MacBook Battery Draining Fast? Try These 16 Best Fixes

MacBook battery draining fast can be super inconvenient, especially when you don’t have access to a power source. I’ve been there, looking for a plug when I had to complete my project on my MacBook Air M1 (2020). That’s why I did some digging to find out why this happens and how to fix it. In this guide, I’ll share simple tips that fixed my quick-draining Mac battery.

How to Fix MacBook Battery Draining Fast

If your MacBook battery drains fast, it can really slow you down. To avoid this and improve battery life, try the following tips. One of these tips should fix the issue, but if none of these work, it is time to replace your Mac’s battery.

1. Change Battery Settings

Changing the battery settings on a Mac can help optimize its performance and extend its battery life. Here’s how to adjust these settings:

1. Click the battery icon in the menu bar.
2. A dropdown will appear, showing which applications are consuming the most power.

3. In the dropdown menu, select Battery Settings.

4. In the Battery Settings window, click the drop-down next to Low Power Mode and select Only on Battery to reduce energy usage.

5. Scroll down and click the Options button.

6. Click the drop-down menu next to Wake for network access and select Only on Power Adapter.
7. Toggle on Optimize video streaming while on battery to save battery while streaming videos.

2. Check Your MacBook’s Battery Health

Your Mac’s battery gets weaker over time. So, you must check your Mac’s battery condition regularly and replace it when necessary to keep it working well. Here’s how to check your MacBook’s battery condition:

1. Click the Apple logo and select System Settings.

2. Click the Battery tab.

3. On the right side, you should see the Battery Health status.

It will show one of these four statuses:

1. Normal: Your battery is functioning properly. Since my MacBook Air is pretty new, my battery health is Normal.
2. Replace Soon: Your battery is still functioning but holds less charge than it did when it was new. You may want to consider replacing it soon.
3. Replace Now: Your battery is functioning but holds significantly less charge than it did when it was new. You should replace the battery as soon as possible.
4. Service Battery: Your battery is not functioning properly and needs to be serviced.

You should also check your Mac’s battery cycle count. The number of battery cycles refers to the total count of full charge and discharge processes a MacBook battery can undergo during its lifespan. Typically, a MacBook battery is designed to go through 1000 complete charge cycles.

The cycle count provides a more detailed insight into the battery’s health than the simple charge level indicator. To check this, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the Apple menu and select About This Mac.

2. Click More Info.

3. Click the System Report button in the new window.

4. Select Power in the left sidebar and see detailed battery information.
5. Look for the battery Cycle Count in the Battery Information section.

3. Adjust Display Brightness

Your MacBook’s display is one of the most power-hungry components. Turning down your MacBook’s screen brightness saves a lot of battery. A dimmer screen uses less power, making your battery last longer.

To change the display brightness on your Mac, follow these steps:

1. Click the Apple icon and select System Settings from the drop-down menu.

2. Click Displays in the left pane. Drag the Brightness slider to the left to decrease the brightness or right to increase the brightness.

3. Close the Displays window once you have adjusted the brightness to your desired level.

You can also adjust the display brightness using Mac keyboard shortcuts. Most Mac keyboards have keys for increasing and lowering the brightness. Look for the Sun icon on the function keys. On my MacBook, the brightness keys are F1 (to reduce) and F2 (to increase). Press the corresponding function key to adjust the brightness.

4. Change Your Mac’s Energy Settings

Some settings can drain your MacBook’s battery fast, even if it seems okay in the System Report. Lowering screen brightness, reducing push notifications, and turning off location services, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi use can help save battery power.

Here’s how to optimize your Mac’s settings to reduce the load on your battery life:

a. Adjust Idle Power Usage

1. Navigate to Apple menu > System Settings.

2. Click Lock Screen.

3. Modify the Turn display off on battery when inactive setting to 1 or 2 minutes.

b. Modify Keyboard Brightness

1. Navigate to Apple menu > System Settings.
2. Click Keyboard and drag the Keyboard brightness slider to adjust the brightness level.

c. Turn Off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi

1. Access the Control Center in your menu bar.
2. Turn off Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and AirPlay when not in use to conserve battery power

5. Uninstall Unnecessary Apps

Apps you don’t use can still run in the background and drain your MacBook’s battery. So, it’s best to uninstall them to save power. MacKeeper can help remove unnecessary apps and their related files and preferences.

