How to check MacBook battery status

Whether you're wondering how your MacBook's battery is doing or regularly having problems with battery life, you can easily check in macOS Settings. Read the following article to learn how to check your MacBook's battery health, tips on when to replace it, charge cycle expectations, and more.

Apple's modern MacBooks have long-lasting batteries, but they're still a consumable part. Below the article will mention how to check the status and health (capacity) of your battery.

The article will also look at how to see your battery cycle count, what to expect from a typical MacBook battery, and when the battery may need to be replaced.

How to view MacBook battery status

1. Open the System Settings application on MacBook.

2. Select Battery from the left sidebar.

3. Now click on the circled 'i' next to Battery Health.

4. Your current battery status is displayed at the top.

How to check MacBook battery status Picture 1

5. Your current battery health (capacity) is displayed second.

How to check MacBook battery status Picture 2

*** The 2 images above are the interface of macOS Sonoma

And to see your current battery cycle count, go to System Settings > General > About > System Report > Power > Health Information.

When should you replace your MacBook battery?

1. TL;DR: When the battery drops below 80% of its original capacity, you may want to consider a replacement. The same goes if you see a warning about your battery's deterioration or if it's not holding a charge.
   
   1. In the 'Battery Condition' section shown above, you will see warnings if your battery's health is deteriorating and if it is causing problems such as sudden shutdowns or inability to maintain battery performance.
2. Apple says most modern MacBook batteries are 'designed to maintain up to 80% of their original capacity after 1,000 complete charge cycles when operated under normal conditions'.
3. In many cases, you can continue to use your MacBook battery at less than 80% capacity, but performance, runtime, etc. may be reduced.

In the United States, MacBook battery replacements are covered by a 1-year warranty or with AppleCare. But if you are outside the warranty range, Apple will charge a MacBook battery replacement service fee of $159-249. Check with Apple support if you want to set up an appointment for more detailed information about your laptop.

Lesley Montoya

Update 17 January 2024