megan_in_white

Q: is it ok to leave my macbook plugged into the charger port overnight?

From my understanding, this will not damage the computer so long as I'm still using the battery so it doesn't forget how to run on battery. I'm just talking about overnight. It's a real pain in the *** if I'm using my computer right before bed to have to wait until it fully charges before I go to sleep, or to have to plug it in, fall asleep for an hour, then wake up to unplug it.

 

I totally get that if it's being used as a desk computer that's constantly plugged in it's necessary to unplug it occasionally, but I'm a commuter college student, my computer runs on battery for some amount of time every single day, so it's definitely getting the "Exercise" it needs.

 

Leaving it in overnight and unplugging it when I wake up won't damage it, correct?

MacBook Pro (13-inch Early 2011)

Posted on Nov 17, 2015 5:58 PM

Close

Q: is it ok to leave my macbook plugged into the charger port overnight?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Duane,

    Duane Duane Nov 17, 2015 6:09 PM in response to megan_in_white
    Level 10 (124,018 points)
    Nov 17, 2015 6:09 PM in response to megan_in_white

    megan_in_white wrote:

     

    ...

     

    Leaving it in overnight and unplugging it when I wake up won't damage it, correct?

     

    Correct! Leaving it plugged in is not a problem.

  • by leroydouglas,

    leroydouglas leroydouglas Nov 17, 2015 9:01 PM in response to megan_in_white
    Level 7 (23,806 points)
    Notebooks
    Nov 17, 2015 9:01 PM in response to megan_in_white

    Certainly does not hurt the battery being plugged in for continual use, no harm done charging over night.

     

    Yes using the battery every once in a while is good. Using the battery all the time does not hurt either.

     

    Determining battery cycle count for Mac notebooks - Apple Support

  • by OGELTHORPE,

    OGELTHORPE OGELTHORPE Nov 18, 2015 5:28 AM in response to megan_in_white
    Level 9 (52,551 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 18, 2015 5:28 AM in response to megan_in_white

    You cannot overcharge a MBP battery.  The OSX controls charging and will not allow that.

     

    There are two gneral rules that you should follow for maximum battery life:

     

    If you keep the MBP connected to AC all the time, at least monthly, run the MBP on battery power alone to about the 40% charge level before recharging.  Lithium ion batteries do require periodic 'exercise'.

     

    Never totally discharge the battery.  It will shorten the useful life of a lithium ion battery.  When you get the low battery warning, terminate the session and/or connect to AC.

     

    Ciao.