How is low power mode on Mac supposed to work with iCloud syncing?

[weezin]

I'm dealing with an iCloud syncing issue on my Macbook that I can't figure out.

I have the Macbook set to low power mode when on battery. I usually use the Macbook in the evenings, and between evenings, it most often sits closed, sleeping, not plugged in. I only plug it in when it needs charge over night. During the day, I use my Mac Studio and iPhone.

The issue I have is that when I wake the Macbook up in the evening after not having been plugged in, most times, my iCloud services don't sync. Notes, Reminders, and iMessage. It takes some update happening to each app when the Macbook is awake for the various apps to update. For example, iMessages won't show up on the Macbook until a new iMessage comes in. Reminders won't sync until I open the reminders app manually (or a new reminder pops up). Notes won't sync, until I create or edit a note that prompts the sync.

When the Macbook is plugged in overnight, this is not an issue. Once I wake the Macbook up, everything has either already synced, or will sync quickly.

If I turn low power mode off completely, everything works perfectly.

So my question is: in theory, if my Mac is on low power mode overnight, not plugged in, when I wake up the Mac should all of the services sync automatically such that everything is up to date within a few moments? I assume it should, but my machine is not, so I'm confused. Apple phone support has not been of any help. I'd like to use low power mode when on battery, but it's very frustrating not to have the services sync.

 

[russell_314]

The sounds normal to me. You have Low Power Mode on, so it’s reducing background tasks. For example, it’s not going to sync messages unless you’re using messages. That’s one way it saves power by not running all those tasks in the background. When you plug it in Low Power Mode goes off and it starts running those tasks. You could turn off Low Power Mode or plug it in when you’re not using it.


I usually turn it off on my M2 Air unless I know I’m somewhere where there’s no possible way to plug in. It seems slightly laggy when it’s on, but maybe that’s in my head.

 

[weezin]

Interesting, OK. I get that perspective I suppose. I guess I just assumed that when you wake the computer up, it would do a single initial sync on its own and then the syncing gets handled when updates happen from there. I suppose not!

I wish I knew that, I’ve been frustrated over this behavior for ever since I got this computer and it’s taken until now for me to figure out how it works. There is no documentation about it at all that I can find.

Separately, and I know this is a controversial topic, but is it OK to just leave my computer plugged in all the time when I’m not using it? That would solve my problem and allow me to use low power mode when it’s unplugged.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I know this is a controversial topic

/me straps on flak jacket and shrapnel helmet

is it OK to just leave my computer plugged in all the time when I’m not using it?

That's exactly what I do. My MacBook Pro is plugged in 95% of the time, it's pretty much only unplugged when I'm traveling or if I need to move to a different room temporarily. I've had this M1 Max for.... dunno, over 2 years for sure and it's still at 95% battery health. The battery IS replaceable, and when it comes to it I'll replace it.

Yes, it's probably "Harder" on the battery but not end-of-the-world hard, as you can see from my results. I'm not going to compromise my personal convenience, every day, in order to let the battery last 6 months or a year longer. The economics of that don't make sense.