MacBook battery draining fast? 8 ways to make it last

2 min read · 8 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

When a MacBook that used to last all day is empty by lunch, one app is usually working hard in the background, or the battery itself has aged.

Step by step

1. Find the app using the most energy

   Click the battery icon in the menu bar. Apps listed under Using Significant Energy are the cause. Quit the ones you do not need.

   Done

2. Check Activity Monitor

   Open Activity Monitor from Applications, Utilities, and click the Energy tab. Sort by Energy Impact. Browsers with many tabs and video-call apps are often at the top.

   Done

3. Lower the brightness

   The display is the largest single consumer. Dim it with the brightness keys.

   Done

4. Turn on Low Power Mode

   Open System Settings, Battery, and set Low Power Mode to Only on Battery. It reduces energy use with a small cost in speed.

   Done

5. Close browser tabs and extensions

   Each tab keeps running scripts. Close what you are not using, and remove extensions you do not need.

   Done

6. Check battery health

   In System Settings, Battery, click the i next to Battery Health. Service Recommended means the battery holds much less charge than when new: how to check battery health on a MacBook.

   Done

7. Disconnect accessories

   External drives, hubs and phones charging from the Mac all draw power from its battery.

   Done

8. Update macOS and restart

   Updates fix runaway background processes. A restart clears ones that are stuck.

   Done

Good to know

After a macOS update or a large file copy, Spotlight and Photos re-index for a few hours, which uses more power. It settles by itself.

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi use little power. Turning them off rarely helps much.

A battery at or beyond 1,000 charge cycles is at the end of its designed life.

In short: Battery icon for hungry apps, dim the screen, Low Power Mode, check battery health.