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"Service battery"

I have a Macbook 12 inch early 2015 which has a cycle count under 500, and it says in the support info here the max is 1000. It already says service battery. Is that normal? What can I do?

MacBook

Posted on Jun 18, 2020 11:52 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 19, 2020 1:36 AM

Well generally i would say this:

If you see here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201585 - generally speaking the MacBooks have a cycle count "limit" of 1000. At that point they are considered consumed (automatically even if still have enough capacity from what I understand). So I would dare to say that article may lead to the interpretation that that is not expected, but It might also just mean that 1000 is the upper limit of a cycle count.


BUT: If you dont have Problems with how long your Battery lasts I would leave it how it is now. Just to be on the Safe Side I would make a Backup or store the important data somewhere.


If you noticed that the battery does not last as long anymore, then you would have to go ahead and change the battery. But at this point with a 2015 Model Im assuming you don't have Warranty or AppleCare anymore, so you would have to pay, regardless of wether it is expected or not.



To decide what exactly you should do chack out https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203747

Im guessing you ran a diagnostic, right? (Hold "D" during startup)

Depending on what the code exactly says I would either suggest a replacement of the battery, or just continuing to use.

  • "The battery will need to be replaced soon. It is functioning normally, but holds less charge than it did when it was new. " -> If you dont notice too bad of a battery keep using it
  • "The battery is not installed properly. Shut down and discontinue use. The computer requires service." -> Stop using it and go to the Apple Store or an Service provider before that thing does not work at all


What Im saying is use your brain on the error message. If it sounds scary, stop using it and get someone to look at it, otherwise use it until you get a new battery or a new MacBook ^^


Sam

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 19, 2020 1:36 AM in response to astaver

Well generally i would say this:

If you see here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201585 - generally speaking the MacBooks have a cycle count "limit" of 1000. At that point they are considered consumed (automatically even if still have enough capacity from what I understand). So I would dare to say that article may lead to the interpretation that that is not expected, but It might also just mean that 1000 is the upper limit of a cycle count.


BUT: If you dont have Problems with how long your Battery lasts I would leave it how it is now. Just to be on the Safe Side I would make a Backup or store the important data somewhere.


If you noticed that the battery does not last as long anymore, then you would have to go ahead and change the battery. But at this point with a 2015 Model Im assuming you don't have Warranty or AppleCare anymore, so you would have to pay, regardless of wether it is expected or not.



To decide what exactly you should do chack out https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203747

Im guessing you ran a diagnostic, right? (Hold "D" during startup)

Depending on what the code exactly says I would either suggest a replacement of the battery, or just continuing to use.

  • "The battery will need to be replaced soon. It is functioning normally, but holds less charge than it did when it was new. " -> If you dont notice too bad of a battery keep using it
  • "The battery is not installed properly. Shut down and discontinue use. The computer requires service." -> Stop using it and go to the Apple Store or an Service provider before that thing does not work at all


What Im saying is use your brain on the error message. If it sounds scary, stop using it and get someone to look at it, otherwise use it until you get a new battery or a new MacBook ^^


Sam

"Service battery"

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