what does "battery on hold" mean?

If you leave your MacBook Pro plugged in most of the time, and you know you don't need to take it somewhere and need the full 100% charge, then allowing the Battery Health Management system hold the charge (at near 80%) will increase the lifespan of the battery. Batteries that are kept near 100% for long periods of time diminish their longevity. Holding that back to 80% makes a difference!

Are you using macOS Catalina or Big Sur by any chance?

No, you don't have to take your MacBook for service. That is Optimized Battery Charging in effect. Your battery, when plugged in, will be charged to 100% by 2PM (in this example). Your MacBook learns your using habits, including the times that you often use your MacBook, and then manages the battery charging accordingly. This is done to maintain battery health and longevity.

If you would like your battery to be charged to 100% whenever your MacBook is plugged in then you can do so by:

Open System Preferences ➔ Battery ➔ Uncheck, Optimized Battery Charging.

Axel F.

Hello Nafisa,

It means exactly that and that is that your MacBook is rarely used on battery alone and without being connected to electrical power. My MacBook Pro remain connected to power 98% of the time and is rarely on battery alone. I get the same notification. There is nothing wrong with your MacBook. It is just making your aware that it has noticed that and will adjust battery charging accordingly.

Axel F.

>>It means exactly that and that is that your MacBook is rarely used on battery alone and without being connected to electrical power. My MacBook Pro remain connected to power 98% of the time and is rarely on battery alone. I get the same notification. There is nothing wrong with your MacBook. It is just making your aware that it has noticed that and will adjust battery charging accordingly.

My MBP is rarely used when disconnected to the charger. I thought the battery had always been reporting 100% -- even after installing Big Sur a few months ago.

Yesterday, after installing Big Sur 11.2.1 and after temporarily disconnecting the charger for a couple of hours, the battery was reporting 78%. After reconnecting the charger, the battery stopped charging at 97%. The Battery applet said "Charging On Hold" and "Rarely used on battery".

As a test this morning, I disconnected the charger again for a few minutes. After reconnecting the charger, the battery stopped charging at 95% -- where it's been all day. The Battery applet still says "Charging On Hold" and "Rarely used on battery".

Is it normal for 'Charging On Hold' to result in the battery no longer reaching 100%? Also, any idea why the battery charged to 97% yesterday ... but today, after temporarily disconnecting the charger again, it's charging to only 95%? I'm almost afraid to disconnect the charger again! ;^)

All of the above examples that you have mentioned are perfectly normal. The software (Big Sur) learns from your habits and follows Apple algorithms to determine when to stop and start charging. This is all done for battery longevity by utilizing battery optimization while charging. The theory here is that when a computer is mostly plugged in then the battery is best maintained while it is charged under capacity (100%) That can range from 80% to 99%. The Mac learns from your behavior(s) and then attempts to charge it to 100% when it believes that you will use it on battery.

You can turn the Battery Optimization OFF and allow the battery to charge and remain at 100% every single time. This can be achieved by opening System Preferences ➔ Battery ➔ Battery ➔ Optimized Battery Charging : Set this to OFF.

Axel F.

Interesting, thanks. So the result of the recent disconnects from the charger is that Big Sur’s algorithms are keeping the battery level just below 100%.

Since battery optimization is better for the battery (in theory, anyway), I’ll keep it enabled. I’m curious to see what circumstances will result in the level going back up to 100%, presuming it eventually does.

Eventually it will go to 100% depending on the use of your MacBook. Generally happens after an update is performed or after using the MacBook on battery for a few hours. If it takes a while for this to happen, so be it.

Axel F.

So it's been two days ... and the battery level has been dropping ever so slightly during that time. It was at 95% two days ago; it's at 89% now. The Battery page still says "Charging On Hold". The charger has been connected the entire time.

I'm turning off optimized battery charging 'until tomorrow' to see how the battery level is affected.

Thanks. Because my battery level dropped to, and remained at, 77%, and because I wasn't aware Battery Health Management would allow it to drop that low, I temporarily disabled such until it reached 100%. I have since re-enabled BHM but the level has remained at 100% -- now for a few weeks. Shouldn't BHM cause the level to drop a bit, rather than remain at 100%?

Now I know how a dog chasing his tail feels! :)

You are most welcome.

Axel F.

i have the same problem but i don't have Optimized Battery Charging ON

and says Rarely used on Battery

What does this mean

I just started noticing this issue with my Macbook Pro. The above instructions helped. Thanks!

You are welcome.

Axel F.

Hi Axel,

Thank you for this detailed explanation.

Does this mean that the Macbook draws power through the cable when being used and charges when not in use - when the charger is connected?