Battery / Always plugged in / Official advice

PleaseHelpMyMacPlease wrote:

Do you normally keep your Macbook plugged in all the time? Or do you let the battery run out or low from time to time?

I usually let the battery run almost out once a day.

Is there any official advice by Apple on this?

Thank you for your time.

Your battery will never overcharge.

No advantage of unplugging it. The only risk of always on the mains is the fact your battery will last longer 😉

You only have a "expected" 1000 cycle battery count.

Maybe once a month run it down 50-60% just for a little exercise.

If you are near the mains leave it plugged in, if you need portability then run on the battery. Following after that general rule use as you see fit.

About Mac notebook batteries

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204054

Batteries - Maximizing Performance - Apple

https://www.apple.com/batteries/maximizing-performance/

Determine battery cycle count for Mac notebooks

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201585

I may be Apple certified, but will say there is no official guidance on whether one is better or not.

This is a long running debate. Note it is possible to overcharge a logicboard, and a flush of the logicboard sometimes is necessary to get the machine started again. This typically is more due to the power manager not working properly.

But that's a hardware issue for a certified tech to examine.

It is wise to only use the proper wattage for the proper computer. Use a magnifying glass if necessary to read the AC/DC brick of notebook power cords to find the wattage and check the specs of your notebook computer. Also check for signs of fraying of any cables. Many people wind the cables too much around the L shaped clasps, and for power cords that are not separate from the AC/DC part of the power cord, can easily get damaged if bent too much at the entry point. When there is fraying that's when powering the computer can be problematic. If you find the cord is frayed, immediately replace it.

Batteries tend to age after they are more than 2 years old, and http://www.apple.com/batteries/ has guidance on how to charge them.

Definitely not official advice but my MacBook Pro 2014 has always spent 90% of its life on power I've not noticed any issues when I am out and about on battery.

Would be interested in what we're "meant" to do :)

I officially leave mine plugged in when it is convenient to do so.