Why is My Mac Battery Draining So Fast – How to Fix

There can be several reasons for your Mac’s battery draining out too quickly or not lasting as long as you expect it to. It can be due to a recent software update, which has been an issue with Apple for quite some time.

To fix the battery draining issue on your Mac, you can try changing the battery settings, checking your battery health to learn more about it, changing the power adapter preferences, or simply checking which program is using the most power on your Mac and reducing their consumption to save your battery.

This article details various fixes you can apply to your Mac if its battery drains very quickly. 

Why is My Mac Battery Draining So Fast?

When new software updates are released, sometimes they might be responsible for causing this problem. However, this usually gets fixed with new patches, which are generally released in the following weeks. There might be other times when the issue is more localized.

We have collated a list of possible reasons and fixes for this issue. 

1. Change the Battery Settings

This is the first thing you should do when you notice that your mac’s battery is draining rapidly. 

Read the instructions provided below. 

• Click on the battery icon from the Menu bar. 
• Here you can see the apps that are drawing the most energy from your battery and then adjust your usage according to it. 
• Click on Battery preferences from the menu. 
• Alternatively, you can access this through System Preferences as well. 
• Now head over to the Battery tab. 
• Select Battery from the menu on the left side. 
• Reduce the time it takes for your Mac’s screen to turn off after it’s left unattended. 
• Make sure the box next to the Slightly dim the display while on battery power.

• Also, check the box next to the low power mode option. This will reduce energy usage on your Mac, saving battery and increasing longevity. This also makes your Mac run quieter. 

Read How to Get Rid of Microphone Icon on Mac

2. Check Your Battery’s Health

Macs allow you to check your device’s battery health and how many charge-discharge phases it has been through. Read the instructions provided below to know more about this. 

• Click on the Apple logo on the Menu bar and select About This Mac from the list. 
• Once the pop-up window opens, select System Report from the bottom of the window.

• From the menu on the left side of the window, select Power under the Hardware section. 
• Now, you should see the number of charge cycles your Mac has been through, including the condition and maximum capacity of the battery. 
• Subsequently, you can also check this via System Preferences. 
• Click on the Battery tab and then head over to the Battery section from the menu on the left side. 
• At the bottom of the window, you will see an option for Battery health; click on that. 
• This will show you the battery capacity and the battery’s health condition. 

Read How to Save a Voice Memo on Mac

3. Change The Power Adapter Preferences

You can change the power adapter preferences on your Mac, which might help protect your battery in the long run. Read the instruction provided below. 

• Click on the Battery tab and head over to the Power Adapter section from the menu on the left side. 
• If Prevent your Mac from automatically sleeping when the display is off option is checked, make sure to uncheck that. 
• Next, uncheck the Wake for network access option; this allows your Mac to receive incoming traffic while sleeping, further increasing battery usage. 
• Also, check the Low power mode option, allowing your Mac to run more quietly and use less power in the process. 
• You will also see a slider on top that tells the time your Mac will stay awake when left unattended. 
• Set the slider to somewhere between 10-15 minutes, depending on your preference, to save your battery. 

4. Check on What’s Using The Most Power on Your Mac

Using the Activity Monitor utility application, you can check which process or application consumes the most power on your Mac. Read the steps provided below. 

• Open a Finder window; you can find the application on the dock by default. 
• Once a finder window is open, head over to the Applications tab from the menu on the left side. 
• Select the Utilities folder from the list and then double-click Activity Monitor to open it. 
• Here you will also be able to see which apps are taking up the most CPU and GPU power. 
• This allows you to accurately pinpoint which process or application you need to keep in check.

Read How to Convert PowerPoint to Word on Mac?

5. Try Contacting Apple Support

The last resort you have is taking your laptop to the Apple service center. Well, it might cost you money to get your system checked and repaired, but it is the best option in the end. If you have some serious issues, such as your battery needs replacement, there is nothing else you can do rather than buy another battery or get a new system.

A lot of times, due to the overuse of certain apps, the battery might wear out faster and start to heat up the system. Such as, due to a poor charging cycle, an issue might occur. Hence, the strain on the battery might ultimately lead to wearing it down, and thus, it will drain faster than it should. 

Conclusion

Did you get the answer you are looking for? Well, there could be a multitude of reasons that your battery is draining so fast. If you are working on a very old Mac, it might be time to replace your battery since it has worn out. Or, as we mentioned, you need to stop the usage or limit the usage of programs that are eating your battery.

It is observed that apps such as Google Chrome or WhatsApp eat up the most battery while in use. Instead of using these apps, you can find an alternative to Chrome, such as Microsoft Edge or any other browser that might be just as useful and friendly.

You may like the following mac tutorials:

• How to Cut Out an Image on Mac
• How to Connect Two AirPods to One Mac
• Set Preview App Default on Mac
• How to Get Rid of Yahoo Search On Mac
• How to Change Screen Lock Time on Mac