Signs It’s Time to Replace Your MacBook Battery

Understanding when to replace batteries for Mac is crucial for maintaining optimal performance and extending the device’s lifespan. Over time, batteries wear out, leading to decreased performance and reduced battery life. Here are signs that clearly indicate your Mac needs repair.

Decreased Battery Life

One of the most obvious signs of battery degradation is reduced battery life. The MacBook no longer holds a charge as long as it used to and requires more frequent charging. Users may notice that the device discharges faster when performing routine tasks such as browsing web pages, working with documents, or watching videos.

The power consumption graphs in macOS settings show a gradual decrease in battery life over time — this is a natural aging process. The graphs should show a relatively uniform decrease in charge level, not sharp fluctuations (unless the MacBook was used for resource-intensive tasks such as gaming or video rendering). When the device is idle, the charge level should remain stable.

Battery Service Warning on macOS

The MacBook itself will indicate when it’s time to replace the battery. When clicking on the battery icon in the menu bar in the upper-right corner of the screen, a message like “Service Battery” or similar may appear. This means that macOS has detected significant battery deterioration and recommends replacement.

Replacing the battery in this case is not mandatory. It will help extend battery life, but if the MacBook is always used near an outlet, or it’s convenient to carry a charger, you can simply ignore the warning and continue using the laptop as usual.

High Cycle Count and Low Battery Health

Battery information can be found in System Settings, which indicates the maximum capacity as a percentage. Clicking the “i” button reveals the current maximum capacity as a percentage of the original. This same data is available in the “System Information” section, which opens by holding the Option key while clicking the Apple logo in the upper-left corner of the screen. The “Power” section indicates the overall battery condition, and “Health Information” shows the number of charge cycles.

One cycle is a full charge from 0% to 100% and back to 0%. Few use their MacBooks exactly this way, but cycles still accumulate. For example, two days of use with half the battery charge consumed and recharging from 50% to 100% equals one cycle. Don’t be afraid of increasing cycle counts, as the battery is designed for use.

Modern MacBook batteries are designed for 1000 cycles, while older models are designed for 300 cycles before replacement is necessary. The expected number of cycles for different MacBook models can be found in Apple’s battery health guide. The MacBook model is indicated in the “About this Mac” menu, which opens by clicking the Apple logo in the upper-left corner of the screen.

Unexpected Shutdowns and Overheating

Another sign of the need for battery replacement is unexpected MacBook shutdowns when the battery charge is sufficient or before a low battery warning appears. This can occur because a worn-out battery is no longer able to provide the necessary power to maintain device operation.

The same applies to sudden power loss during battery operation. This is an extreme case of battery malfunction when the power cell can no longer provide the necessary power to prevent the MacBook from shutting down. Even in this case, the laptop should work normally when plugged in.

Old batteries are also more prone to overheating. The MacBook’s temperature can be checked using the free Hot application (available for models with Intel and Apple Silicon processors). Normal operating temperatures for processors of different MacBook models:

• Apple Silicon (M1 and newer): 20–35 °C (68–95 °F) when idle, up to 100 °C (212 °F) under load.
• Intel: up to 50 °C (122 °F) when idle, up to 100 °C (212 °F) under load.

These values should be taken as approximate, as many factors affect the MacBook’s operating temperature, such as ambient temperature and usage conditions (e.g., under direct sunlight). Overheating is more likely to cause performance degradation due to throttling or spontaneous shutdowns.

What to Do with a Degrading Battery

If your MacBook is still under warranty or covered by AppleCare+ or another insurance scheme, you can get a free battery replacement if its maximum capacity has fallen below 80%. You can check your eligibility for free service in the “About this Mac” section of System Settings by clicking the “Warranty” button.

Contacting Apple ensures the use of only original parts. Alternatively, you can contact a third-party (unauthorized) service center. This will likely be cheaper, but there’s a risk of receiving third-party components (whose quality may vary).

Finally, you can always replace the battery yourself. Everything necessary (including the battery itself) can be purchased from reputable platforms. There are also instructions for battery replacement on YouTube. This procedure is considered quite complex, so if you have concerns about potential errors, it’s better to entrust it to someone else. On the other hand, if your MacBook is old, you’re not afraid to take risks, and you want to expand your repair skills, replacing the battery could be an excellent weekend project.

How to Extend Your MacBook Battery Life

To extend the life of your MacBook battery, you should:

• Use optimized charging.
• Maintain charge levels between 40 and 80%.
• Avoid extreme temperatures.

Remember: regular monitoring of battery condition and timely replacement will help maintain high MacBook performance and extend its lifespan.