Can you keep your MBP plugged in?

[Super Real]

I recently changed my MBP's battery because it inflated (at about 500 cycle counts*).
Before that, I had left it plugged in most of the time following my friends' advice.
I googled to research about this issue and found that the opinions are divided.

Anyway, I tried the new habit, not to keep it plugged in all the time but to keep it 20-80% of remaining battery level.
BUT, it was very difficult for me to make it a habit.
I've fallen asleep and gone to work many times leaving it plugged in.
Sometimes fell asleep and my MBP automatically played many episodes of TV series until it ran out of battery.

Which habit (to keep it plugged in or not to) do you think is better?

Thank you in advance,
SR

(*) Its cycle count was about 450 when bought it used 2 years ago.

 

[Weaselboy]

Just plug it in and don't worry about. Make sure you enable Optimized Battery Charging, and that will keep it at or under 80% when you have not used it much on battery.

Change Battery settings on a Mac laptop

Set options that control your Mac’s battery.

support.apple.com

See this support link.

 

[Super Real]

Make sure you enable Optimized Battery Charging, and that will keep it at or under 80% when you have not used it much on battery.

Thank you for your opinion and the information. Unfortunately my laptop seems to be too old to have the option... Anyway, I'll go back to the old habit to keep it plugged in.

I have just installed an application called Macs Fan Control to keep my laptop cool enough. Because the heat may have given damage to the old battery.

 

[Miicat_47]

Macs Fan Control

There should be similar apps for battery percentage as well

 

[Apple_Robert]

AlDente is the kind of app you are looking for.

AlDente

AlDente – Charge Limiter The ALL-IN-ONE charge Limiter App for MacBooks. Download Free Get AlDente Pro AlDente gives you the tools you need to extend the life of your MacBook battery. Why do I need this? Li-ion batteries (like the one in your MacBook) last the longest when operated between 20%...

apphousekitchen.com

 

[Super Real]

AlDente is the kind of app you are looking for.

Thank you, is the FREE version enough?

 

[Apple_Robert]

Thank you, is the FREE version enough?

Give it a test drive. You can always buy the pro version later on if you decide you want the extra features.

 

[splifingate]

I recently changed my MBP's battery because it inflated (at about 500 cicle counts).
Before that, I had left it plugged in most of the time following my friends' advice.
I googled to research about this issue and found that the opinions are divided.

Anyway, I tried the new habit, not to keep it plugged in all the time but to keep it 20-80% of remaining battery level.
BUT, it was very difficult for me to make it a habit.
I've fallen asleep and gone to work many times leaving it plugged in.
Sometimes fell asleep and my MBP automatically played many episodes of TV series until it ran out of battery.

Which habit (to keep it plugged in or not to) do you think is better?

Thank you in advance,
SR

Now that you asked me to think about it, it seems that I've left my 13" '15 MBP tapped to the magsafe for about two months, now (give-or-take a general rounding-error factoring-in "when, actually, did I last notice that it was un-plugged?).

It hasn't exploded, AFAICT.

 

[Fishrrman]

"I recently changed my MBP's battery because it inflated (at about 500 cicle counts).
Before that, I had left it plugged in most of the time following my friends' advice."

I WOULD NOT leave it "plugged in all the time".
Instead, I'd periodically "exercise" the battery.

3-4 times a week, take it "off charge" and let it run down on its own to around 45% or so. Then, plug it back in.

I would also UNPLUG the charger from the wall each night.
Whether you shut the MBP down, or just let it "sleep".
And plug it back in, in the morning.

As for myself, the only time I put my MBP "on charge" is when it NEEDS a charge.
Otherwise, I use it "untethered" to the charger. So I end up recharging it about 4 times a week.

Works for me and the battery doesn't swell up.

My opinion only.
Others will disagree.
Some will disagree vehemently.

 

[Super Real]

Give it a test drive. You can always buy the pro version later on if you decide you want the extra features.

I tried the FREE ver and soon noticed I'd need its PRO (paid) ver whose charge limiter keep working even after your laptop is asleep. If I can set my laptop not to sleep, then it's all ok with the FREE ver?

 

[Super Real]

Now that you asked me to think about it, it seems that I've left my 13" '15 MBP tapped to the magsafe for about two months, now (give-or-take a general rounding-error factoring-in "when, actually, did I last notice that it was un-plugged?).

It hasn't exploded, AFAICT.

I bought my used MBP (15 inches, mid 2014) about 2 years ago and kept it plugged in since then. A month ago, its battery got swollen and limited the touchpad function. So I had to renew the battery.

 

[Weaselboy]

3-4 times a week, take it "off charge" and let it run down on its own to around 45% or so. Then, plug it back in.

All that is doing is needlessly using up charge cycles. Nothing in Apple's battery guidelines or support articles suggest doing this.

