How to fix Service Battery battery warning on Mac: check charging cycle, calibrate battery of Mac

They make you be confused about what is the problem with the battery on your device. If you go through the official Apple support community website you can see concerns and complaints regarding software updates, bugs, poor battery management and maintenance, unusual or simple battery performance. is the need to replace the battery.

Before diving deeper into the root of the problem, let's go through the 3 battery warning states on macOS to see if you need to take your device to a service center. On the battery status menu, you will see one of the following warnings:

1. ' Normal ': this means your battery is working fine and is completely normal.
2. ' Replace Soon ': The battery is currently working but there is a potential for malfunction.
3. ' Replace Now ' or ' Service Battery ': Need to be checked, replaced.

Here are some measures you need to take to identify the specific problem with the battery.

Check the battery charge cycle number

Each MacBook battery has a certain charge cycle, which represents 100% - 0% battery usage before overall battery life begins to decline. More and more later versions, the MacBook's battery the better and more and more charge cycles. 

Series Number of cycles Maximum MacBook MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, 2017)
MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, beginning in 2016),
MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, beginning 2015)
MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2010)
MacBook (13-inch, late 2009) 1000 MacBook (13-inch Aluminum, late 2008) 500 MacBook (mid 2009)
MacBook (early 2009)
MacBook (late 2008)
MacBook (early 2008)
MacBook (late 2007)
MacBook (mid 2007)
MacBook (late 2006)
MacBook (13-inch) 300 MacBook Pro MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, 4 ports Thunderbolt 3)
MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, 4 ports Thunderbolt 3)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, 4
-port Thunderbolt 3)
MacBook Pro ( 13-inch, 2017, 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
MacBook Pro (13- inch, 2016 4 congThunderbolt 3)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016 2 Thunderbolt ports 3)
MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, beginning 2015)
MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, mid 2014)
MacBook Pro (Retina , 13-inch, late 2013)
MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, early 2013)
MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, late 2012)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, mid 2012)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, late 2011)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, early 2011)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, mid 2010)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, mid 2009)
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, mid 2015 )
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, mid 2014)
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, late 2013)
MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, beginning 2013),
MacBook Pro (Retina, mid 2012)
MacBook Pro (15- inch, mid 2012)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, late 2011)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, early 2011)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, mid 2010)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.53 GHz, mid-2009)
MacBook Pro (Mid-2009 15-inch)
MacBook Pro (17-inch, late 2011)
MacBook Pro (17-inch, early 2011)
MacBook Pro (17-inch, mid 2010)
MacBook Pro (17-inch, mid-2009)
MacBook Pro (17-inch, early 2009) 1000 MacBook Pro (15-inch late 2008) 500 MacBook Pro (15-inch, early 2008)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, early 2009) 2.2GHz)
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Core 2 Duo)
MacBook Pro (15-inch Glossy)
MacBook Pro (15-inch)
MacBook Pro (17-inch, late 2008)
MacBook Pro (17-inch, early 2008)
MacBook Pro (17-inch, 2.4GHz)
MacBook Pro (17-inch Core 2 Duo)
MacBook Pro (17-inch) 300 MacBook Air MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020)
MacBook Air ( Retina, 13-inch, 2019)
MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)
MacBook Air (13-inch, 2017)
MacBook Air (11-inch, early 2015)
MacBook Air (11-inch, early 2014)
MacBook Air (11-inch, mid-2013)
MacBook Air (11-inch, mid-2012)
MacBook Air (11-inch, mid 2011)
MacBook Air (11-inch, late 2010)
MacBook Air (13-inch, early 2015)
MacBook Air (13-inch, early 2014)
MacBook Air (13-inch, mid-2013)
MacBook Air (13-inch, mid-2012)
MacBook Air (13-inch, mid 2011)
MacBook Air (13-inch, late 2010) 1000 MacBook Air (mid 2009) 500 MacBook Air (late 2008)
MacBook Air 300

Once the battery on the device reaches the official number of cycles, it is normal for you to receive a " Service Battery " warning . Thankfully, you can keep track of your battery's charge cycles right inside macOS.

First, press and hold the Option key, click the Apple menu icon, then click the ' System Information ' item . Scroll down to the ' Hardware ' section in the left pane, then click ' Power '. All battery related information will be displayed, including the number of charge cycles.

If the charge cycle here exceeds the number listed on Apple's support page, that's why the system shows the ' Service Battery ' warning . But if you think the number of charge cycles on your device is abnormally high, move on to the next method.

Reset System Management Controller (SMC)

You can try resetting the SMC if your MacBook comes with a non-removable battery.

1. To reset the SMC, you must first turn off the device.
2. Plug the power adapter or MagSafe into the computer and electrical outlet.
3. Simultaneously press Shift + Ctrl + Option and the power button.
4. Release the three keys with the power button at the same time.
5. Then, press the power button again to turn on the computer. Check the battery status menu to see if the ' Service Battery ' warning disappears.

This is just a little trick. If nothing different happens, you can try the next option.

Recalibrate the battery

This method will be time consuming. However, if you really want to get rid of the annoying 'Service Battery' warning above, try following the steps below. Apple also suggests doing this as a way to 'restore' battery performance every few months. Of course, this timeline depends on your usage frequency:

Charge your battery up to 100% and ensure that the MagSafe charging jack light displays green, indicating fully charged.

Once fully charged, continue using the computer while MagSafe is plugged into a power source; do this for two hours. Then unplug and use until the battery runs out and you will see a low battery warning on the battery status menu. Your Mac will sleep automatically without any warning. For now, just turn it off.

Wait for five hours or more, then connect your Mac to the power adapter or MagSafe and charge it. This will help recalibrate your battery.

In the example in the post, the battery status returned to ' Good ' and the ' Service Battery ' warning is gone.

Take the device to an Apple authorized service provider

If the ' Service Battery ' warning still doesn't go away, maybe your battery has a real problem, and it's time to hand it over to the experts.

Micah Soto

Update 25 January 2021