MacBook Air set up and care

[rainy666]

Hi all, this is my first thread so hopefully this post is alright. I’ve basically had two MacBook airs fail on me in the last couple years; the first was an M1 that was an upgrade from an old MBP, whereby the battery failed to charge (had it for 2 years) and the second a M3 MacBook Air that the logic board likely failed JUST on the week before the M5 was going to be released (lasted 1 year+).

I’ve since purchased the new M5 as a logic board repair costed half of a new machine, but I wanted to minimise further user related damage in case it wasn’t my luck.

My set-up for the previous few months before the failure was the M3 in clamshell mode connected to a BenQ external monitor, with hinge down in a vertical closed stand. I’ve always left it in sleep mode, and rarely shut it down unless I was travelling. I’ve also since realised that the early usage of it in my kitchen when I was cooking is probably not a good idea (may have caused liquid damage that I was unaware of, but I stopped doing this once I started using an external monitor set up - yes I was stupid).

I still want to use the same set up with my new M5 (due to limited space on my desk), but I’ve been reading around and I have many questions about whether that set up is detrimental in the long run for the MacBook.

So my questions are thus:-
1) Position of MacBook Air: Hinge up or down? Hinge down would cover vents (my stand will cover the vents), but I worry that storing it hinge up will put a lot of pressure on the top part and cause it to bend
2) Charging: My BenQ charges the MacBook when it’s on, but it doesn’t have an idle mode; once I shut it off, it ceases all power to the MacBook, and when I leave it on, it forces the MacBook to wake up in intervals. I plan to use the MagSafe charger instead as its power source while using the external monitor and shut down the external monitor everyday when not in use, but wasn’t sure if this would be safe to do so?
3) Sleep mode or shut it down: I would like to shut the MacBook down everyday so is there a way to turn it on without having to open the MacBook back up? If not, is it safe to still leave it on sleep mode for a long time?
4) when disconnecting the MagSafe charger, should I turn off power at the socket first before unplugging or is it safe to unplug MagSafe charger without turning off the power socket first?

Thanks in advance, I know it’s a lot, but I’d like to have some answers/reassurances as I’d like to avoid another MacBook failure.

 

[!!!]

clamshell mode connected to a BenQ external monitor

Is there a reason you decided to buy another laptop instead of a desktop (mini)? Sounds like your use-case is just sitting at a desk with an external monitor anyways.

Hinge down would cover vents (my stand will cover the vents),

There are no vents on the Air, it's fanless.

I plan to use the MagSafe charger instead as its power source while using the external monitor and shut down the external monitor everyday when not in use, but wasn’t sure if this would be safe to do so?

It's bad for the battery to keep it at fully charged at all times, at least consider using battery toolkit and limiting charge to 70% if you're keeping it plugged in at all times. If this is the life of your MacBook, it's not a good one. Consider a desktop when you need a, well, desk top.

If not, is it safe to still leave it on sleep mode for a long time?

Yes. Why wouldn't it be safe?

4) when disconnecting the MagSafe charger, should I turn off power at the socket first before unplugging or is it safe to unplug MagSafe charger without turning off the power socket first?

It's obviously safe to disconnect a battery-powered device from its charger.

 

[1BadManVan]

Given your luck, i sure hope you planned on purchasing apple care this time around, sounds like its a worth while investment, especially with that m3 air.

 

[rainy666]

Is there a reason you decided to buy another laptop instead of a desktop (mini)? Sounds like your use-case is just sitting at a desk with an external monitor anyways.

There are no vents on the Air, it's fanless.

It's bad for the battery to keep it at fully charged at all times, at least consider using battery toolkit and limiting charge to 70% if you're keeping it plugged in at all times. If this is the life of your MacBook, it's not a good one. Consider a desktop when you need a, well, desk top.

Yes. Why wouldn't it be safe?

It's obviously safe to disconnect a battery-powered device from its charger.

1) I used to have a desktop/laptop many years ago but what ended up happening is that I primarily only use one device and so I would rather keep using one that has all of my files. it made more sense to have the device with the easiest portability + I move places frequently every few years. I may switch to a desktop at some point when I have a bit more stability where I am
2) oh I got confused; I thought the Air also has exhaust vents for releasing hot air?
3) I read that the MacBooks have their own internal battery management system, is a battery toolkit still needed in this case?

