Why Does My 2020 MacBook Air Lose Battery So Quickly?
Asked by
MellowCedar42
I have a 2020 MacBook Air that I bought new about six years ago. I barely used it for around eight months after losing the charger, but I recently started using it again with a replacement charger. Now the battery drains extremely fast whenever the laptop is unplugged, even when the lid is closed. Battery Health says "Normal," the system is up to date, and the MacBook hasn't suffered any damage. I've also disabled settings that might allow network activity, email checks, or updates while it's asleep. What else could be causing the rapid drain, and is there anything I can check before taking it in for service?
Answers
After six years, the battery may simply be worn out even if macOS still reports the health as “Normal.” I’d have a service center test it and be prepared for a battery replacement. Also check whether your model uses an Intel processor, since that can affect battery life and software support.
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Check the battery’s cycle count and its full charge capacity, not just the general health label. Those numbers give a better idea of how much capacity the battery has actually lost. You can find them in the system information under the power or battery section, and there are guides that explain what the numbers mean.
MellowCedar42: I haven’t checked those yet—I’m not very tech-savvy—but I’ll look them up and see what the cycle count and capacity show.
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MellowCedar42: I’m pretty sure it’s the Intel version, unfortunately. I’ll look into getting the battery tested.