To check your Mac's battery health, open System Settings > Battery and look at Battery Health. It shows "Normal" or "Service Recommended". To see the cycle count, hold Option, click the Apple menu, choose System Information, then open Power under Hardware. These steps work on macOS Tahoe (26) and macOS 27, and the Settings steps are the same on macOS Ventura and later.
This guide covers where each number lives, what the numbers mean, when Apple says to replace a battery, and how to use the Charge Limit that Apple added to macOS Tahoe 26.4.
How do I check battery health on a Mac?
- Click the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Click Battery in the sidebar (scroll down if you do not see it).
- Look at the Battery Health entry.
Per Apple's Mac User Guide, you will see one of two conditions:
- Normal: the battery is working as expected.
- Service Recommended: the battery still works, but it holds less charge than when it was new, or it may not be working normally. Apple says you can keep using it until it is checked, and recommends contacting Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider.
Click the info (i) button next to Battery Health to open the battery health settings. Depending on your Mac model, this panel can also show Maximum Capacity, which compares what the battery can hold now with what it held when new. Apple notes that it can read slightly under 100% on a Mac that has been sitting for a while, and that a normal battery is designed to keep up to 80% of its original capacity at its maximum cycle count (Apple Support).
On macOS Monterey and earlier the path is different: Apple menu > System Preferences > Battery > Battery, then the Battery Health button.
How do I check the battery cycle count on a Mac?
The cycle count is not in System Settings. It is in System Information:
- Hold down the Option (⌥) key and click the Apple menu.
- Choose System Information.
- Under Hardware in the sidebar, click Power.
- Find Cycle Count under the battery information section.
This is the method in Apple's own article, Determine battery cycle count for Mac notebooks. The same screen may also list the battery condition and maximum capacity.
If you prefer Terminal, system_profiler SPPowerDataType prints the same power report as text.
What is a normal cycle count for a MacBook?
One cycle is counted when you have used an amount of power equal to 100% of the battery's capacity, which is not always one full charge. Using 50% one day and 50% the next, with a recharge in between, adds up to one cycle.
The limit depends on the model. Apple's cycle count article has a table: newer MacBooks are rated for 1,000 cycles, and some older models for 500 or 300. Look up your model there. At the rated maximum, Apple says the battery is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity, and that is the point where Apple recommends replacing it.
A low count with a poor Maximum Capacity usually points to heat or years of sitting at 100%. A high count with a healthy capacity is not a problem by itself. The capacity and the condition matter more than the count.
When should I replace my Mac battery?
Replace it when the condition says Service Recommended, when the cycle count is at or past the rated limit for your model, or when the battery no longer gets you through your day. Take it to Apple or an authorized service provider. Apple's guide warns that repairs by untrained people or with non-genuine parts can affect safety and function, and a very worn battery can swell and damage other parts of the Mac.
How do I stop my Mac from charging past 80%?
There are two built-in options, both in System Settings > Battery. Click the info button next to Charging (or next to Battery Health).
Optimized Battery Charging learns your routine and delays charging past 80% until you are likely to need it. Apple's support article lists macOS Big Sur 11 or later as the requirement and does not limit it to a chip type. It is not an Intel-only or Apple-silicon-only feature. When charging is on hold, the battery menu shows "Charging On Hold", and you can choose "Charge to Full Now".
Charge Limit is the newer option. It needs macOS Tahoe 26.4 or later and a Mac with Apple silicon. You pick a limit between 80% and 100%, and the Mac stops charging near it. The battery menu then shows "Charged to [%] Limit", and "Charge to Full Now" is still there when you need 100%. Apple says that with either feature your Mac will occasionally charge to 100% so its battery estimates stay accurate.
On an Intel Mac, or an Apple silicon Mac that has not been updated to 26.4, use Optimized Battery Charging. Note that macOS 27 supports only Apple silicon Macs, so Intel Macs stay on earlier macOS versions.
Do I still need a battery app like AlDente or coconutBattery?
For most people, no. Before 26.4, third-party apps were the only way to set a fixed charge limit. Now Apple's own Charge Limit covers that on Apple silicon Macs.
Third-party apps are still worth a look in two cases:
- coconutBattery is a monitoring app. It shows live charge, current capacity, design capacity and cycle count in one window, and it is handy if you want to track the numbers over time.
- AlDente is a charge management app. It is aimed at people who want more control than a single limit, such as its heat protection and a mode that lets the battery drift down slightly while plugged in. Which features are free and which need Pro has changed over time, so check the developer's page for the current split.
Neither app is something we sell, and you do not need them to read your battery health. The built-in tools above show everything in this guide.
How can I make my Mac battery last longer?
- Keep it cool. Apple's operating range for Macs is 50°F to 95°F (10°C to 35°C). Heat does more damage than almost anything else.
- Turn on Optimized Battery Charging or set a Charge Limit if your Mac spends most of its time plugged in.
- Use Low Power Mode (System Settings > Battery) when you are away from a charger. You can choose Always, Only on Battery or Only on Power Adapter.
- Store it at around 50% if you will not use it for months, then shut it down.
- Keep macOS updated. Apple says your Mac may recalibrate its capacity reading after a software update, so a small change in Maximum Capacity after updating is normal.
If your battery is draining faster than it should even though the health is fine, see our guide on why a Mac battery drains fast.
FAQ
Where is the Mac battery cycle count in macOS 26 and 27?
Hold Option, click the Apple menu, open System Information, and select Power under Hardware. The cycle count is listed there. It is not shown in System Settings.
Does Battery Health show the cycle count?
No. Battery Health in System Settings shows the condition, and on many models the Maximum Capacity. The cycle count is in System Information.
Is 80% battery health bad?
Not by itself. Apple designs the battery to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at the maximum cycle count, and it recommends replacement at that point. If you are still getting through your day, you do not have to replace it yet.
Does leaving my Mac plugged in ruin the battery?
Sitting at 100% in the heat for long periods speeds up wear. Optimized Battery Charging, or Charge Limit on Apple silicon Macs running macOS Tahoe 26.4 or later, reduce that.
Can I check battery health on a Mac desktop?
No. Mac desktops (iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, Mac Pro) have no battery. These settings exist only on MacBooks.