In terms of disconnecting, I was concerned about power surges if I don’t turn off the adaptor at its wall socket hence the question

 

[rainy666]

Given your luck, i sure hope you planned on purchasing apple care this time around, sounds like its a worth while investment, especially with that m3 air.

Yeah I’m thinking of purchasing it this time, I don’t seem to have the greatest luck with most tech - only one MacBook has stayed operating and that was an old MBP bought in like 2016; lasted me 5 years

 

[Mike Boreham]

3) I read that the MacBooks have their own internal battery management system, is a battery toolkit still needed in this case?

Yes it does. After about four weeks (in my case) of being continuously plugged in, Apples OBC (Optimised Battery Charging, described here) kicked in and max charge was limited to 80% to prolong battery life. When you start using it as a laptop again it may have to relearn, but not sure how long it takes subsequently.

Many people (including me) use AlDente to do a similar function with much more control. This is a hotly debated topic as you will see if you search on “AlDente”! Because OBC didn’t work for my usage on my M1 MBA a few years ago, I started using AlDente and kept using it until, as a test, I deleted it and waited to see how long OBC took to work. I have never had problems with AlDente so reinstalled it.

There a thread here about Constantly using Clamshell mode which you may find interesting.

 

[Miat]

I have had my M2 Air plugged into the charger permanently since I got it just over 3 years ago. Charge is limited to 80%, with optimised battery charging turned on, and it gets unplugged once a week and discharged to ≈40%, then plugged back in. Runs on mains power at least 95% of the time, through a UPS to filter the power supply and keep it clean.

It is sitting flat on the desk, in clamshell mode, plugged into an external 27" monitor. It lives in air-conditioning during hot humid weather, and the rest of the year the weather is dry and relatively cool (rarely above 30C/86F), and I rarely run it hard or hot.

I never put the whole comp to sleep, only the screen.

Current battery health is 88%.

 

[Bazza1]

Yeah I’m thinking of purchasing it this time, I don’t seem to have the greatest luck with most tech - only one MacBook has stayed operating and that was an old MBP bought in like 2016; lasted me 5 years

AppleCare really worth it for, like, $50 / year - and is applicable as long as you keep paying it (even over the once-traditional 2 years). Even if it sounds like you don't subject your Air to the usual mobile bumps and bruises experienced by a laptop all that often.

Meanwhile, while I appreciate the Air can run in clamshell mode (and yes, I've done it too), I do wonder if that is part of the issue - even with the ambient temperature of the environment being controlled. I'm not convinced being closed and running is the best for them. Its my understanding the Air 'off-gasses' some internal heat issues through the keyboard. Clearly that would be a problem if closed.

 

[RUGERMAN]

Hi all, this is my first thread so hopefully this post is alright. I’ve basically had two MacBook airs fail on me in the last couple years; the first was an M1 that was an upgrade from an old MBP, whereby the battery failed to charge (had it for 2 years) and the second a M3 MacBook Air that the logic board likely failed JUST on the week before the M5 was going to be released (lasted 1 year+).

I’ve since purchased the new M5 as a logic board repair costed half of a new machine, but I wanted to minimise further user related damage in case it wasn’t my luck.

My set-up for the previous few months before the failure was the M3 in clamshell mode connected to a BenQ external monitor, with hinge down in a vertical closed stand. I’ve always left it in sleep mode, and rarely shut it down unless I was travelling. I’ve also since realised that the early usage of it in my kitchen when I was cooking is probably not a good idea (may have caused liquid damage that I was unaware of, but I stopped doing this once I started using an external monitor set up - yes I was stupid).

I still want to use the same set up with my new M5 (due to limited space on my desk), but I’ve been reading around and I have many questions about whether that set up is detrimental in the long run for the MacBook.

So my questions are thus:-
1) Position of MacBook Air: Hinge up or down? Hinge down would cover vents (my stand will cover the vents), but I worry that storing it hinge up will put a lot of pressure on the top part and cause it to bend
2) Charging: My BenQ charges the MacBook when it’s on, but it doesn’t have an idle mode; once I shut it off, it ceases all power to the MacBook, and when I leave it on, it forces the MacBook to wake up in intervals. I plan to use the MagSafe charger instead as its power source while using the external monitor and shut down the external monitor everyday when not in use, but wasn’t sure if this would be safe to do so?
3) Sleep mode or shut it down: I would like to shut the MacBook down everyday so is there a way to turn it on without having to open the MacBook back up? If not, is it safe to still leave it on sleep mode for a long time?
4) when disconnecting the MagSafe charger, should I turn off power at the socket first before unplugging or is it safe to unplug MagSafe charger without turning off the power socket first?

