How to See Battery Time Remaining on Mac: 3 Easy Ways

Many Mac users relied on the battery time estimate, and when Apple removed it, it left us all guessing. Thankfully, there are easy ways to get that info, and I’ve found a few that work really well.

Review Unwanted Apps After Checking Battery Runtime

MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller helps you review apps you no longer need and remove selected apps with their detected related files. Focus on software you have identified as unwanted background activity, then observe battery runtime during your usual work.

Follow these steps to uninstall unused apps on Mac using MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller:

1. Get MacKeeper and install MacKeeper on your Mac.
2. After installation, launch MacKeeper and click the Smart Uninstaller in the left-hand menu.

3. Click Start Scan.

4. Select the applications you want to delete from the list and click Remove Selected.

5. Tap the Remove button on the pop-up to confirm the deletion.

6. MacKeeper will uninstall the apps and remove associated files and folders. You will get a Removal Completed notification. If you want to scan your Mac again, click Rescan.

Why Can’t You See Battery Time Remaining on Mac?

You can’t see the battery time remaining on your Mac because Apple removed this feature in macOS Sierra 10.12.2.

Why: Apple removed the battery time estimate because users of the 2016 MacBook Pro, especially models with the Touch Bar, complained that it wasn’t accurate. As a result, Apple decided to drop the feature, leaving users with just the battery percentage.

While this feature is no longer available by default, you can still check the time remaining using a few workarounds, such as the Activity Monitor, Terminal, or third-party apps.

How to See Battery Time Remaining on Mac

Here, I’ll share some simple methods to help you see the battery time remaining on Mac:

1. Via Activity Monitor

Here’s how to use Activity Monitor to see battery time remaining on Mac:

1. Launch Finder and click Applications in the left sidebar.

2. In the Applications folder, go to Utilities and launch Activity Monitor.

3. Click the Energy tab at the top of the Activity Monitor window.

4. At the bottom of the window, there’s an Energy Impact score that gives an average of the last 12 hours. Next to it, you’ll find the Battery Time Remaining estimate.

5. Here, you’ll also see an overview of the energy usage of your apps. Look for the Energy Impact column to see which apps consume the most power.​

2. Using Third-Party Apps

Several third-party apps can do the job effectively if you’re looking for a more user-friendly and visually appealing way to monitor your Mac’s battery life. Here is how you can use Battery Monitor tool to check remaining battery time:

1. Download Battery Monitor from the Mac App Store or Rocky Sand Studio’s website.

2. Open the app from your Applications folder.

3. A battery icon will appear in your Mac’s menu bar.
4. Click the icon to see the battery percentage and time remaining estimate.

5. The app updates the time estimate in real-time based on your current usage.

3. Through Terminal

Here’s a step-by-step guide to using Terminal to see battery time remaining on Mac:

1. Launch Finder and click Applications in the left sidebar.

2. In the Applications folder, navigate to Utilities and launch Terminal.

3. Once the Terminal window is open, type in the following command and press Enter:

pmset -g batt

pmset -g batt

4. Terminal will display battery information, including the percentage of battery charge remaining and an estimate of the time left before the battery is depleted.
5. The time remaining will be displayed in a format like 5:16 remaining, indicating 5 hours and 16 minutes left on the battery.

Keep Track of Mac’s Remaining Battery Time

Using built-in tools like Activity Monitor or third-party apps, you can easily track your Mac’s battery life. It’s not just about seeing the remaining time, it’s also about making the most of it for better productivity and enjoyment.

Here are some more tips to stay informed:

• If your MacBook battery is stuck at 1%, you can fix it by restarting the Mac, updating macOS, and resetting SMC.
• Check the cable, adapter, and port, or reset SMC/NVRAM if your MacBook isn’t charging.
• “Service Recommended” on Mac means it’s time to replace your Mac’s battery.

Frequently Asked Questions

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