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Yosemite Battery Drain

I have been using Yosemite Beta for about a month. My battery drained incredibly fast using the Beta. I suspected battery issues would improve after updating to the public release of Yosemite yesterday. The issue has not resolved, however. Just in the last minute and a half of typing this question, my battery percentage has dropped 3%!


When you update, you get the notification that you need to optimize your mac to prevent excessive battery drain, but there is no description of how to optimize within Yosemite or on the web. How does one optimize their mac for Yosemite?


Apple, get on this!

MacBook Pro (13-inch Late 2011), OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Oct 17, 2014 6:01 AM

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Dec 4, 2014 10:14 AM in response to s.jaeger121212

Hi,


The complete procedure the guy on the phone told me to do was first to reset SMC, then start the computer holding the option button (alt), select recovery. Then I went to disk utility, erase my Mac HDD partition and close disk utility. Finally, select reinstall OS X Yosemite. It is now better than before, but I actually think it is getting worse and worse with time (maybe due to the fact that I am installing a lot of stuff and using internet a lot).


Hope this helps.

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Dec 4, 2014 1:19 PM in response to wesfromOK

I have the same problem. before upgrading to Yosemite i had an incredibly long lasting battery, now after upgrading to yosemite it is draining very fast as we speak,with only one application open an up to date safari, is apple going to do something about it?

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Dec 5, 2014 2:06 PM in response to Alex_lveb

After two days of intense usage, I a glad to announce that the issue is solved for my rMBP Late 13'.


So for everyone who would like to try what I did, here what I have done:


1) Backup your mac running Yosemite with TimeMachine.

2) Turn your computer off.

3) Reset PRAM and SMC.

4) Hold the OPTION key and start your computer.

5) Select the RECOVERY Partition, then Disk Utility.

6) Format the Mac HDD Partition, then close Disk Utility.

7) Still in Recovery, select install OS X. Wait around 2 hours to finish the download of the Yosemite 10.10.1 and the installation.

8) When prompted, select recover from Time Machine.

9) Check Activity Monitor during the first day or so and wait for Spotlight to finish indexing.


This did the trick for me. The estimate of battery life left on the top bar often tells me an estimate that is totally insane (too little or too much, sometimes from 3h to 11h for a rMBP late 13'). I charged and uncharged my computer three times, using it as usual, watching Netflix, browsing the web, using a VM with Windows and playing music on iTunes. The three times, I used chronometer to see how much I actually got and the average is 6h35, which is really fair to me (compared to 3 to 4 hours before reinstalling Yosemite).


I hoped this can help you; maybe the latest version you download from Apple's servers contains the fix; maybe it was a corrupted installation; maybe I just don't know what it was but I am glad it is fixed for me.


Cheers everyone and good luck. I send you my dearest hopes for you to solve this battery life problem.

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Dec 5, 2014 8:49 PM in response to Alex_lveb

I had the same issue before with yosemite, now its back to normal with regards to my battery life in my MBA 11" mid 2013. This what i do:


1. reset my SMC

2. reset my PRAM

3. on disk utility i verify and repair disk

4. turn off and on your mac

5. reinstall Yosemite


Now i am doing the same routine on my mac as before and my battery life is functioning perfectly well.


hope this help.

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Dec 6, 2014 3:51 AM in response to Rani delasalas

Now I will try.

I have the same problem with MacBook half2012.


I want only to ask you: will I lose all the applications that I downloaded after Yosemite installation ? there are also applications that I paied ( Neoffice 3.4.1.patch9, unarchiver, skyTv, ...) , not only free ware.


Thanks for your answer

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Dec 6, 2014 5:58 AM in response to cyborg36061

Hi cyborg36061, as they said better to back up all your files before doing something in your mac. As on my case i did not lost anything. anyways if you lost some of your apps, you can again download it again and reinstall. just make a list so will remember.


your welcome...

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Dec 6, 2014 8:43 AM in response to cyborg36061

Before doing everything, backup with TimeMachine.


Secondly, check in the AppStore, purchases tab: the list of applications in this tab would be available for download whenever you log with your Apple ID on the fresh Yosemite installation so no worries. For other third parts softwares, check what their delivery methods are (ID, Software Key, etc.) and make sure you can replicate them.


Cheers

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Dec 7, 2014 5:47 PM in response to wesfromOK

Also having significant battery drain. Any input is appreciated Here is the report.


Problem description:

Battery drain


EtreCheck version: 2.1.1 (104)

Report generated December 7, 2014 at 8:34:54 PM EST


Hardware Information: ℹ️

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2010) (Verified)

MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro7,1

1 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core

4 GB RAM Upgradeable

BANK 0/DIMM0

2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

2 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported

Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n


Video Information: ℹ️

NVIDIA GeForce 320M - VRAM: 256 MB

Color LCD 1280 x 800


System Software: ℹ️

OS X 10.9.4 (13E28) - Uptime: 8 days 0:40:2


Disk Information: ℹ️

Hitachi HTS545032B9SA02 disk0 : (320.07 GB)

S.M.A.R.T. Status: Verified

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / : 319.21 GB (207.55 GB free)

Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB


MATSHITADVD-R UJ-898


USB Information: ℹ️

Apple Internal Memory Card Reader

Apple Inc. Built-in iSight

Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver

Apple Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad


Gatekeeper: ℹ️

Mac App Store and identified developers


Kernel Extensions: ℹ️

/Library/Application Support/Avast/components/fileshield/unsigned

[loaded] com.avast.AvastFileShield (2.1.0 - SDK 10.9) [Support]


