How to check battery health on a MacBook

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-check-battery-health-on-a-macbook/ · Checked October 2026 · MacBook Neo · macOS 27.0.1

3 of 4 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device

Mac

Shown on

macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo)

App

System Settings

Real screenshots

3 of 4 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. Open System Settings

   Click the Apple menu, then System Settings.

   Done

2. 

   Click Battery, then the i next to Battery Health

   Battery is in the list on the left, between VPN and General. On our MacBook Neo the Battery Health row reads Normal, with the i at its right-hand end.

   The Charging row below has its own i; that is a different panel.

   Done

3. 

   Read Battery Condition and Maximum Capacity

   On our MacBook Neo the panel shows Battery Condition Normal and Maximum Capacity 100 %. Maximum Capacity compares the battery's capacity with when it was new.

   Click Done to close the panel.

   Done

4. 

   Check the cycle count

   Hold the Option key, click the Apple menu and choose System Information. Click Power under Hardware on the left.

   Look for Cycle Count under Health Information. On our MacBook Neo it reads 7, with Condition Normal and Maximum Capacity 100 %.

   Done

What we saw on our device

• Click Battery, then the i next to Battery Health: On our MacBook Neo the Battery Health row reads Normal, with the i at its right-hand end.
• Read Battery Condition and Maximum Capacity: On our MacBook Neo the panel shows Battery Condition Normal and Maximum Capacity 100 %.
• Check the cycle count: On our MacBook Neo it reads 7, with Condition Normal and Maximum Capacity 100 %.

If you do not see this option

• No Battery in the list Scroll the left-hand list or type Battery in the Search field at the top. On our MacBook Neo it sits between VPN and General.
• No i next to Battery Health The i is at the far right of the Battery Health row, after the word Normal. Make sure you click the one on Battery Health, not on Charging.
• No Cycle Count in System Information Click Power under Hardware on the left, then look in Battery Information under Health Information, just above Condition.

If this does not work

• Battery Condition says Service Recommended Apple says this means the battery still works but holds noticeably less charge than when new, or is not working normally. Source: Check the condition of your Mac laptop battery
• Holding Option does not change the Apple menu Open the System Information app directly instead, then click Power on the left.
• The panel stays open Click Done at the bottom right of the Battery Health panel to return to Battery settings.

About this guide

A MacBook battery slowly loses capacity with every charge cycle. macOS shows its condition, its maximum capacity and whether it needs service.

Screenshots: MacBook Neo, macOS 27.0.1, dark mode.

Good to know

Leave Optimized Battery Charging on. It learns your routine and delays charging past 80% until you need it, which slows ageing.

A MacBook that sits on a charger all day is fine. macOS manages the charge level. Heat is the bigger enemy: do not use it on a duvet or leave it in a hot car.

To see which apps use the most energy, click the battery icon in the menu bar.

In short: System Settings > Battery > i next to Battery Health > Battery Condition and Maximum Capacity.