Hot swap MBP battery?

[asherman13]

Is it possible to hot swap, or switch out the battery in a MacBook Pro while it's plugged in and running? Or will it shut off the machine. FYI, the current battery is fully charged.

Thanks!

 

[WildCowboy]

Absolutely. In fact you can even do it while running on battery power if you put it to sleep first. See the bottom of this article for details.

 

[asherman13]

Absolutely. In fact you can even do it while running on battery power if you put it to sleep first. See the bottom of this article for details.

Awesome. Thanks

 

[Maxiseller]

Sorry to dig up the thread, but I was wondering if anybody knows if you can hot-swap the battery in the Macbook?

I've had a look under the Apple support page, but it doesn't say anything. This is a big factor in buying a new battery as I don't really want to have to restart if I'm in a library or something.

 

[WildCowboy]

Sorry to dig up the thread, but I was wondering if anybody knows if you can hot-swap the battery in the Macbook?

I've had a look under the Apple support page, but it doesn't say anything. This is a big factor in buying a new battery as I don't really want to have to restart if I'm in a library or something.

I don't own a MacBook, but I'm pretty sure you can't hot-swap the battery unless you are running off the plug. Otherwise you have to shut the computer down.

 

[tabaczka]

I don't a MacBook, but I'm pretty sure you can't hot-swap the battery unless you are running off the plug. Otherwise you have to shut the computer down.

I would imagine that you can put the macbook to sleep and then swap the battery just like a MBP. There isn't much difference between the two.

 

[WildCowboy]

I would imagine that you can put the macbook to sleep and then swap the battery just like a MBP. There isn't much difference between the two.

Except that the MacBook Pro has an extra internal battery that allows you to swap batteries while asleep...

Edit: Actually, I think it just uses the Safe Sleep function to store things to the hard drive, but there must be a small internal battery to give it time to make the transfer before it goes into Safe Sleep.

 

[hayduke]

I would imagine that you can put the macbook to sleep and then swap the battery just like a MBP. There isn't much difference between the two.

Don't be too sure. Someone will *certainly* correct me if I'm wrong, but I think some of the early (if not current) 12" PowerBooks couldn't have the battery swapped even in sleep mode. If the computer gets smaller, they have to get rid of something (!) and I think the internal battery was left out.

 

[tabaczka]

Thats possible too...

But what are you going to do if it can't be swapped without being plugged in..

"oh no! i am running out of battery and if i down swap it, it will turn off! but i don't want to turn it off to swap it! waaaaah!"

 

[iMeowbot]

Sorry to dig up the thread, but I was wondering if anybody knows if you can hot-swap the battery in the Macbook?

It's definitely not a supported feature. Apple actually recommend that for the MacBook, you shut the system down and wait at least ten minutes for cooling before you remove the battery.