Here’s how to uninstall any app on Mac using MacKeeper:

1. Download and install MacKeeper.
2. Launch MacKeeper and navigate to the Smart Uninstaller under Cleaning.

3. Click Start Scan.

4. Wait for the scan to complete and click Applications in the left panel.

5. Select the apps you want to delete from the list and click the Remove Selected button.

6. Confirm the deletion by clicking Remove on the pop-up.

7. This will remove the selected apps from your Mac, and you’ll get a Removal Completed message. Click Rescan if you want to scan your Mac again.

Now, delete the app leftovers using the Smart Uninstaller:

1. Launch the Smart Uninstaller and click Start Scan.

2. When the scan completes, click Leftovers in the left sidebar.

3. Select the leftover files you want to delete in the right pane and click Remove Selected.

4. Tap the Remove button to confirm the removal.

5. This will remove your selected app leftovers, and you’ll get a Removal Completed notification. Click Continue to finish the process.

Alternatively, you can use Finder to uninstall apps on your Mac:

1. Click the Finder icon in the Dock.

2. Open the Applications folder from the left sidebar.

3. Find the app you want to uninstall.
4. Click the app icon and drag it to the Bin icon in the Dock. Alternatively, right-click the app icon and select Move to Bin.

5. After dragging the app to the Bin, right-click the Bin icon in the Dock and select Empty Bin.

6. Remove Login Items

Stopping startup programs helps your MacBook’s battery last longer by reducing the strain on your system. With fewer apps running in the background, your Mac runs better and uses less battery.

You can use MacKeeper to remove login items from your Mac. Here’s how:

1. Download MacKeeper and install it on your Mac.
2. Click Login Items under Performance in MacKeeper.

3. Click Start Scan.

4. Select unnecessary items from the list and click Remove Selected Items.

5. Tap the Remove button on the pop-up.

6. It will remove your selected items from the system startup list. You can click Rescan to repeat the process.

Alternatively, you can follow these steps to change startup programs on your MacBook:

1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen and select System Settings.

2. Click General and select the Login Items tab.

3. You’ll see a list of apps that start automatically when you log in. To remove an app from this list, click to highlight it, and tap the – button below the list.

7. Quit Unnecessary Background Apps

Apps running in the background use a lot of your MacBook’s battery. Quitting these apps when you’re not using them can save energy and make your battery last longer. Follow these steps to kill background processes on your Mac:

1. Open the Spotlight search from the menu bar, type Activity Monitor, and press Enter to launch the application.

8. Use Low Power Mode

Newer MacBooks with macOS Monterey or later have a Low Power Mode. It saves battery by adjusting things like screen brightness and app activity. Use it when you can’t charge and need your MacBook to last longer.

Here’s how to use Low Power Mode on Mac:

1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen and select System Settings.

2. Click Battery in System Settings.

3. In the Battery tab, click the drop-down menu button next to Low Power Mode. Select Only on Battery from the option.

9. Use Safari As Your Default Browser

Web browsers use a lot of battery, especially when running things like videos and many tabs. Safari, Apple’s own browser, is made to use less battery on MacBooks. Switching to Safari can help your MacBook’s battery last longer.

Here’s how to set Safari as your default browser:

1. Click the Apple menu and select System Settings from the drop-down menu.

2. Click Desktop & Dock in the left sidebar.
3. Look for the Default web browser option on the right side of the window. It should be in the Windows & Apps section.

4. Click the pop-up menu button next to the Default web browser option and select Safari from the list.

10. Update macOS

Apple updates macOS often, making your MacBook use its battery better. Updating to the latest macOS can stop your battery from draining too fast. These updates can also fix other battery problems, like the MacBook battery indicator permanently at 1%.

Here’s how to update macOS on your Mac:

1. Click the Apple logo and select System Settings.

2. Click General and select Software Update.

3. If an update is available, click Update Now and follow the on-screen instructions.

11. Reset the SMC

The System Management Controller (SMC) handles power functions like charging and sleep mode. Sometimes it can have issues, making your battery drain quickly. Resetting the SMC can fix these problems and improve your battery life.

Here’s how to reset the SMC on your Mac:

1. Shut down your MacBook completely.
2. For MacBooks with a non-removable battery, hold down Shift ⇧ + Control ^ + Option ⌥ + Power buttons simultaneously for 10 seconds, then release.

