How can I maximize M1 MacBook battery health?

[Apple_Robert]

So after updating to 11.2.2 it appears that the optimized charging has gone back to just keeping my MBA at 100%. I don’t know if the update broke something or if it tossed the previous usage history and had to start over. If it’s the latter, it is going to seriously limit the usefulness of the feature if every time there is an update it has to start over while keeping the battery at 100%.

The stock battery app will show 100% even when the battery isn't really 100% (if you trust Coconut Battery or Better Battery 2, which will show the exact real time battery charge).

When I was running 11.1 and 11.2, the optimized charging feature appeared to work (slowly) and seemed to be really limited in the amount of discharging it would allow before resuming charging. I have since turned it off and gone to using AlDente (as a test) which gives me a little more control over where I want to keep the battery charge status.

 

[Johnnyangel]

Sounds like a great reason to install Al Dente

 

[jdb8167]

The stock battery app will show 100% even when the battery isn't really 100% (if you trust Coconut Battery or Better Battery 2, which will show the exact real time battery charge).

When I was running 11.1 and 11.2, the optimized charging feature appeared to work (slowly) and seemed to be really limited in the amount of discharging it would allow before resuming charging. I have since turned it off and gone to using AlDente (as a test) which gives me a little more control over where I want to keep the battery charge status.

Yeah, I use both Coconut Battery and I've verified it vs. the IOReg command line (ioreg -a -f -r -c AppleSmartBattery).

Last time it took several weeks before it started letting the charge drop to 80% and below. If it keeps taking several weeks of training and then starts over at each update, it isn't much use.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Yeah, I use both Coconut Battery and I've verified it vs. the IOReg command line (ioreg -a -f -r -c AppleSmartBattery).

Last time it took several weeks before it started letting the charge drop to 80% and below. If it keeps taking several weeks of training and then starts over at each update, it isn't much use.

I never saw my battery get to 80%. The most I saw was 92%.

 

[stanleydesu]

So after updating to 11.2.2 it appears that the optimized charging has gone back to just keeping my MBA at 100%. I don’t know if the update broke something or if it tossed the previous usage history and had to start over. If it’s the latter, it is going to seriously limit the usefulness of the feature if every time there is an update it has to start over while keeping the battery at 100%.

Wow. I've had my Mac plugged in at least 95% of the time in the past 2 weeks (AlDente). Maybe that's why BHM didn't work when I tested if it would hold this morning.

 

[stanleydesu]

I never saw my battery get to 80%. The most I saw was 92%.

So when charging from <80%, it'd keep charging until it reached 92%, then held?

 

[BigMcGuire]

So when charging from <80%, it'd keep charging until it reached 92%, then held?

The way Optimized Charging worked for my wife and I was ... after some time at 100%, the charge would drop to 80-90% then back up several times throughout the day. Sometimes it would hold at 80% for 10-20 mins then go back up to around 95%. It wasn't super consistent but the most obvious part to me was when it would drop from 100% to 80, 90, 85% then back to 100%.

 

[Leon1das]

1. Disable Optimized charging.
2. Install AIDente
3. Choose max charging percent

Its enough to put 60% as developer says.

With this you can keep your M1 Mac constantly plugged in.

Once 60% reached - charger will power M1 Mac directly (without charging/discharging the battery)

There is simply no better way to save your battery if you use your M1 Mac as a stationery device. With this method - you are practically not using it...

 

[jdb8167]

So after updating to 11.2.2 it appears that the optimized charging has gone back to just keeping my MBA at 100%. I don’t know if the update broke something or if it tossed the previous usage history and had to start over. If it’s the latter, it is going to seriously limit the usefulness of the feature if every time there is an update it has to start over while keeping the battery at 100%.

So it took about a week of being mostly plugged in in clamshell mode to start the optimized charging again after the 11.2.2 update. I noticed this afternoon that it was working again.

 

[jdb8167]

I never saw my battery get to 80%. The most I saw was 92%.

Right now I'm holding at 86% according to coconutBattery and 91% according to the Big Sur battery menu extra. I have a shell script that shows that the current power is at 0 W at 85.6% charge.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Right now I'm holding at 86% according to coconutBattery and 91% according to the Big Sur battery menu extra. I have a shell script that shows that the current power is at 0 W at 85.6% charge. View attachment 1739927

That is better than I ever saw with the default OS usage.

AlDente seems to be working well for me thus far, seeing how I have my M1 plugged in all the time.

 

[jdb8167]

So it took about a week of being mostly plugged in in clamshell mode to start the optimized charging again after the 11.2.2 update. I noticed this afternoon that it was working again.

View attachment 1739912

This latest Big Sur update (11.2.3) didn't disturb the Optimized battery charging like the last update did. After updating and getting a slight charge boost while installing, the battery menu extra is still showing that the battery charging is still on hold.

 

[camotron]

This may be a stupid question, but does Al Dente work when the Macbook has been shutdown? I shutdown my MB last night with it plugged in and this morning I see the battery at 100% (I have it set to 80% in Al Dente).

 

[Mike Boreham]

This may be a stupid question, but does Al Dente work when the Macbook has been shutdown? I shutdown my MB last night with it plugged in and this morning I see the battery at 100% (I have it set to 80% in Al Dente).

I think you got your answer!. If Mac is shut down and plugged in it will charge to 100% !

 

[camotron]

I think you got your answer!. If Mac is shut down and plugged in it will charge to 100% !

Haha - I warned you it may be a stupid question I thought Al Dente made more of a low level edit. Anyway I guess shutting down your computer is so 1990's nowadays. Still getting used to OSX so will investigate the sleep options.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Haha - I warned you it may be a stupid question I thought Al Dente made more of a low level edit. Anyway I guess shutting down your computer is so 1990's nowadays. Still getting used to OSX so will investigate the sleep options.

If the Mac has been turned off, AlDente can't run and in turn prevent the battery from fully charging.

In my opinion, there is no real need to put the Mac to sleep. Just turning off the screen is fine. It doesn't hurt anything to leave the Mac running in its normal state.

I don't use a screen saver. After x amount of time of the Mac not being used, the screen will automatically turn off. If I need to remotely access my Mac with my iPad or iPhone, I can still do so.

 

[camotron]

If the Mac has been turned off, AlDente can't run and in turn prevent the battery from fully charging.

In my opinion, there is no real need to put the Mac to sleep. Just turning off the screen is fine. It doesn't hurt anything to leave the Mac running in its normal state.

I don't use a screen saver. After x amount of time of the Mac not being used, the screen will automatically turn off. If I need to remotely access my Mac with my iPad or iPhone, I can still do so.

I hear you in regards to sleep/shutdown. These things seem to dram very little power.

 

[Odessa]

So I am not an expert but according to the specs, theses new macbooks use Li-Polymer batteries.
Unlike the traditional Lithium Ion, it has a lower carbon footprint but it is also said to have a much higher durability. Like double or triple. So I wouldn't worry too much?