"Replace battery now"-message

AnrBjotk · Aug 3, 2014

So for a few months I've gotten the message "change battery soon" whenever I click the battery symbol in the menu bar (or a similar message, this is all translated from my native language). Then suddenly it says "change battery now".
How long do I have before it's dead? I'm dreading bringing it to the mac store because I know it takes two weeks or more for them to change the battery. Plus the high expence of it.
A few weeks? A few days? I can still use it after the battery is dead, right? (I know I did with my old Macbook. There the battery bloated and I just removed the battery and used the power cord all the time. A hassle, but workable)

Also, how do I know what type of MacBook Pro it is? Besides the year and date (which I'll find, hopefully, in my email). Is it a unibody if there is only one solid piece of metal underneath and no separate cover for the battery?

Thanks in advance.

CaffeinatedNoms · Aug 4, 2014

You can find the version of your laptop by selecting :apple:

> About This Mac

It'll either tell you "MacBook Pro (Year of Purchase)" (Mavericks) or "MacBook Pro (number,sub number)" (pre-Mavericks).

My battery is also at the 'replace soon' stage, in a 2011 MacBook Pro, and instead of taking it to an Apple store I'm going to replace it myself, because like you I was told it would take up to two weeks for a five minute job. Replacing it yourself, however, is simply not an option with any Retina MacBook Pro, as it appears Apple glue them in rather than screw them in.

Bad Mr Ives!

As for how long it'll last... well probably the same amount of time as it said 'replace soon', only it could be much less than that. I'd start pricing up replacements.

maflynn · Aug 4, 2014

Newer MBPs have their batteries glued on, so you may have to take it into apple.

I've heard conflicting advise on the message, some people successfully ignored it for months, sucking the last bit of life out of the battery, others replaced it because of the risk of bulging. I'm not sure what to say there then I'd not want to see the battery bulge and destroy my laptop

AnrBjotk · Aug 5, 2014

maflynn said:
Newer MBPs have their batteries glued on, so you may have to take it into apple.

I've heard conflicting advise on the message, some people successfully ignored it for months, sucking the last bit of life out of the battery, others replaced it because of the risk of bulging. I'm not sure what to say there then I'd not want to see the battery bulge and destroy my laptop

******! Do the batteries bulge on MacBook Pros from 2009/2010 too?? I was told they didn't. That's what happened to my MacBook ca 2007. But there it was a separate cover for the battery, so they batttery simply bulged outwards.
But if THIS battery bulges it'll destroy the entire mac...

***** just got serious...

AnrBjotk · Aug 5, 2014

I dropped by my closest apple retailer and they said 6 to 9 days. Of course that could be a lie. But I' guess I have no other option.

2984839 · Aug 5, 2014

AnrBjotk said:
I dropped by my closest apple retailer and they said 6 to 9 days. Of course that could be a lie. But I' guess I have no other option.

Is it a Retina or non-Retina model? If it's a non Retina, you can do it yourself pretty easily. It will be a little cheaper and much faster.

AnrBjotk · Aug 5, 2014

556fmjoe said:
Is it a Retina or non-Retina model? If it's a non Retina, you can do it yourself pretty easily. It will be a little cheaper and much faster.

No idea. Aluminum unibody whatever. I think. Pro from 2010...

eneisch · Aug 5, 2014

AnrBjotk said:
I dropped by my closest apple retailer and they said 6 to 9 days. Of course that could be a lie. But I' guess I have no other option.

According to Apple's website it should not take that long to replace at an Apple Store:

"Apple Retail Store
Depending on inventory availability this may be replaced the same day. Make a reservation to meet us at the Genius Bar."

See link...

http://support.apple.com/kb/index?page=servicefaq&geo=United_States&product=Macnotebooks

Did you go to Apple Store or authorized service center?

AnrBjotk · Aug 6, 2014

eneisch said:
According to Apple's website it should not take that long to replace at an Apple Store:

"Apple Retail Store
Depending on inventory availability this may be replaced the same day. Make a reservation to meet us at the Genius Bar."

See link...

http://support.apple.com/kb/index?page=servicefaq&geo=United_States&product=Macnotebooks

Did you go to Apple Store or authorized service center?

That's the thing. There are no Apple Stores in Norway at this date. Only authorized service centers/retailers.
I know that Apple Stores change batteries the same day, but that's not an option. "Globalization" my rear end! Maybe some day though.