/Library/Application Support/Avast/components/proxy/unsigned

[loaded] com.avast.PacketForwarder (2.0 - SDK 10.9) [Support]


Launch Agents: ℹ️

[loaded] com.avast.userinit.plist [Support]

[loaded] com.hp.help.tocgenerator.plist [Support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist [Support]


Launch Daemons: ℹ️

[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Support]

[loaded] com.avast.init.plist [Support]

[loaded] com.avast.uninstall.plist [Support]

[failed] com.avast.update.plist [Support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist [Support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist [Support]


User Launch Agents: ℹ️

[invalid?] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist [Support]

[invalid?] com.avast.home.userinit.plist [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Support]


User Login Items: ℹ️

iTunesHelper UNKNOWNHidden (missing value)

AdobeResourceSynchronizer UNKNOWNHidden (missing value)

Google Chrome ApplicationHidden (/Applications/Google Chrome.app)


Internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 2.4.4.2 [Support]

AdobePDFViewerNPAPI: Version: 10.1.4 [Support]

FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 15.0.0.239 - SDK 10.6 [Support]

Silverlight: Version: 5.1.20913.0 - SDK 10.6 [Support]

Flash Player: Version: 15.0.0.239 - SDK 10.6 [Support]

QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3

iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0

SharePointBrowserPlugin: Version: 14.4.6 - SDK 10.6 [Support]

AdobePDFViewer: Version: 10.1.4 [Support]

GarminGpsControl: Version: 4.1.0.0 Release - SDK 10.7 [Support]

JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 7 Update 60 Check version


User internet Plug-ins: ℹ️

Move-Media-Player: Version: npmnqmp 071706000001 [Support]


Safari Extensions: ℹ️

wrc


3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ️

Flash Player [Support]

Flip4Mac WMV [Support]

Java [Support]


Time Machine: ℹ️

Time Machine not configured!


Top Processes by CPU: ℹ️

12% WindowServer

0% com.avast.daemon

0% fontd

0% SystemUIServer

0% AppleSpell


Top Processes by Memory: ℹ️

150 MB softwareupdated

146 MB Google Chrome

137 MB com.avast.daemon

125 MB Finder

77 MB WindowServer


Virtual Memory Information: ℹ️

343 MB Free RAM

1.71 GB Active RAM

1.10 GB Inactive RAM

616 MB Wired RAM

11.73 GB Page-ins

99 MB Page-outs


Diagnostics Information: ℹ️

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Dec 11, 2014 4:23 PM in response to wesfromOK

Brand new Macbook Pro 15", getting 4-4:30 hour battery life with very light usage. First did an online chat with Apple Support about the issue. They made me do a bunch of resetting and so forth. When asked about Yosemite having a known battery drain problem the guy who was helping me became very cagey and started saying "no operating system is perfect" and kept avoid answering the question. He got pretty rude in the process. Finally I asked him to please answer yes or no to wether there is a known problem with Yosemite draining battery and after a while he finally said yes. Still thought maybe there could be something wrong with my battery so I took it into an Apple Store where of course they discovered that my battery was in perfect health. The guy there started to point out how I'm using Chrome instead of Safari and how Chrome is bad. I showed him that (with just Chrome running) and 90% battery I get 3:39 battery life and he just kept telling me how bad Chrome was. So I asked him with a clean install and no Chrome how much battery on light usage should I expect, and he said 8 hours. So how on earth can Chrome make that kind of difference? He was cagey and suggested I reinstall Yosemite. I asked him about Yosemite battery draining more than Mavericks and he said he did not know about it and then went on to say that because Yosemite is a more complex operating system it would use more battery. Finally I asked if I reinstall Yosemite, and without Chrome I get the same crappie battery life, what should I do? To which he had no answer. $2,000 laptop, 4-4:30 battery life. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Apple in 2014.

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Dec 12, 2014 5:34 AM in response to putney-swope

putney-swope wrote:


... otherwise what's the point?


The point is that your question has been asked and answered:


putney-swope wrote:

So how on earth can Chrome make that kind of difference?


To which I replied:


No one but Google can possibly answer that question.



putney-swope wrote:

... If you have solutions or suggestions for that then please let us know,


I suggest you start your own question and include your own system details. If you do that I can assist you in addressing your own concern. Otherwise, you're just adding to the noise in what has become a pointless rant-fest.

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Dec 12, 2014 3:18 PM in response to John Galt

Sorry, I think there has been a misunderstanding. As someone who has experienced battery drain with Yosemite and have been looking for a solution I went to the W. 14th Street Apple Store to test my battery and find out what Apple had to say about it. I thought I'd share that experience with the people here who are looking for a solution as well maybe do not live close to an Apple Store. The whole thing about Chrome was a rhetorical question I asked an Apple Genius, not something I was actually wondering and not my reason for my post. I well know that Chrome was not the answer to my battery drain, hence the rhetorical question. The Genius seemed like a bright young man which left me to feel slightly insulted by the suggestion. And as I said, I did tests without Chrome and it did not help with my battery drain. I did not think my post was a pointless-rant but to each his own.

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Dec 22, 2014 10:54 AM in response to wesfromOK

Same issue here on my late 2011 MBP. Fresh installation of Yosemite, iLife and iWork plus MS Office - so more streamlined than my Mavericks installation - have disabled transparency, reset PRAM and nothing is using significant energy. However, my battery life is now less than half of what it was.


My MBP has been rendered unusable away from power for any serious length of time. Get this fixed, Apple!

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Yosemite Battery Drain

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