When you are plugged in, you can use a tool like Charge Limiter to keep the battery charge at 50% all the time.
When you want to plan to use the battery, you can set the charge limit back to 100% and it will charge fully.
MacBook Pro 2018 swelling
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When you are plugged in, you can use a tool like Charge Limiter to keep the battery charge at 50% all the time.
When you want to plan to use the battery, you can set the charge limit back to 100% and it will charge fully.
yukari
macrumors 65816
This is the tool that I use to limit my charge even when it is always plugged in. I highly recommend this tool.
MrMister111
macrumors 68040
What a great idea! Does the new update for MacOS not so the same now though, apart from 80% is it? Then have to untick if want charged to a 100%?
If not happy to get this tool if so as 90% of mine is plugged in for MBP.
How does the tool do this? I would have thought Apple would not allow this, and it being a deep level option to do this
Each mac's system management controller has settings for its battery and charging. One setting is the maximum battery charge level. Charge Limiter lets you change this setting manually to what you want (0-100%).
The battery health management feature in macOS 10.15.5 also works by reducing the battery's maximum charge, but it will choose this charge automatically based on your past usage and battery.
In practice, they can be very different. For example, Charge Limiter lets you set the maximum charge to 75%, but the battery health management feature might select a charge of 96% for you, since it does not know whether you need to use the battery that day or not.
yukari
macrumors 65816
So anecdotally even with Charge Limiter set at 55%, when it is plugged in all the time, I see the battery charge creeping up slowly to 60% or more over a few days. This seems to indicate that having it plugged in is indeed detrimental to your MBP's battery.
For this reason, I still unplug and shutdown at the end of the day.
For this reason, I still unplug and shutdown at the end of the day.
I think I know what you mean. The battery indicator in the menu bar can show a slightly higher charge than a what is shown in a battery app like coconutBattery. I have seen a difference of about 3%. So if I set Charge Limiter to 80%, the menu bar will display up to 83%. I have no idea why this is.
chaoskaizer
macrumors newbie
I'd send mine to apple care center a week ago, just got call today. They replace the swollen battery & keyboard for my MBP touch 15 2018, I got a free replacement even tho my warranty had expired.
Thats interesting I've never got a repair for free from them.
I am a customer since 1990 with a volume of more then 100 000 € over the years.
hollandog
macrumors regular
Did you get a quote before you send and they covered it?
Sorry for the late reply as I didn’t see this question. But Apple repaired mine for free despite being out of warranty.
I don’t like the move to ARM, but Apple makes it difficult to leave them with great service like this.
hollandog
macrumors regular
how did you guys do it? I took it to apple store Soho NYC and again they quoted me $700 to repair.
edit: took it to apple 14th St. quoted 199 and I settled with that.
Last edited:
Being lucky I guess. I didn't do anything special. My repair cost was originally $500 but then they scrapped it and did it for free.
tmtardioli
macrumors newbie
I had the same issue with my Macbook Pro 2018.
Here is what I did so far:
The quote from replacing the top case was €423,95 (top case with Battery + Hardware repair Labor). However, all the prices got scratched.
Furthermore, they promised to fix within three days. Today I got a phone call from Apple Store Amsterdam saying that after replacing the top case, somehow the laptop is failing on the quality checks/tests.
A new top case was requested, and it will take more three days to fix it, which is very frustrating since I'm about two weeks that I can't use my laptop.
I also saw on YouTube that some people got their Macbook 2018 replaced by the 16 inches model launched in 2019 since they were experiencing a lot of failures and unsuccessful repairs.
Here is what I did so far:
- Went to Apple Store Amsterdam two weeks ago and scheduled an appointment at Genius Bar for the week after;
- Went to Apple Store Amsterdam last Sunday and explained the problem
- Genius Bar team checked the issue with a visual inspection that the top case has a swollen battery and shows some separation.
The quote from replacing the top case was €423,95 (top case with Battery + Hardware repair Labor). However, all the prices got scratched.
Furthermore, they promised to fix within three days. Today I got a phone call from Apple Store Amsterdam saying that after replacing the top case, somehow the laptop is failing on the quality checks/tests.
A new top case was requested, and it will take more three days to fix it, which is very frustrating since I'm about two weeks that I can't use my laptop.
I also saw on YouTube that some people got their Macbook 2018 replaced by the 16 inches model launched in 2019 since they were experiencing a lot of failures and unsuccessful repairs.
KarmaRocket
macrumors 6502
Yesterday I dropped off my Macbook Pro 15" 2018. The battery was swelling so much the bottom case was jutting out almost 1/3 of an inch. I noticed the swelling in late march, but couldn't drop it off since apple stores were closed due to the pandemic. Plus it was the only machine I had and I needed it for work. Use VM's and they always make my fans roar up like a jet engine.
My keyboard was also starting to have issues as well with repeated keystrokes. Since they need to replace the bottom and top I was getting a new keyboard anyway.
Total was $795+tax (695 for flat rate repair + 100 for labor). Luckily all covered by Applecare+
Should get it back in 7-10 days.
My keyboard was also starting to have issues as well with repeated keystrokes. Since they need to replace the bottom and top I was getting a new keyboard anyway.
Total was $795+tax (695 for flat rate repair + 100 for labor). Luckily all covered by Applecare+
Should get it back in 7-10 days.
Not sure if I've seen it mentioned on this thread but you can find an Apple page where you can put in your serial number and see if it is part of the battery recall program. Just search "apple battery replacement program". There are pages for both 15" and 13" MBP versions. Just put my serial numbber on and it says it "May" need a battery replacement. With the bottom panel having a larger than quarter inch gap now I am hoping "may" means "will". I've printed the page and taking it with me to the Apple Store just to be sure.
What does keeping your battery charge at 50% has to with preventing the battery from becoming swollen?
OriginalAppleGuy
Suspended
Above you'll see where it's stated gases build up and cause the battery to swell if it's constantly at 100% charge.
BTW - count me in on the battery swelling. Just got my MBP '17 back from the repair - still under AppleCare+ so didn't cost me anything. Thought I'd get a newer keyboard, but it's still the '17. Oh well. At least it sits flat now.
My 2018 Pro 15" battery swelled up to the point the back cover literally popped open over on the right side, similar to pictures I've seen on the rest of this thread. It had also slightly warped the top case so the laptop wouldn't close all the way. The trackpad was becoming unresponsive and increasingly harder to click and there were 1 or 2 keys on the keyboard that were sticky. Sent it in via mail-in box for Apple to repair and it ended up costy a hefty $752 out of warranty to replace the top case with battery, logic board and Touch ID board. Absolutely disappointed in Apple for this obvious quality issue in a device I paid $2k+ for. Lesson learned, shell out the extra money for AppleCare.
Natzoo
macrumors 68020
Im assuming you will renew applecare+ once it expires? Tim Cook era products arent the best in reliability, definitely renewing mine next year when it expires. Next product I buy will be with my costco card, need the 4 year warranty coverage.
I'm having the same issue 9 months after the replacement of the original battery due to the same problem. The bottom is currently slightly swollen in the upper left area (looking down on the keyboard). I have requested an immediate replacement from Apple, but I'm still waiting for their response.
OriginalAppleGuy
Suspended
Oops- I missed this. Not sure if I'll renew or not. I didn't see the option to renew and am looking for it now. But - I did pay for it with my Costco card - just have to remember - or look - when it switched from American Express.
Yup - can't get it for my Mac. Think it may be a phone or other device option.