Update: Now the status keeps changing from "replace soon" and "replace now".
Oh, well. Guess it's better to do it sooner or later. Just gonna be hard a whole week (and maybe two) without my mac... And I'm not a rich kid with a arsenal of other computers and "ipads". Just my old cell phone and a crappy PC that shuts down for no reason every ten minutes.

maflynn · Aug 6, 2014

I understand your plight but you shouldn't delay, the battery does need to be replaced.

eneisch · Aug 6, 2014

Take a look at http://www.ifixit.com for your model year and see how difficult it is to replace the battery yourself. While the batteries in the new retina models are very hard to replace yourself, it looks like the 2010's only require a bunch of philips head screws to be removed to access the battery. Looks pretty easy from the instructions - could probably to do it yourself in less than 1/2 hour.

maflynn · Aug 6, 2014

eneisch said:
Take a look at I http://www.ifixit.com for your model year and see how difficult it is to replace the battery yourself.

That's an option, for me having a newer MBP, its harder because Apple really started gluing them down tight. For the OP, having an older model, that could be a viable alternative.

AnrBjotk · Aug 6, 2014

I handed it in today. 6 to 9 days. 270 dollars.
Kinda bothered me they needed my login password. Not that I have any weird porn or anything, just irked me. But guess theyre pros. Or hope so. Otherwise theyll have fun reading my bad poetry and love letters and whatnots.

AnrBjotk · Aug 8, 2014

Right?

Jhingha · Aug 8, 2014

I had my battery of my Macbook changed in less than 15 minutes. (In an Apple Store)
I don't understand what is with this 6-9 days experiences you guys have.
(Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
It cost me around 130 euros (160 dollar?)

Alfonsomac · Aug 8, 2014

I'm sorry if i ask a question here, but i didn't want to open another thread.
Is there any way to see the MBP battery usage like on the iPhone or the iPad?
I would understand how many hours it lasts

smithrh · Aug 8, 2014

Two ways, not sure if either is exactly what you want:

Hold down Option while clicking on the battery in the menu bar, and/or

About this Mac -> More Info... -> System Report -> Scroll to the Power section

lokster · Aug 8, 2014

IMO the battery only needs replacing when you find your laptop unusable, like it wont last an hour or just a few mins or something, thats one way to gauge it.

Mine also says replace now, and its capacity is below 50% but it can still hold 2 hours of charge and thats enough for me.

Cycle wise, ive gone over 1200 and shes still doing ok. Im not sure about other models as mine is the MBP 2010, ifixit.com has some great tutorials though to help you install it yourself.

Im worried that you had to give your password but once they replace the battery they should turn on and check if the system recognizes it, you can see important battery information for yourself at about this mac>more info> system profiler and look at the battery details

Alfonsomac · Aug 8, 2014

smithrh said:
Two ways, not sure if either is exactly what you want:

Hold down Option while clicking on the battery in the menu bar, and/or

About this Mac -> More Info... -> System Report -> Scroll to the Power section

Well thank you for the reply, but these suggestions don't work.

I'm asking something like that: http://cdn.cultofmac.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Battery-Usage.jpg

smithrh · Aug 8, 2014

Maybe through an app (maybe), but I'm just not that worried about my laptop battery's status, so I haven't looked for apps that will display information like that.

Alfonsomac · Aug 8, 2014

I was just curious about the fact how much did it last. If less or more than 8 hours

AnrBjotk · Aug 10, 2014

lokster said:
Im worried that you had to give your password but once they replace the battery they should turn on and check if the system recognizes it, you can see important battery information for yourself at about this mac>more info> system profiler and look at the battery details

Wait, youre worried? Why? I wish I had just told them that the guest account was password free, but maybe they needed an admin account? But whatever.
Cant wait to get it back though. I get text messages with updates once in a while.

AnrBjotk · Aug 15, 2014

Well, alls well that ends well. My mac is back in my posession, new battery inserted. 292 dollars pooerer, but so it goes. Took, what, 8 days, 9 if you include sunday, which is fair. Maybe some day there'll be a Mac Store which does it on the hour, but this'll do for now. This'll do just fine.

maflynn · Aug 15, 2014

Great that it's all set, but I agree, almost 300 bucks is hard to swallow. You should get a few more years out of that now

lokster · Aug 15, 2014

AnrBjotk said:
Wait, youre worried? Why? I wish I had just told them that the guest account was password free, but maybe they needed an admin account? But whatever.
Cant wait to get it back though. I get text messages with updates once in a while.

i wouldnt have given them my password, id give them the guest account, just for security, you never know what they might have copied while they had admin access. lol, im not trying to scare you or anything. Anyway job is done.

I swear its super fast to change the battery, mine says replace soon. and its already at 51% capacity.

I was thinking il buy my own battery and install it myself. Still hoping your new battery last you for years to come

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