Have you received a battery “service recommended” notification and don’t know what to do? Go no further; keep reading this article to learn more about what to do when a MacBook battery says “Service Recommended.”
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“Service Recommended” notification does not necessarily indicate a faulty battery. Unless it says ‘replace soon or now,’ there are several steps you can take to enable it to operate normally. Apple continuously monitors its system components, including the battery state. At some point, you may notice a “Service Recommended” notification. Let’s keep learning on how to diagnose and fix the problem.
MacBook Battery Count
Most MacBook computers have a maximum cycle count of about 1000 charges. Once it reaches such a limit or is approaching there, it is considered consumed. However, this varies within versions. To check your battery cycle count do as follows;
Step 1: Click the Apple Icon at the top-left of your screen while holding the “Option” key to open.
Step 2: Select “System Information” to for several other options.
Step 3: Navigate to locate the “Power” option and click on it. It will show your battery information.
With such information, you can determine if your MacBook battery requires replacement or is experiencing the following problems and fix it.
1. Check Your Battery Status
The first thing when you see a “Service Recommended” warning is to confirm the status of your battery. Personally, this is what I do to my phone and laptop when it fails. I do check if it can charge, whether it can retain power, or whether it is still alive or dead.
a. Battery health
A battery can be either normal or recommend services. To check its health status, click on the Apple icon>System Preferences/ Settings>Battery to show you the current condition of your MacBook battery. Your battery calls for attention if it reads “Service Recommended.”
b. Charging Status
From the menu bar, you can identify the charge status of a battery. It shows the percentage of power available, if it’s charging and if apps consume significant energy. During charging, the battery will indicate paused when it gets full with the power adapter plugged in. However, sometimes your MacBook battery may take too long to charge to 100%. Click on “Charge to full” on the battery service menu if you need it to charge faster. Otherwise, prolonged charging is an optimized battery charging feature that prolongs the battery’s lifespan.
Occasionally, your battery may stop charging even with the correct Mac power adapter. First, check if the power adapter is faulty; if not, shut down your Mac and let its lid remain closed for at least 30 seconds before you try to charge again or reset the SMC if you’re using the Intel-based MacBook.
2. Reset the SMC
You can resolve MacBook charge issues by resetting SMC for Intel-based MacBook. Other settings may also be reset as SMC controls several hardware settings. Here are a few steps to get it done;
Step : Shut down your MacBook.
Step : Long press the power button while holding the Shift and Control keys.
Step : Release all the keys at a go to start booting your MacBook.
3. Recalibrate the MacBook Battery
Recalibrating is a potential solution for battery service recommendations. Although it may not work for some issues, it’s a fix worth trying. What are you required to do?
Step 1: First, let your MacBook Battery charge to the maximum (100%). Keep in mind, no interruptions; it should preferably be switched off.
Step 2: Let it stay on the charge for a few hours before unplugging.
Step 3: Then use it until it’s completely drained.
Step 4: Plug it in to charge again until it’s full, and allow it to continue charging for some time before you unplug the charger.
Step 5: Repeat this procedure 2-3 times and notify the Service Recommendation has disappeared. If this doesn’t work for your battery, get it replaced.
4. Update Software
Apple frequently unleashes software updates to enhance its performance. And battery-related issues are no exemption; ensure to update your MacBook’s software regularly to the latest version of MacOS of that period to avoid battery complications and improve its performance while minimizing potential risks.
5. Replace the Battery
Battery replacement can fix the existing issues and improve the overall battery life. If the solutions above fail to fix your battery issues, replace the battery. Original MacBook batteries are readily available at a fee on online stores like Amazon or local Apple stores and retailers. Apple devices with an AppleCare Protection Plan have a one-year warranty. The plan covers every device component, in this case, the battery. Apple will replace the battery for free if it retains less than 80% of its initial capacity.
6. Seek Professional Help
Expert help is crucial when you’re unsure what to do when a MacBook battery says “service recommended.” Professionals can help determine the cause of the warning and fix it. You should contact Apple support or visit an Apple Authorized Service provider for further directions. Built-in batteries should only be replaced by authorized personnel, as repairs done by quacks do not qualify for warranty coverage. Independent repair providers with genuine Apple spares may also render such services.
How to Extend Your MacBook Battery Life
Device configuration affects the performance and lifespan of a battery. It is recommended to take measures that optimize battery life to improve and extend the battery life. Here is what to do.
i. Lower Keyboard Brightness
The brighter the keyboard, the more power it consumes. You, therefore, need to lower keyboard brightness to extend your MacBook battery life. This can be done manually by pressing F5 and F6 keys on your laptop. Mac devices are designed to automatically turn the backlight off when the battery is about to die or after a given inactivity period. But you can modify that if you do as follows. Click on the Apple Logo>System Preferences>keyboard set to your preference.
ii. Lower Display Brightness
Full brightness quickly drains your MacBook battery. Thus, it can result in a dead battery. To improve the battery life, learn to use your laptop on a lower display brightness. To control brightness, use the F1 and F2 keyboard keys. Equally, MacBooks automatically adjust brightness while on battery power. To check and modify this and other settings, do as follows.
Step 1: Click on the Apple menu.
Step 2: Go to “System or Preference Settings.” They vary from one version to the other.
Step 3: From the dropdown, choose “Displays” to show options.
Step 4: Tick the box for “Automatically adjust brightness.”
Step 5: For more settings, click “Advanced.”
What happens when you ignore the warnings about battery service?
It is not prudent to ignore the Service Recommended warning on your MacBook. The warning indicates a problem that requires to be fixed to improve its performance. Otherwise, you may experience charge problems, poor power retention capability, poor functionality, and a dead battery leading to system failure.
Bottom Line
If your MacBook battery indicates “Service Recommended,” stay calm. Its ability to hold charge has either diminished or has a malfunction. It calls for alarm, but there are measures you can take to solve the issue, as we’ve learned above on what to do when a MacBook battery says “service recommended.” Always take note of such notifications to improve your MacBook battery life and performance.
