Is your Macbook not holding a charge the way it used to? That could be a sign it’s time for a Mac battery replacement. iPhones aren’t the only Apple product that won’t hold a charge.
Did you know that the average lifespan of a MacBook is four years? It can reach up to 7 years if you don’t necessarily need the latest, most cutting-edge tech products.
If your Mac is acting up and it’s newer than that, it’s a good sign some sort of superficial repair might be needed. And if your system’s a little older, a new battery can give your laptop a whole new lease on life.
Here’s how to know if it’s time for a Mac battery replacement.
Check The System Information
The first thing you’re going to want to do to check your battery performance is to find out which version of OS X you’re using. If you’re using Snow Leopard 10.6.8 or earlier, select “About This Mac” from the Apple Menu. Then select “More Info.”
For OS X Lion 10.7 or beyond, select “System Information” by opening “About This Mac” from the Apple Menu. Then click System Report.
On MacOS 10.12 or later, open “System Information” from the “About This Mac” section of the Apple Menu. Then select System Report.
Once you’re into the System Information section, select Power from the Contents list under the Hardware section.
You can also look into the specifications for your make and model of MacBook, as well. Newer models of MacBook often have a Maximum Cycle Count of 1000. Most older models tended to have a Maximum Cycle Count of 500, on the other hand.
Even older models would have a Maximum Cycle Count of only 300, however. If you’ve got a Mac laptop from the mid-2000s, there’s a strong possibility you’re ready for a battery replacement.
Battery Service Warning
The first sign you might need a Mac battery replacement is when your computer tells you it does. To check, look at the taskbar at the top of your MacBook screen. Look for the battery icon.
Click on the battery icon once you find it. This will reveal a pull-down menu. This will reveal the current state of your laptop battery.
If your battery is currently experiencing difficulties, there will be a warning status on the pull-down menu. There are numerous alerts that indicate it’s time for a Mac batter replacement. If you see alerts that say “Replace Soon,” “Replace Now,” or “Service Battery,” it’s time to look into a replacement.
You can even find more information with a bit of extra digging. You can take a look at Apple’s guidelines for checking battery health over here. The Power subsection of the System Information menu will tell you how many charge cycles your battery has completed.
Compare that against the maximum cycle count for your battery’s make. If that number is approaching the maximum cycle count, you might want to start considering a battery replacement.
Low Runtime
Remember when your computer was new and you could work for hours without having to plug in? Remember the feeling of lightness and freedom? If your battery isn’t lasting as long as it used to, or it should, that could be another sign you need to change your battery.
To check your battery’s performance, you should consult the guidelines to see how long your computer’s supposed to store a charge without needing to be plugged in. If your computer only holds a charge for 25% of its maximum runtime, it’s time for a new battery.
Unexpectedly Shutting Down
Your computer should give you a bit of warning before running out of power. If your MacBook shuts down without alerting you, that’s a good sign it’s time for a new battery. Doubly so if you’ve just finished charging your device.
There can be other reasons for an unexpected shutdown as well, though. Make sure you troubleshoot your MacBook while it’s plugged in to see if it’s the battery or if something else is going on.
Overheating
Overheating is one of those causes of unexpected shutdowns. That’s a bit of circular logic, however, as a faulty battery can be one of the reasons a computer overheats in the first place.
If you’re MacBook is overheating while performing basic tasks, there’s a very good chance your battery is to blame.
Do The Math
If you want to be really thorough, you can tell precisely how your battery is performing by doing a little math. First, you need to navigate back to the “Battery Information” section of the System Information menu. Then multiply the Full Charge Capacity by Voltage and then divide the answer by one million.
This will show you your laptop battery’s current capacity in watt-hours. This allows you to compare your current battery capacity to the Full Charge Capacity to get an exact idea of how your system’s performing.
Having to replace your MacBook battery isn’t the end of the world. It actually can be a bit of good news. Once you’ve got a new battery, your Mac will be almost like new again!
Ready For A Mac Battery Replacement?
Dysfunctional technology can be a major pain. It can majorly disrupt your life, considering how much we rely on technology in our daily lives.
The good news is, we’re here to ensure your tech is working to its full potential. If you think you might need a Mac battery replacement, contact us today or drop us a call at 804-698-0004.
