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Macbook AFK overnight and being plugged in.

If i leave my Macbook Pro M1 Chip 2020 Model, running overnight and while the charger is plugged in with the macbook is sitting at 100% all night, I set the graphics to the lowest and keep my brightness to the lowest where the screen can barely be seen. Will it damage the battery in any way and will it impact elecrticity bills by a chunk?

MacBook Pro

Posted on Dec 29, 2022 4:39 AM

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Posted on Dec 29, 2022 4:49 AM

No to both. Your device can remain plugged in forever. Assuming overnight is a light load and daytime requires more complex use (and more energy), you'll likely pay only about $5/month for your laptop charge (and that's a conservatively higher end than what you might actually experience. Dimming the screen will reduce the impact, or close the lid, but you won't go from $5 to 5 cents. You might shave just a bit off.

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Dec 29, 2022 4:49 AM in response to deeyan224

No to both. Your device can remain plugged in forever. Assuming overnight is a light load and daytime requires more complex use (and more energy), you'll likely pay only about $5/month for your laptop charge (and that's a conservatively higher end than what you might actually experience. Dimming the screen will reduce the impact, or close the lid, but you won't go from $5 to 5 cents. You might shave just a bit off.

Dec 29, 2022 5:23 AM in response to deeyan224

MacBooks can be left plugged in. You may see the battery go to 78-80% if the Optimize Battery setting has been selected to on. 100% charge is not the optimal charge of a lithium battery for battery life preservation. 80% charge is to help preserve the life of the battery. This is present on M2s, but I'm not sure about M1s. Follow this path to check: at the menu bar: Apple Logo > Settings > Battery > Battery Health click the encircled i > Optimize Battery Charging > On


If you continue to use your MacBook with the power adapter connected, the battery will not be charged past 80% if the above setting is chosen. This lower than 100% charge will extend the life of the battery. The higher powered adapter can be used or a lower powered one for iPad, to keep a MacBook plugged in for power.

Dec 29, 2022 5:53 AM in response to muguy

What if i wanna leave it there for around a month? Just consistently afk on a game for about a month, while the charger is plugged in and with the lowest possible graphics on the game and the brightness being the lowest it can go. Will anything happen in around a month of non stop 24/7 afk grinding on a game to the macbook? Right now it stays pretty cool and doesn't overheat.

Macbook AFK overnight and being plugged in.

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