You see the problem. While battery health management can extend your battery\u2019s overall lifespan, it will likely also reduce your everyday runtime before you need to charge. It\u2019s too soon to know the full extent of this tradeoff, and we suspect that it may be impossible to determine, given that everyone uses their Macs differently.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s worth noting that this battery health management feature appears only for those running macOS 10.15.5 or later, and only then if the Mac in question is a notebook with Thunderbolt 3 ports. In essence, then, it\u2019s available only on MacBook Pro models introduced in 2016 or later, and MacBook Air models introduced in 2018 and later. (The Thunderbolt 3 port requirement is merely a shorthand way for Apple to indicate \u201crecent Mac notebooks.\u201d)<\/p>\n
So, if you have a supported notebook\u00a0and you\u2019re running macOS 10.15.5, what should you do? We see three scenarios:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Favor lifespan:<\/b> If you seldom run your notebook\u2019s battery down because it\u2019s easy for you to plug in whenever you need to charge, leave battery health management enabled. That will preserve the battery\u2019s overall lifespan to the extent possible.<\/li>\n
- Favor runtime:<\/b> For those who need to eke every last bit of power from their batteries, disable battery health management. You might have to replace the battery sooner, but you\u2019ll get more runtime in everyday usage.<\/li>\n
- Switch as needed:<\/b> Many people need the longest possible runtime only occasionally, such as on long flights with no under-seat power. In such situations, switch battery health management off for the flight and back on when you return to normal usage patterns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Switching is easy, but Apple buries it deeply enough that it\u2019s clear that the company doesn\u2019t think most users should be disabling it regularly. Open System Preferences > Energy Saver, click the Battery Health button at the bottom, and in the dialog that appears, uncheck Battery Health Management and click OK. You\u2019ll be prompted to make sure you know what you\u2019re doing; click Turn Off to finish the job.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\")
<\/p>\nOne final note. The reduced maximum capacity with battery health management enabled may have an undesirable side effect\u2014a recommendation from the Battery Status menu\u2019s health indicator that you need to replace your battery. To check your battery\u2019s health, hold the Option key down and click the Battery Status icon on the menu bar. At the top of the menu, next to Condition, you\u2019ll see either Normal or Service Recommended. (In previous versions of macOS, it could have said Replace Soon, Replace Now, or Service Battery.)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nRegardless of the term, anything but Normal indicates that your battery is holding less of a charge than when it was new. If you see that message and you aren\u2019t getting enough runtime for your needs, get the battery evaluated at an Apple-authorized service provider or Apple Store.<\/p>\n
(Featured image by Thomas Kelley<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If you have a Mac notebook with Thunderbolt 3 ports, the new battery health management option in macOS 10.15.5 Catalina could extend the lifespan of your battery. However, it comes at the cost of reduced everyday runtime.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30900,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[66,160,39,409,5,53,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","category-battery","category-blog","category-catalina","category-mac","category-mac-blog","category-mac-notebook"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/got-a-mac-laptop-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-battery-health-management-in-catalina.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6YLEm-82n","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":31300,"url":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/dont-worry-about-an-occasional-not-charging-message-on-your-macbook\/","url_meta":{"origin":30899,"position":0},"title":"Don\u2019t Worry about an Occasional \u201cNot Charging\u201d Message on Your MacBook","author":"computeradv","date":"December 11, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Starting with macOS 10.15.5 Catalina, Apple introduced a battery health management feature that improves your battery\u2019s lifespan by adjusting charging patterns to reduce the rate at which the battery chemically ages. (Find it in System Preferences > Energy Saver > Battery Health.) One thing to be aware of with battery\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "battery"","block_context":{"text":"battery","link":"http:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/category\/battery\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/dont-worry-about-an-occasional-not-charging-message-on-your-macbook.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/dont-worry-about-an-occasional-not-charging-message-on-your-macbook.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/dont-worry-about-an-occasional-not-charging-message-on-your-macbook.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/dont-worry-about-an-occasional-not-charging-message-on-your-macbook.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/dont-worry-about-an-occasional-not-charging-message-on-your-macbook.