keeping MBA plugged in ?

[namannanda]

Do you keep your M1 Macs plugged in all the time which is at 100% always ?
and if yes why I can't see the option of holding my battery at a certain level even if the battery optimization feature is turned on ?

 

[matrix07]

That's a bad idea. Battery too full or too empty for a long time is not good for its health.

 

[namannanda]

That's a bad idea. Battery too full or too empty for a long time is not good for its health.

do u get the option to hold your battery level at a certain point when battery optimization is turned on ?

 

[Gnattu]

macOS will learn your behavior and if it detects you almost always uses power adapter, it will hold the charge.

 

[namannanda]

View attachment 1851707

macOS will learn your behavior and if it detects you almost always uses power adapter, it will hold the charge.

Do you always keep it on charging ? coz for me it still hasn't given me that option yet

 

[matrix07]

do u get the option to hold your battery level at a certain point when battery optimization is turned on ?

You don't get that option but if you turn battery optimization on it will delay charging once it reaches 80% to, and I quote Apple, "reducing the time devices spends fully charged".

I believe there is a 3rd party app to do what you want though. Can't remember the name of it.

 

[namannanda]

You don't get that option but if you turn battery optimization on it will delay charging once it reaches 80% to, and I quote Apple, "reducing the time devices spends fully charged".

I believe there is a 3rd party app to do what you want though. Can't remember the name of it.

okie , but how can I get this without any third party apps? and does your MBA has that ?
but apple's website shows that this feature is in-built with battery optimization so no need of any third party apps ?

 

[matrix07]

okie , but how can I get this without any third party apps? and does your MBA has that ?

That's simply battery optimization. You can't control it. It does things on its own. If you want to control it then you'll need that 3rd party app.

 

[Gnattu]

okie , but how can I get this without any third party apps? and does your MBA has that ?
but apple's website shows that this feature is in-built with battery optimization so no need of any third party apps ?

This is on my MBP without any third party app.

You have to give macOS enough time to learn your use pattern and decides it will be beneficial to turn this feature on.

It usually requires a week to be turned on if you rarely use your battery, and it does not automatically drain your battery if your battery is already full. So you have to use your Mac on battery and let it discharge, then connect it back to power source to see if your charge is on hold.

If you want to take over and control when to charge and when not to, use a 3rd party app.

 

[Need_Advice]

I am using my MBP 16 almost all the time with the charger connected. MacOS still hasn't learned that it should hold its charge. Battery health is currently at 86,2%. Pretty disappointing. Yes, optimisation is turned on.

 

[Gherkin]

I am using my MBP 16 almost all the time with the charger connected. MacOS still hasn't learned that it should hold its charge. Battery health is currently at 86,2%. Pretty disappointing. Yes, optimisation is turned on.

If you are using your MBP "almost all the time" connected to a charger, then I wouldn't worry so much about your battery health.

 

[chabig]

Mine stays on the charger all of the time when I'm not using it.

 

[Wolff Weber]

I am keeping mostly plugged in, battery charges by MacOS to ca 85%. If unplugged and discharged then charges to 100%. 14 full charge cycles yet.
After nearly 10 months battery health is 99% (activated Dec 7th, 99% noticed by the end of August). BTW SSD health is still 100%.
MBA M1, 8/8/512

 

[beeftick]

Do you always keep it on charging ? coz for me it still hasn't given me that option yet

Have you tried toggling the battery optimization checkbox? Then do a restart and continue using. Sometimes a good ol' kick in the butt helps things that may be stuck.

 

[Mikael H]

That's a bad idea. Battery too full or too empty for a long time is not good for its health.

Of course, but running full charging cycles isn't good for it either, so the alternative is basically not to use computers with a battery in them, or baby your laptop between 60% and 80% charge. Or just accept that a battery usually works just fine for the expected lifetime of a laptop and if it would break it's possible to replace it for a fee.

 

[Lioness~]

I don’t have a M1 MBA but I had a similar problem on my MBA some time ago.
I use it mostly 90% plugged in.
And the battery charging got weird and didn’t charge full and work satisfying at a point.
I found a video on YouTube how to reset the charging. That it could kind of hook up. Don’t recall the procedure now.
But it worked fine and it started to charge as normal again after that.

Sure, everything is just recommendations - after all it’s my Mac. I use it for my needs perfectly as I wish.
If we can’t do that something is f&#% wrong.

 

[Aggedor]

A lot of people use laptops as desktops - mine is plugged in 90% of the time as it's running a 4K desktop display in clamshell mode. It's fine, macOS handles charge load, etc.

 

[irock101]

Using it in clamshell mode with the apple XDR display and have it plugged in 100% of the time. I rarely take it anywhere, unless I am traveling. Did that with every Macbook and never had any battery issues.

 

[haralds]

Since my monitor charges the system when plugged in, there is no choice.
I have stopped worrying about the batteries and SSD wear. Life's too short.
I will likely get another one within two years when the tech matures further.

 

[Javi74]

I believe there is a 3rd party app to do what you want though. Can't remember the name of it.

Aldente

 

[Fawkesguyy]

I use AlDente Pro so I have full control over battery management. I highly recommend it.
https://apphousekitchen.com

Edit: Javi74 beat me to it.

 

[doolar]

I usually keep my portable Mac connected to power. I have never had any batteries dying from that. Just use your computer as you will. Nowadays it's even smarter and learns that I'm on the charger and keeps it at 90% every now and then. Don't worry, it'll be ok.

 

[Zapoleon]

I use al dente to keep it around 20 to 80 percent.