TL;DR
To see battery time remaining on Mac:
- Open Finder and go to Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.
- Click the Energy tab at the top of the window.
- At the bottom, find the Battery Time Remaining next to the Energy Impact score.
Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.
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.
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.
The battery time estimate is just that—an estimate. It can vary depending on what you’re doing, so don’t rely on it as an exact measure of how long your battery will last.
How to See Battery Time Remaining on Mac
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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:
- Launch Finder and click Applications in the left sidebar.
- In the Applications folder, go to Utilities and launch Activity Monitor.
- Click the Energy tab at the top of the Activity Monitor window.
- 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.
- 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:
Be careful when downloading third-party apps for battery monitoring. Always use trusted sources like the Mac App Store or official websites to avoid malware.
- Download Battery Monitor from the Mac App Store or Rocky Sand Studio’s website.
- Open the app from your Applications folder.
- A battery icon will appear in your Mac’s menu bar.
- Click the icon to see the battery percentage and time remaining estimate.
- 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:
- Launch Finder and click Applications in the left sidebar.
- In the Applications folder, navigate to Utilities and launch Terminal.
- Once the Terminal window is open, type in the following command and press Enter:
pmset -g batt
- Terminal will display battery information, including the percentage of battery charge remaining and an estimate of the time left before the battery is depleted.
- The time remaining will be displayed in a format like 5:16 remaining, indicating 5 hours and 16 minutes left on the battery.
Did You Know? Macs automatically adjust battery usage based on your activity, which is why the remaining time can change quickly, especially if you’re switching between light and heavy tasks like web browsing and video editing.
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.
