Force Your MacBook to Only Charge to 80% (And Why You Should) |

Computer batteries slow down as they age.But you can slow their deterioration by adjusting your Mac's settings.

Batteries aren't magic, they're chemical, and like most things man-made, they wear out over time.I don't have to tell you this - anyone who owns a MacBook knows that battery life gets worse and worse with age.But what if I told you it might slow the process down?

One common tip is to charge your device to 80% most of the time.Battery University, a funded consultancy that helps big companies get more out of batteries, suggests this based on their own research.So does the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

But how do you actually follow this advice?The good news is that your MacBook can already do it, and there's a great free app that lets you go even further.

Your Mac is designed to only charge up to 80 percent—at least, in certain situations.By default, Mac devices learn your charge and usage patterns and juice your battery accordingly.According to Apple, "Your Mac delays charging beyond 80 percent when it predicts that you will be connected for a long time, and aims to charge the battery before you remove it."

What does this mean?Well, for example, if you charge your laptop overnight, your Mac will charge up to 80 percent, then wait until the morning to charge the final 20 percent.The idea is to reduce the time it takes for the battery to fully charge in such a way that you don't even notice.

The advantage of this feature is that you don't have to do anything to monitor the battery's health. Your Mac does its best to only charge to 80% when everyday life says it won't bother you.

(This feature is actually a macOS setting that is enabled by default. You can find it in Settings > Battery > Battery Health, where you can disable this protection, but you have to read to find out if it's the best.)

If you like not to think about how much your battery is charged, and nothing else, stop reading.If you want more control, I have a recommendation.

Take control with a free app

There are several potential problems with Apple's approach.The first is that you are out of control.For example, you may find that your MacBook isn't fully charged if you wake up a little early to catch a flight, and you still have a low charge for a long day's travel.

However, for me, the biggest issue is that the daily use of the battery is not very common.I do a lot of work at my desk, where my computer is plugged into my monitor, which also charges it.I like to move around in my space throughout the day, though, which means I randomly unplug.And sometimes I put my laptop in my bag and work in the library or coffee shop.It's better if I can make sure I'm fully charged when I do that.

You get it: Not everyone's routine is predictable.If this sounds familiar and you want to directly control the charging of your MacBook, I recommend a free, open source battery app.

This application sits in your menu and forces your laptop to charge only 80 percent.You can authorize payment in full at any time by clicking the icon.

This will require a little planning and attention on your part.You have to remember to enable full charge before you need it and when you know you won't need it.

But for someone like me who uses my MacBook a lot at my desk, it seems like a way to make sure my battery stays as healthy as possible.