What to Do After Replacing Your MacBook Battery: Calibrate a Macbook’s Power System
Congratulations! You’ve just replaced your MacBook battery. But the journey doesn’t end there. In fact, the next steps are crucial for ensuring the longevity and efficient performance of your new battery. Let’s dive into what to do after battery replacement and how you can calibrate a Macbook’s Power System.
Why Calibration Is Important
It’s absolutely essential to calibrate the power management system after Macbook battery replacement. The power calibration process syncs the computer’s power management system with the battery which allows:
- Your new battery to achieve its fullest charge capacity.
- Your new battery to reach its full lifespan.
- The system to accurately display the battery level.
Tip: You may have more life in your stock battery than you think!
You can also use this power system recalibration guide with the stock battery that came with your Apple laptop.
Calibrating The Power Management System Is Easy To Do
On newer MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros, calibration happens automatically. All you have to do is occasionally allow your battery to run down to zero and power off your Mac. Then power it back on and let it charge to 100%. The battery will recalibrate. On older models, the process is a bit more involved.
Step 1 – Verify Installation
To ensure the new Macbook battery is properly replaced, turn the computer on without the power adapter connected. If the computer starts up normally, the battery is properly installed and you can proceed to Step 2. If the computer does not start up, please double-check the battery install instructions to ensure it’s correctly installed.
Step 2 – Charge It Up
The first step to calibrate the MacBook battery is to plug in and charge to 100%. Keep it plugged in for a couple of hours even after it reaches full charge. By doing so, you’ll give your new battery a robust start.
Step 3 – Charge Two More Hours
After the battery is 100% charged, keep the power adapter plugged into the computer for an additional 2+ hours. The computer can be powered up and used during this time.
Step 4 – Temporarily Change the Energy Saver Settings
If the computer is off, you’ll need to turn it on.
In OS X System Preferences click on the Energy Saver preferences. In the Energy Saver / Battery preferences:
- Set the “Turn display off after:” slider to “Never”
Various Mac models may have two sliders for “computer sleep” and “display sleep”. If you have two sliders, simply slide both to the right to set them to “Never”
- UNCHECK “Put hard disks to sleep when possible”
- UNCHECK “Slightly dim the display while on battery power”
Step 5 – Use & Drain
After that, unplug your MacBook and use it normally until the battery drains and it goes into sleep mode. During this period, avoid heavy tasks that might cause abrupt battery drain. This step is crucial as you aim to calibrate the MacBook battery in the most organic manner.
Step 6 – Let It Rest
Next, let your MacBook rest. Keep it turned off and unplugged for at least five hours, or even overnight. This waiting period is vital as it allows the battery’s electrons to settle after the discharge.
Step 7 –Charge Again
Once your waiting period is over, plug in your MacBook and charge it back to 100% without interruption. This step completes the calibration process. This is also a good time to go back and select your desired Energy Saver preferences.
Macbook battery is now re-calibrated. The information you see in the battery menu bar item and System Settings should be accurate.
Additional Tips
Regularly update: Always make sure your MacBook’s software is updated. Often, Apple releases software updates that can improve battery performance.
Avoid extreme temperatures: Batteries dislike extreme cold or heat. Hence, avoid leaving your MacBook in such environments.
Check battery health: MacOS offers a feature to check battery health. Use this occasionally to ensure everything’s on track.
Conclusion
Your Mac’s battery is intelligent. It can tell you how long it has left before it’s out of charge and even optimize its charging schedule based on your usage. However, to do all that, Macbook’s Power System needs to be calibrated, and occasionally that might involve stepping in to do it manually. Follow the steps to keep your Mac’s battery in top condition for as long as possible.
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