Thanks in advance, I know it’s a lot, but I’d like to have some answers/reassurances as I’d like to avoid another MacBook failure.

WOW! something is wrong I've had a Mac since 1985 and the only problem I've ever had was with the butterfly keyboard and this was fixed for free. the last few Mac were a 2010 iMac, a 2010 MacBook that both lasted over 10 years, just this month I up graded from a MBP 2017 model I5 intel chip to a refurb M4 MBA. it was still running fine but slowing down a little when I had 7 ro 8 windows openwitha lot of tabs in each and multple apps open.

 

[JPack]

The best way to preserve battery health is to keep the MacBook constantly plugged in. The OS will quickly determine that the computer is rarely used on battery and will hold the charge at 80%.

Your monitor should have an option to continue supplying USB-C power to the MacBook even if the monitor is off.

If you constantly turn on and off the computer or unplug and replug, the Mac will think you're traveling with it and "Charging On Hold" will not activate.

 

[rainy666]

AppleCare really worth it for, like, $50 / year - and is applicable as long as you keep paying it (even over the once-traditional 2 years). Even if it sounds like you don't subject your Air to the usual mobile bumps and bruises experienced by a laptop all that often.

Meanwhile, while I appreciate the Air can run in clamshell mode (and yes, I've done it too), I do wonder if that is part of the issue - even with the ambient temperature of the environment being controlled. I'm not convinced being closed and running is the best for them. It’s my understanding the Air 'off-gasses' some internal heat issues through the keyboard. Clearly that would be a problem if closed.

I also wondered the same. I have read some people have had it in clamshell mode for a long time and it still works fine, but maybe every once in a while I’ll take it out of clamshell mode to work elsewhere. I do like my current set up a lot (bigger screen + less strain on my neck - I wasn’t a fan of laptop risers as putting it eye level stains my wrists but putting it where my wrist is hurts my neck) so I’ll like to keep using that set up but with changes to routines. I guess the only thing I fear is slotting the MacBook in and out, as my coordination isn’t the greatest

 

[rainy666]

The best way to preserve battery health is to keep the MacBook constantly plugged in. The OS will quickly determine that the computer is rarely used on battery and will hold the charge at 80%.

Your monitor should have an option to continue supplying USB-C power to the MacBook even if the monitor is off.

If you constantly turn on and off the computer or unplug and replug, the Mac will think you're traveling with it and "Charging On Hold" will not activate.

View attachment 2616089

Honestly I tried searching for a way to make the monitor supply power continuously while turned off but I’ve not been successful. It is a BenQ monitor PD2705Q. It’s my first external monitor and I didn’t think of this potential issue when I researched monitors for my set up. Now I know! But I understand the MacBook takes power from the charger with the highest power so putting the MacBook via MagSafe (with a higher power adapter) supply power to the MacBook continuously and I can turn off the monitor at night. It’s my workaround atm unless somebody has a better solution

 

[JPack]

macOS 26.4 allows you to set the charge limit to 80%, so you don't need to worry about charging to 100% anymore.

 

[1BadManVan]

macOS 26.4 allows you to set the charge limit to 80%, so you don't need to worry about charging to 100% anymore.

Yes this was a welcome feature! Literally just finished setting up my m5 air and seen the feature was available with the update and turned that on immediately!

 

[Miat]

The best way to preserve battery health is to keep the MacBook constantly plugged in. The OS will quickly determine that the computer is rarely used on battery and will hold the charge at 80%.

Wasn't quickly for me. From memory it did take at least a couple of weeks, and that was in a static use situation, just left in clamshell mode on the desk with the charger always plugged in.

 

[1BadManVan]

Wasn't quickly for me. From memory it did take at least a couple of weeks, and that was in a static use situation, just left in clamshell mode on the desk with the charger always plugged in.

Well luckily they solved this issue with macos 26 with a built in setting to set it to 80%