waking up during sleep?

In System Settings › Battery › Options, set Wake for network access to Only on Power Adapter or Never, unplug accessories before closing the lid, and quit apps that keep the Mac awake.

How can I see which app is keeping my Mac awake?

Run pmset -g assertions in Terminal. Lines with PreventSystemSleep or PreventUserIdleSystemSleep name the process holding the Mac awake.