With the release ofmacOS Catalina 10.15.5, Apple has introduced a new Battery Health management feature for macOS. Similar to what is already found in iOS, this feature aims to extend the life of your MacBook by reducing its wear.
Most people use their MacBooks for up to 5 years or even longer. The battery is usually the first to be used on older MacBooks, as the hardware is usually good enough to survive five years of intensive use. While it is possible to replace the battery on MacBooks, most consumers usually don’t because it is expensive. With the new Battery Health management feature in macOS Catalina 10.15.5, Apple hopes to extend the battery life of MacBooks depending on a person’s usage.
How does Battery Health Management work in macOS Catalina?
The Battery Health management feature in macOS Catalina 10.15.5 analyzes the usage and charging habits of your MacBook and automatically prevents it from being charged to 100% when deemed necessary. A battery that is always 100% charged and connected is not good for its life, which is why Apple introduced this feature. Many MacBook owners use their machine as a desktop replacement, which means it is almost always plugged into a power source. In such cases, the Battery Health management feature prevents your MacBook from charging to 100%, thereby extending battery life.
Enabling Battery Health management does not mean that your MacBook will stop charging the battery to 100%. The feature first analyzes your usage patterns and then makes adjustments accordingly. If you have a very erratic schedule or are always on the go, consider disabling the Battery Health Management feature as it won’t help you much. However, if you’re always near a power source and want to extend the battery life of your MacBook, keep this feature turned on.
Compatible MacBooks
All MacBook and MacBook Pro models with a Thunderbolt 3 port and launched on or after 2016 support the Battery Health Management feature. This means that all MacBooks and MacBook Pro models launched in or after 2016 are compatible with this feature. Older non-battery powered MacBooks and Macs are not compatible with this feature.
Battery Health Management is enabled by default when you update your MacBook to macOS 10.15.5. However, if you get a new MacBook out of the box with macOS Catalina 10.15.5, you will need to enable the Battery Health Management feature manually.
How to disable Battery Health Management on your MacBook
Step-1: Head over to System Preferences -> Energy Saver on your MacBook running macOS Catalina 10.15.5.
Step-2: Click on the “Battery Health” option located at the bottom of the window.
Step-3: In the dialog box that appears, you have the option to disable the battery health management feature. You must click ‘Disable’ again to confirm your selection.
What do you think of the Battery Health management feature of macOS Catalina 10.15.5? Leave a comment and let us know!
See also optimized battery charging not working on iPhone? Fix