Tips to Improve Macbook’s Battery Lifespan

Tips to Improve Macbook’s Battery Lifespan

Macbook batteries are known for longevity and reliability. However, even with all the promises from Apple, users need to understand that a battery of a poorly maintained computer will not last for as long as some expect.

If you have noticed that you need to charge your Macbook more often than before, read this article and find out how to extend the battery’s lifespan.

Tip #1 – Disable Visual Effects

Gimmicks like animated openings for the Dock tool offer no significant value. If anything, visual effects are a hindrance to the overall Macbook performance, including the battery.

A backlit keyboard is another example. However, with this one, you can change the keyboard settings so that the backlight turns off after X seconds of inactivity. The system will preserve resources when the computer is idle. 

Tip #2 – Confirm Mac is Malware-Free

Aim to have a solid cybersecurity strategy. You need to prevent potential malware or viruses that attack the system and cause various issues, including ones that are detrimental to Macbook batteries.

In addition to running reliable antivirus software, you should also enable the Firewall and limit physical access to the computer. Browsing the web using a virtual private network would help as well.

Tip #3 – Turn Off Bluetooth

Bluetooth connects third-party peripherals, such as headphones or speakers. On the other hand, if you leave these devices connected but not use them, do not be surprised to see the battery bar drain faster.

Disable Bluetooth if you are not using it. Go to the System Preferences and find the Bluetooth tab. Turn the feature off and go back when you need Bluetooth again.

Tip #4 – Enable Auto-Brightness

Auto-brightness is a neat feature that impacts the Macbook’s battery lifespan positively. High-level brightness drains the battery rather fast, but you can set it so that the operating system picks the optimal level of brightness for you.

Navigate to the Displays tab via System Preferences and check the box next to the “Automatically adjust brightness” section. The macOS will consider the surrounding environment while adjusting the brightness.

Tip #5 – Take Advantage of Energy Saver

Tweak the Energy Saver so that the computer goes to sleeping mode after inactivity. You can customize the time. Some people pick three minutes; others go with five. Energy Saver is available in the System Preferences. 

Tip #6 – Quit Background Applications

Background applications might be one of the biggest offenders when it comes to battery life consumption. 

Launch the Activity Monitor to see active processes. In addition to sorting apps by memory or CPU usage, you can also click on the Energy tab. Each application has its own energy impact graph. Suppose you notice unusual spikes after monitoring the situation for a while. In that case, it is possible that an app might not be properly optimized, and you may need to reinstall or remove it from the computer.

As a rule of thumb, it is recommended to limit the number of background applications in general. There are some exceptions, such as antivirus software or tools you use for work to communicate, but redundant apps that you have no use for at the time should be closed.

Tip #7 – Trim up Startup App List

An app or two may be silently running in the background because they are on the startup item list. Not everyone remembers to close startup applications when the computer finishes loading. 

You should go to the System Preferences, click on the Users and Groups, and find your profile. The Login Items section will have all the applications that load together with the computer whenever you boot it.

Untick the boxes next to the application and save the changes. Try restarting the computer. It should take less time to load. In addition to improving the loading speed, clearing the startup item list will also help prolong Macbook’s battery life.

Tip #8 – Shut Down the Computer

After several tests, it was confirmed that the Macbook consumes fewer percent of battery life if it is shut down. On average, Macbooks on sleep mode require about 6% of battery, whereas while shut down, the laptop will consume roughly 2%.

Tip #9 – Keep the Macbook up to Date

Regular updates to the operating system are one of the reasons why people pick Macbooks as their computer. While most think of updating the OS as a means to get the latest features and stability improvements, there is no need to underestimate what it does to the battery lifespan. Some versions of macOS introduce battery-related improvements as well.

Tip #10 – Ditch Google Chrome Browser

If Google Chrome is your default browser, you should reconsider using it. Chrome is notorious for hogging memory and battery life. And some users worsen the situation even more by adding unnecessary extensions and add-ons.

Why not get a more battery-friendly browser, such as Safari or Microsoft Edge, instead of Google Chrome? The two also have a fair share of neat features and advantages, meaning that you should not notice a significant difference after changing web browsers.

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Ibuki


Aspiring ninja.

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