jmreich

Q: Leaving MacBook Pro at home during 2 week vacation.

I'm leaving my MacBook at home during a 2 week trip to Europe.  I assume the battery will die even with the power turned off.  Is this a problem?

MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2011)

Posted on Apr 19, 2015 6:01 PM

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Q: Leaving MacBook Pro at home during 2 week vacation.

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  • by Kappy,

    Kappy Kappy Apr 19, 2015 6:06 PM in response to jmreich
    Level 10 (271,323 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 19, 2015 6:06 PM in response to jmreich

    Run the battery down to around 50%. Remove it from the computer if it is removable. Store in a cool, dark place.

  • by spudnuty,

    spudnuty spudnuty Apr 19, 2015 9:20 PM in response to jmreich
    Level 5 (7,097 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 19, 2015 9:20 PM in response to jmreich

    So like Kappy says that would be the ideal.

    Two weeks isn't that long a time:

    From:

    Mac notebooks: About battery storage life - Apple Support

    "Notes on storage

    Lithium Ion Batteries (Li-Ion)

    • 1 to 2 months - Battery should still have minimal charge to operate the computer
    • 6 to 12 months - Battery can still be charged
    • 12 months or more - Uncertain

    Learn more

    Batteries may be damaged if stored for prolonged periods with a closed circuit. The environmental temperature also affects the storage life of any battery. Cool environments are best, and are assumed for the above estimates. All storage times are based on storage starting with the battery fully charged. For example, schools that may not use their Mac notebook computers during a long weekend or break should fully charge the batteries, remove them from the computers, and store them in a cool location for the duration of the break. For computers that have non-removable batteries, shutdown the computer and fully charge the battery. If storage will be longer than a month, fully recharge the battery every two months."

    If you're uneasy about opening the computer it would be ok to leave it as noted above.