MacBook plugged in or not?

[Achillias]

I'm curious how many of you on this forum keep your MacBook plugged in while using it at home, work, or anywhere else? Personally, I always leave my laptop connected to the charger. My reasoning is that this approach slows down battery degradation, as the battery isn't actively used when charged to 80%. This also results in significantly fewer charge cycles. What's your routine?

 

[UrfinJuice]

Aldente or Battery Toolkit App.

 

[TechRunner]

My 14" M4 MBP is the centerpiece of my desktop system, so it spends 95% of its life plugged in. Ironically, I'm sitting on the couch with it replying to your post, so it does get set free occasionally.

Honestly, I just use it how I need it and don't sweat battery degradation, charge cycles, etc.

 

[ProQuiz]

I got my MacBook Pro 14" in November 2023. Has been used plugged in 100% of the time. I have Optimized Battery Charging enabled which keeps the battery charge between 75% and 80%. Cycle count is 11 and maximum capacity is 100%.

 

[TechRunner]

I thought I'd screenshot this for you, OP. I plugged my MBP in last night and it still hasn't begun charging yet (It was at 92% when I plugged it in). Apple's optimization protocol should help to alleviate some of your concerns about maintaining good battery health.

 

[cjsuk]

Mine was plugged in to studio display all the time so I got rid of it and got an M4 mini.

 

[Mateus1320]

3 years with the Air M1, 3 years with it plugged in.

In 9 months of use, the system showed the battery health at 88% using the system's optimized charging. I bought AlDente and have been using it ever since.

Now, almost 2 and a half years later, the battery health remains at 88% according to the system. Until January/2025, AlDente and CoconutBattery showed that the real health was 93%, now in April/2025 they show the health at 85%.

151 total cycles, using navigation mode and doing weekly battery calibration with AlDente

I still have my old Asus notebook with Windows, which is 10 years old and lasts at least two hours with the original battery. I expect nothing less from Mac LOL

 

[Howard2k]

Yes. I keep it plugged in and have battery optimization turned on. Plugged in at my desk, not plugged in when another room or out of the house. I have Apple Care and so I’ll let the OS manage it, and use it as I like. It’s just not something I need to worry about.

 

[digimc]

I almost always keep my MBP plugged in. Even when I travel, airports, hotel rooms, etc. I typically find an outlet and keep it plugged in.

 

[dmccloud]

The only time I use my MBP plugged in is when I'm connected to my CalDigit TS4 Dock at home. When out and about, I don't even bring the charger with me unless I'm leaving for a few days or longer. I only have 18 load cycles on the battery, and Coconut Battery reports battery health is at 101.5%. This was also how I used my M2 Max MBP this machine replaced, and I traded it in after two years with 94% max health.

 

[MacDaddyPanda]

I don't really have an option to keep it unplugged. Since Thunderbolt port charges whether I want it to or not. Because I keep it plugged into a docking station all the time. I keep external drives plugged into this and have ethernet for a consistent network connection.

 

[JSRinUK]

I did before I got my Studio because my MBP doubled as my desktop. Now, not so much.

However, when I’m doing remote LLM work, I’m lucky if the MBP gives me two hours on battery. I have an Anker powerbank with just enough juice to recharge it (nearly) fully, which gets me another 2 hours - but that’s the same as plugging it into the power adapter.