8 Ways to Save Battery on Your MacBook

Regardless of the laptop you use, you’ll want to ensure that your battery stays in tip-top condition for as long as possible. And if you own a MacBook, you can try plenty of things to ensure that your device makes the most out of its battery.

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If you want to make your MacBook battery last longer, we’re here to help. In this article, you’ll discover eight ways to improve your laptop’s battery life. Let’s get started.

1. Optimize Video Streaming

From YouTube to Apple TV and Netflix, video streaming has become popular across the globe. And while you can also use your iPhone and iPad, MacBooks offer an option if you’re looking to view your content on a bigger screen.

But as convenient as MacBooks are for video streaming, it’s also important to remember that such services consume significant battery life. Luckily, you’ll find a handy tool that lets you optimize your device accordingly.

If you click on the battery icon in the top toolbar, you’ll see an option titled Battery Settings. Select this and go to Options before toggling Optimize video streaming while on battery on. Your videos won’t be as high-definition, but you will still be able to view your content.

2. Use Low Power Mode

Even if you don’t watch videos, you can still optimize the battery on your MacBook to last longer. Low Power mode is one of the most popular ways to do this, and switching this feature on is easy. Like the previous one, you’ll need to click on your battery icon and select Battery Settings.

When the next window appears, you’ll see an option titled Low Power Mode toward the top. Next to this is a dropdown menu, which you’ll need to expand.

After expanding your dropdown menu, pick the option that’s most convenient for you. Note that while many functions on your MacBook will work fine, turning on Low Power mode does impact the speed of your laptop’s processing. So, you’ll want to think twice about using it for demanding tasks – such as video and photo editing.

3. Clear Your System Storage

Clearing system storage is one of the most common ways to try and improve any device’s battery life. And if you have a MacBook, you’ll find this pretty easy to do. Open your System Settings and go to Storage. If you can’t find it in the toolbar, you can use the search bar at the top.

When the Storage window appears, you can sift between different files and folders to delete anything that you feel is unnecessary. If you have an Apple TV subscription, you can also use the Optimize Storage option to automatically delete programs you’ve watched.

Another handy feature for optimizing your MacBook storage is the option to automatically empty your Trash. Your device will remove any files that you haven’t reinstated or permanently deleted from this folder in the last 30 days.

4. Delete Unnecessary Apps

As you use your MacBook more, you’ll likely try all kinds of different apps. And while some of these will continue to provide value to your life in the long run, others run a natural course. One problem that many users make, however, is not deleting those apps that they no longer use.

In the Storage section of your System Settings app, you can delete apps you don’t want to use with ease. Another easy way to remove apps that are no longer useful for you is to open your launchpad. From there, you can drag and drop the app icons you want to get rid of into the Trash folder.

Sometimes, you might need to use an uninstaller to get rid of apps on your MacBook. If this is the case, you’ll find these files on your device. You can use Finder or Spotlight Search if you can’t see these.

5. Check for Malware

MacBooks have lots of built-in security features, and many users can stay in the Apple ecosystem for years without encountering problems. However, not everyone is so fortunate – and some users have experienced malware appearing on their devices in the past.

Malware causes a lot of problems from a safety perspective, but it’s also an issue when we talk about computer performance. Your device will often run slower when it’s infected with malware, and – because it needs to work harder – you might also notice a decrease in battery life.

Perhaps the easiest way to check for malware on your Mac is to open the Activity Monitor. You can do this by using Spotlight Search and looking for the app.

Once you’ve opened the Activity Monitor on your Mac, you can find out which actions are using your computer processing unit (CPU) the most. On top of that, you’ll see what’s consuming the most energy and more. If anything looks suspicious, highlight it and click on the x logo at the top of your screen.

6. Make the Most of Optimized Battery Charging

Regardless of which one you get, each MacBook’s battery has a lifecycle. While you can’t stop your device from eventually no longer working at its maximum capacity, you can ensure that you’re able to use it for a much longer period than you otherwise would.

One mistake that many people make is charging their MacBooks when they don’t need to. Your battery lasts longer than you think without needing to recharge it, for starters. MacBooks have an optimized battery charging function that allows you to decide whether you want to use your charger while it’s plugged in.

To make the most of this feature, click on your battery and – when the next window appears – look for Battery Health. Next to this is an information icon, which you’ll need to click on.

After completing the steps listed above, toggle Optimized Battery Charging on. Click Done once you’re finished.

7. Reduce Your Screen Brightness

In many cases, you probably don’t need your MacBook’s screen brightness to be all the way at the top. This is especially true if you’re using your device during the day. Reducing your screen brightness is one of the easiest ways to preserve your MacBook battery for longer.

How you change your MacBook’s screen brightness depends on the device you have. If you’ve got a MacBook Pro with a touch bar, click on the brightness icon and slide it to the left. Meanwhile, some MacBooks have buttons on their keyboards that you can use instead.

Another way to adjust your screen brightness is by going to System Settings > Display. You’ll see a slider here titled Brightness, and you can move it further to the left until you’re happy with how your screen looks.

8. Only Perform One Task at Any Given Time

While MacBooks can perform demanding tasks without too many issues, they’re not capable of doing everything. If you have too many things open simultaneously, you’ll put a lot of unnecessary strain on your laptop. On top of that, your MacBook battery might drain faster.

If you want to preserve your MacBook battery for longer, consider only performing one task at a time. While you’re doing that particular thing, it’s also a good idea to close all of your other apps. Besides saving battery, you’ll also likely complete your tasks quicker as you have complete focus.

Use These Tips to Preserve Your MacBook Battery for Longer

MacBook batteries are pretty good in general, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do extra things to make them last a little longer. Generally speaking, many of the actions that will stop your battery from draining so fast are pretty simple.

Reducing your screen brightness is an excellent starting point, and you might also find that doing so is healthier for your eyes. Alongside that, you can try only charging your battery when it’s absolutely necessary.

Keeping an eye out for malware will also help, and using Low Power mode might also work.