3. For MacBooks with a removable battery, disconnect the battery and hold down the Power button for 5 seconds, then reconnect the battery.

4. Turn on your MacBook by pressing the Power button.

12. Disconnect Unused Accessories

By disconnecting idle accessories from your MacBook, you can reduce the load on your battery and extend its overall life. This simple habit can help you get the most out of your MacBook’s battery and prevent unnecessary energy consumption.

Check all ports on your MacBook and identify connected accessories. Disconnect any idle or unnecessary accessories, like USB drives, external hard drives, or peripherals.

13. Restart Your MacBook

If your MacBook slows down or the battery runs out fast, it might be because of excessive temporary files. Restarting it can clear these out and help your battery last longer. Here’s how to restart your Mac:

1. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen.
2. Select Restart from the drop-down menu.

3. Wait for your MacBook to restart completely before resuming work.

14. Avoid Extreme Temperatures

Hot or cold temperatures can make your MacBook’s battery drain faster. To ensure the longevity and optimal performance of your MacBook, avoid exposing it to extreme temperatures. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

1. 🌞 Avoid Direct Sunlight: Never leave your MacBook in direct sunlight for extended periods to prevent overheating.
2. ❄️ Be Mindful of Cold Temperatures: Avoid exposing your MacBook to very cold temperatures for long periods.
3. 🌡️ Ideal Operating Temperatures: Use your MacBook within the recommended temperature range of 50° to 95° F (10° to 35° C).
4. 📦 Storage Temperatures: Store your MacBook in temperatures between -13° to 113° F (-25° to 45° C).
5. 💨 Use in Ventilated Areas: Ensure proper ventilation during use to stop your Mac from overheating.
6. 🛡️ Physical Protection: Use protective cases to insulate your MacBook from temperature extremes.

15. Calibrate the Battery

Calibrating the battery on a laptop involves draining the battery completely and then recharging it to 100%. This helps the battery gauge accurately display the battery’s remaining charge.

This process can extend the battery’s lifespan and improve its overall performance. As a result, your MacBook battery draining fast issue can be fixed.

In my opinion, you should calibrate your laptop’s battery every few months. Especially if you’ve noticed the battery gauge isn’t displaying accurate information about the remaining charge.

16. Replace the Battery

As batteries age, their capacity to hold a charge decreases, resulting in shorter battery life. If your MacBook’s battery is nearing the end of its lifespan, replacing it with a new one can significantly improve battery performance.

Here’s how to go about it:

1. Check your MacBook’s battery health by going to System Settings > Battery > Battery Health.

2. If the battery condition is Replace Soon or Replace Now, consider getting a new battery.
3. Contact Apple Support or an authorized service provider to schedule a battery replacement.

Why Is Your MacBook Battery Draining Fast?

If your MacBook’s battery is draining faster than usual, there could be several reasons behind it. Here are some common factors to consider:

1. 🚀 Heavy Applications: Running resource-intensive applications like video editing software, games, or multiple applications simultaneously can drain the battery quickly.
2. 🔙 Background Apps: Apps running in the background, especially those using significant system resources or network activity, can drain the battery.
3. 💡 Screen Brightness: Higher screen brightness requires more power, leading to faster battery drainage.
4. 🔋 Battery Age and Health: Over time, the MacBook’s battery will degrade naturally. An older battery doesn’t hold a charge as well as a new one.
5. 🦠 Malware or Software Issues: Malware or software bugs can sometimes cause excessive battery drain.
6. 💻 Outdated Software: Running an outdated version of macOS can sometimes lead to inefficient battery usage.
7. 🌡️ Poor Ventilation and Overheating: If your MacBook overheats, it may work harder to cool down, using more battery power in the process.
8. 📶 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Usage: Continuously using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can consume more battery, especially if the signal is weak or the MacBook is constantly searching for connections.

Optimize Your MacBook’s Battery Life

Now that you know the reasons behind your Mac battery draining fast and how to stop it, let’s explore some tips to maximize its battery life:

• Keep your MacBook’s battery healthy by using an Apple original charger, not leaving the charger plugged in, and never fully draining the battery.
• If your Macbook battery is not charging, check the charging cable, charging port, and power adapter. Then, reset the SMC or PRAM/NVRAM.
• If you’re getting the “Service Recommended” for Battery on Mac notification, it may be time to replace the battery.

Frequently Asked Questions