How to Check Your Mac Battery Health

Step by step

1. 15 sec

   Open System Settings

   Click the Apple menu icon in the top-left corner of your screen. Select System Settings from the dropdown menu.

2. 15 sec

   Locate Battery Settings

   In the sidebar of the System Settings window, scroll down and click on the Battery option. This pane contains all power management metrics for your device.

3. 30 sec

   Check Battery Health Status

   Look for the Battery Health section. You will see a status label indicating whether the battery is operating normally or requires service.

   Note: Normal means the battery is functioning as expected; Service Recommended indicates the battery holds less charge or requires professional evaluation.
4. 30 sec

   View Maximum Capacity

   Click the 'i' icon next to Battery Health. A secondary window will appear displaying the Maximum Capacity percentage compared to when it was new.

   Note: Batteries degrade over time; capacities below 80% often result in reduced runtime.
5. 1 min

   Review Cycle Count

   Hold the Option key and click the Apple menu. Select System Information. Under the Hardware section in the left sidebar, click Power. Your current Cycle Count is listed under Health Information.

   Note: Every MacBook has a maximum cycle count limit defined by Apple, typically between 800 and 1,000 cycles.