 

[Fishrrman]

Weaselboy wrote:
"All that is doing is needlessly using up charge cycles. Nothing in Apple's battery guidelines or support articles suggest doing this"

OK, I realize that's what Apple recommends, but...

I just checked my own 2021 MacBook Pro 14" (bought in early February, 2022). Coconut battery shows 97% of design capacity still remaining:

That's GREAT for a MacBook Pro 1.5 years old which is used for several hours daily.

So... the charging routine I outlined above seems to work well enough for me. I've never seen battery "longevity" like this before!

 

[TinyMito]

"I recently changed my MBP's battery because it inflated (at about 500 cicle counts).
Before that, I had left it plugged in most of the time following my friends' advice."

I WOULD NOT leave it "plugged in all the time".
Instead, I'd periodically "exercise" the battery.

3-4 times a week, take it "off charge" and let it run down on its own to around 45% or so. Then, plug it back in.

I would also UNPLUG the charger from the wall each night.
Whether you shut the MBP down, or just let it "sleep".
And plug it back in, in the morning.

As for myself, the only time I put my MBP "on charge" is when it NEEDS a charge.
Otherwise, I use it "untethered" to the charger. So I end up recharging it about 4 times a week.

Works for me and the battery doesn't swell up.

My opinion only.
Others will disagree.
Some will disagree vehemently.

It's hard not to do that if I need to plug into my dock for my large display for work daily lol.

 

[h.gilbert]

All that is doing is needlessly using up charge cycles. Nothing in Apple's battery guidelines or support articles suggest doing this.

Agreed. That was the logic for older battery chemistry where if you didn't run it down often it's peak capacity would reduce.

Weaselboy wrote:
"All that is doing is needlessly using up charge cycles. Nothing in Apple's battery guidelines or support articles suggest doing this"

OK, I realize that's what Apple recommends, but...

I just checked my own 2021 MacBook Pro 14" (bought in early February, 2022). Coconut battery shows 97% of design capacity still remaining:
View attachment 2225307
That's GREAT for a MacBook Pro 1.5 years old which is used for several hours daily.

So... the charging routine I outlined above seems to work well enough for me. I've never seen battery "longevity" like this before!

A sample size of one isn't enough to conclude anything meaningful

 

[GMShadow]

I bought my used MBP (15 inches, mid 2014) about 2 years ago and kept it plugged in since then. A month ago, its battery got swollen and limited the touchpad function. So I had to renew the battery.

Well, it also was an 8-9 year old battery, so that could have played a factor.

 

[Fishrrman]

"A sample size of one isn't enough to conclude anything meaningful"

Certainly seems "meaningful" enough to me. I'm typing on it now.

I'd like to see actual reports from other MBP 14" owners...

 

[Super Real]

Well, it also was an 8-9 year old battery, so that could have played a factor.

That's a good point, but it's possible that the previous owner was not a heavy user (because the cycle count of the original battery was only 450 or so). Of course I think I know that the deterioration over time could be one of the causes of the damage.

 

[Super Real]

Give it a test drive. You can always buy the pro version later on if you decide you want the extra features.

I set my MBP not to sleep so that the FREE ver of AlDente can work all the time.
So far it seems that the FREE ver is enough for me though I'm gonna get the PRO ver if needed.
This application seems to be worth paying for.
Thank you very much for the introduction.

 

[makinao]

I have my M1 Max 16" MBP plugged in all day for work at home. Use it unplugged in school teaching (except when using battery hungry apps like OBS), and light use at night, like watching an occasional video, bills payments, and stuff I forgot to do during the day. 6 months old, and maximum capacity is 93%. Always put it to sleep, and restart only for OS updates.

 

[Lucas Curious]

I recently changed my MBP's battery because it inflated (at about 500 cycle counts*).
Before that, I had left it plugged in most of the time following my friends' advice.
I googled to research about this issue and found that the opinions are divided.

Anyway, I tried the new habit, not to keep it plugged in all the time but to keep it 20-80% of remaining battery level.
BUT, it was very difficult for me to make it a habit.
I've fallen asleep and gone to work many times leaving it plugged in.
Sometimes fell asleep and my MBP automatically played many episodes of TV series until it ran out of battery.

Which habit (to keep it plugged in or not to) do you think is better?

Thank you in advance,
SR

(*) Its cycle count was about 450 when bought it used 2 years ago.

I had my MBP 16 M1 Pro plugged in for more than a year and the percentage of battery life hasn't changed.

 

[Acronyc]

I bought my 14-inch M1 Max MBP in November 2021. It's used docked most of the time and I am using Al Dente for the past year to limit the battery to 80% charge. Twice a week, it comes with me to the office and is off the charger all day.

According to Coconut my battery capacity is 84% with only 38 cycles. The internal battery health in settings shows it at 92%. Both I feel are a bit bad considering the low cycles, but I don't really worry about it.