MacBook Pro MagSafe light green at 80% limit after update

The MagSafe battery indicator may now turn green after reaching the selected charge limit due to a fix in macOS 26.5, which aligns the LED behavior with the actual charging status. This update improves clarity by indicating when the charge limit has been reached, making it easier to understand the charging state.

MagSafe Battery Indicator Changes in macOS 26.5

New Behavior of the Indicator

With the recent update to macOS 26.5, the MagSafe battery indicator has been improved. It now turns green when the selected charge limit is reached. This change enhances user experience by providing a clearer understanding of the battery's charging status.

Benefits of the Update

• Clarity: The green indicator signifies that the battery has reached the set charge limit, helping users know when their device is fully charged.
• User Control: Users can set a charge limit to preserve battery health, and the indicator reflects this setting accurately.

Summary of Indicator Colors

Indicator Color Meaning

Green. Charge limit reached

Amber. Charging in progress

No Light. No power detected or poor connection

This update aligns the LED behavior with the actual charging status, making it easier for users to monitor their MacBook's battery health and charging state.

--------

"The old way" was that 'charging on hold' would show Amber, essentially "battery situation under control", but users wanted more information.

Hello,

I looked at your screenshots and I believe it's just the software making the light green to tell you that the Mac has reached its charge limit.

Other sources also mention that Apple made it where the light turns green once it reaches the charge limit.

In short, it is working as it should.

Good day.

• KaffeeCoffee

yes this is normal and caused by a new mac update. personally? i think this is so great that they did this!

Juuggo wrote:

I have a MacBook Pro with MagSafe charging, and I noticed a change after the latest macOS update.

Before the update, when the Mac was connected to the charger, the MagSafe cable light would usually stay orange/amber, even when the battery was limited or below 100%.

Now, when the Mac is at 80% and connected to power, the MagSafe light turns green, even though the battery is not at 100%.

Normal.

Sounds like it fixed itself.

SiLiKhon wrote:

I don't agree this gives more information to the user. Because of this, now there is no way to tell from the indicator, whether the charge is at the set limit or if the system did the regular charge up to 100%.

Put the % in your Menu bar if in doubt...

This appears to be the new normal. My own 2023 MacBook Air is now behaving the same way.

I don’t consider it to be a problem.

groundrushx wrote:

I actually liked it the way it was before. Is there an option to keep the light red at 80%?

No.

submit your feedback here: Feedback - macOS - Apple

I don't agree this gives more information to the user. Because of this, now there is no way to tell from the indicator, whether the charge is at the set limit or if the system did the regular charge up to 100%. I prefer the previous behavior better: orange light = charging or charged to limit (= it is safe to keep the laptop charger plugged), green light = 100% charge (time to unplug the charger).

Left feedback to apple and encourage others to do so: Feedback - macOS - Apple

Thank you for your response. I understand that Mac controls charging and that a modern lithium-ion pack can't be "over-charged" in the dangerous sense of forced over-voltage.

However, that isn't the reason many of us use the charge limit feature. Apple introduced it (and the "optimized battery charging" before it) specifically because keeping the battery at or near 100% for long periods accelerates chemical aging due to high voltage stress and heat. That's why the support documentation explains the limit and why the system occasionally tops up to 100% only for calibration.

With the new LED behavior, green now means either "at my chosen limit" or "actually at 100%." Those two states are not the same for battery longevity, and the previous orange/green distinction made it easy to see which one I was in without opening the lid. That's the practical difference I'm pointing out.

<< green light = 100% charge (time to unplug the charger). >>

There is NO possible need for you need to spend a moment of your time monitoring, and manually connecting and disconnecting the power adapter in your Mac.

The CHARGER is inside the MacBook Pro, and is completely under program control. Your Mac accepts some power when needs to run, and accepts more power when it intends to charge its internal battery. A power source like the Power Adapter or certain Displays can not 'force itself' on your MacBook Pro. Only the algorithms inside your Mac can decide when is a good time to charge the battery. Your Mac can NEVER be over-charged.

leroydouglas wrote:

Put the % in your Menu bar if in doubt...

Thank you, but that doesn't address the issue.

I already have the percentage shown in the menu bar. The point of the MagSafe LED is that I can see the status at a glance without opening the lid, e.g. when I’m just walking past the closed laptop on my desk. Menu-bar percentage requires waking/opening the machine, so it's not a substitute for the indicator light.

You paid thousands of dollars for your device. That device, that is extremely capable of using its internal sensors and software to optimize battery lifetimes and charge levels without any interventions on your part.

The computer is taking care of this issue. Do not spend another MOMENT of your time working about battery charge levels and battery lifetimes.

When you are anywhere near mains power, plug it in and leave it plugged in.

Juuggo wrote:

Thank you for the clarification and to everyone for the help. I feel much more relieved now.

Good computing Juuggo ! Appreciate the feedback here.