is it ok to leave my M1 Macbook pro on charger all the time like a desktop?

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Level 1

6 points

is it ok to leave my M1 Macbook pro on charger all the time like a desktop?

I have an M1 Macbook pro 14 and want to run two large monitors in clamshell. Anytime I go into clamshell it needs the charger to be plugged in to support the dual monitors. It would make life easy to know if this power supply is intelligent enough to stop charging or only send small trickles of charge to the battery if I can just keep it plugged in all the time like a desktop. How intelligent is the charging system and can you leave the charger plugged in 24/7?

Posted on Dec 5, 2021 7:21 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

atthecshore

Level 2

186 points

Jan 21, 2022 2:10 PM in response to le_juice

What you're doing is fine.

I have the same computer (M1 MacBook Pro 14"). If you click on the battery icon in the upper right corner of the screen it'll pull down the battery info box, see attached. It'll show you how charged your battery currently is and why. For example, my MacBook is only 77% charged even though it's been plugged in for days because it's "Rarely used on battery." I have the option of telling it to "Charge to Full Now" if I'm about to hit the road.

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Answer 2

Dec 5, 2021 12:33 PM in response to le_juice

You can leave the Mac plugged in when necessary or convenient to do so. Leaving it plugged in will not damage the computer or the battery.

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Answer 3

Jan 2, 2022 9:22 PM in response to DavidH_PA

Leaving your Mac plugged in 24/7 may actually help your long-term battery life.

Mac batteries provide enough rechargeable power for several hundred battery cycles. (A battery cycle is the total amount of power needed to charge from 0% to 100%.) If the battery never drains, no battery cycles are used up, and the Mac instead runs using the power supplied by the power adapter.

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Answer 4

cgiblets

Level 1

8 points

Jan 2, 2022 7:17 PM in response to BobTheFisherman

Tech at Apple told me not to leave it plugged in all the time that it will wear down the battery sooner. I have previously always left my system plugged in. I would prefer to do that, but she concerned me about doing that. Would like Apple to elaborate on this subject.

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Answer 5

Jan 2, 2022 7:22 PM in response to cgiblets

cgiblets wrote:

Tech at Apple told me not to leave it plugged in all the time that it will wear down the battery sooner. I have previously always left my system plugged in. I would prefer to do that, but she concerned me about doing that. Would like Apple to elaborate on this subject.

The tech was mistaken or you misunderstood what she said.

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Answer 6

le_juice Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 3, 2022 7:48 AM in response to Encryptor5000

That was to be part of my original question in that I was wondering if the power adaptor/charging system had any intelligence to shut off the charge to battery when the battery was full and plugged in. If the system is intelligent enough to do this than it is true that keeping the charger plugged in at all times would theoretically be better for battery life. I just don’t know the internal workings of the charging system which is why I’m asking in the first place

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Answer 7

le_juice Author

Level 1

6 points

Jan 3, 2022 7:52 AM in response to le_juice

We need an accurate statement of the inner workings of the charging system and its intelligence not anecdotal one.

Can anyone at apple please give us a response to how the charging system works when battery is full and power adapter is engaged??

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Answer 8

Jan 3, 2022 10:24 AM in response to le_juice

le_juice wrote:

We need an accurate statement of the inner workings of the charging system and its intelligence not anecdotal one.

Can anyone at apple please give us a response to how the charging system works when battery is full and power adapter is engaged??

Apple will not respond here.

Get help with your Mac notebook battery - Apple Support

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Answer 9

Dec 29, 2021 11:09 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

Just to be clear, does leaving it plugged in 24/7 not reduce the battery life?

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is it ok to leave my M1 Macbook pro on charger all the time like a desktop?

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