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30311,"url":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/use-your-apple-watch-to-unlock-your-mac-and-apps-in-catalina\/","url_meta":{"origin":30899,"position":1},"title":"Use Your Apple Watch to Unlock Your Mac, and Apps in Catalina","author":"computeradv","date":"January 22, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"If you\u2019ve resisted requiring a password on your Mac after it wakes up or comes out of the screen saver because it\u2019s too much work to enter repeatedly, an Apple Watch can make authentication much easier. In previous versions of macOS, just wearing an unlocked Apple Watch is enough to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Apple Watch"","block_context":{"text":"Apple Watch","link":"http:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/category\/apple-watch\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/use-your-apple-watch-to-unlock-your-mac-and-apps-in-catalina.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/use-your-apple-watch-to-unlock-your-mac-and-apps-in-catalina.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/use-your-apple-watch-to-unlock-your-mac-and-apps-in-catalina.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/use-your-apple-watch-to-unlock-your-mac-and-apps-in-catalina.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/use-your-apple-watch-to-unlock-your-mac-and-apps-in-catalina.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30895,"url":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/how-to-back-up-an-iphone-or-ipad-with-your-mac-running-catalina\/","url_meta":{"origin":30899,"position":2},"title":"How to Back Up an iPhone or iPad with Your Mac Running Catalina","author":"computeradv","date":"June 24, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"If you prefer to back up your iOS devices to your Mac, rather than take advantage of daily automatic iCloud backups, note that in macOS 10.15 Catalina, you now do that in the Finder, not in iTunes. Here\u2019s what you need to know:","rel":"","context":"In "backup"","block_context":{"text":"backup","link":"http:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/category\/backup\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/how-to-back-up-an-iphone-or-ipad-with-your-mac-running-catalina.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/how-to-back-up-an-iphone-or-ipad-with-your-mac-running-catalina.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/how-to-back-up-an-iphone-or-ipad-with-your-mac-running-catalina.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/how-to-back-up-an-iphone-or-ipad-with-your-mac-running-catalina.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/how-to-back-up-an-iphone-or-ipad-with-your-mac-running-catalina.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29640,"url":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/we-recommend-you-delay-upgrading-to-macos-10-15-catalina\/","url_meta":{"origin":30899,"position":3},"title":"We Recommend You Delay Upgrading to macOS 10.15 Catalina","author":"computeradv","date":"October 8, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Apple released macOS 10.15 Catalina on October 7th, and like all major operating system releases, Apple has been talking it up since it was introduced at the company\u2019s Worldwide Developer Conference in June. It will feature new Music, TV, and Podcasts apps to replace iTunes. A new Mac Catalyst technology\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"http:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/New-in-Catalina-photo-1080x675.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/New-in-Catalina-photo-1080x675.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/New-in-Catalina-photo-1080x675.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/New-in-Catalina-photo-1080x675.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/New-in-Catalina-photo-1080x675.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30676,"url":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/invoke-split-view-more-easily-in-catalina\/","url_meta":{"origin":30899,"position":4},"title":"Invoke Split View More Easily in Catalina","author":"computeradv","date":"March 24, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Split View on the Mac helps you focus on your work in one app\u2014perhaps a word processor\u2014while providing access to one other app, like a Web browser. (Make sure \u201cDisplays have separate Spaces\u201d is selected in System Preferences > Mission Control.) 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It\u2019s fast, easy, and reliable.","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"http:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/need-to-move-lots-of-data-between-macs-try-target-disk-mode.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/need-to-move-lots-of-data-between-macs-try-target-disk-mode.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/need-to-move-lots-of-data-between-macs-try-target-disk-mode.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/need-to-move-lots-of-data-between-macs-try-target-disk-mode.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/need-to-move-lots-of-data-between-macs-try-target-disk-mode.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30899","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30899"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30899\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30900"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30899"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30899"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30899"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Favor runtime:<\/b> For those who need to eke every last bit of power from their batteries, disable battery health management. You might have to replace the battery sooner, but you\u2019ll get more runtime in everyday usage.<\/li>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/got-a-mac-laptop-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-battery-health-management-in-catalina-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.computeradvantage.us\/v3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/got-a-mac-laptop-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-battery-health-management-in-catalina.png\")
<\/p>\n