If your MacBook randomly crashes or turns off, this can be due to a faulty battery. When a battery ages or a cell of the battery fails, it stops providing the MacBook with the correct voltage.
Why does it only affect the MacBook sometimes?
When you perform different tasks on the MacBook, different components of the MacBook require different voltages to handle the different tasks and workloads. When the MacBook needs more power, it asks the battery for it on demand. If the battery is in a poor state and cannot deliver the power required when the MacBook and its components need it, this will result in slow performance, random crashes, or just overall odd behavior with the MacBook.
Why do things still happen when the power is plugged in, though?
The battery in MacBooks is a part of the complete circuit. If the battery is degraded or you have a faulty cell, this can still cause odd behavior with the MacBook even when the power cord or charger is connected.
Why do batteries degrade in your MacBook?
Mac laptop batteries use lithium-ion technology. Lithium-ion batteries charge quickly, are long-lasting, and currently provide the best technology to power your MacBook.
All rechargeable batteries are consumable components that become less effective as they get older—and their age isn’t determined only by time. A battery’s lifespan depends on its chemical age, which is affected by factors such as its temperature history and charging pattern. As your laptop’s battery ages chemically, its charging capacity gets smaller.
Why do MacBooks use this type of battery technology?
Charge your Apple lithium-ion battery whenever you want. There’s no need to let it discharge 100% before recharging. Apple lithium-ion batteries work in charge cycles. You complete one charge cycle when you’ve used (discharged) an amount that represents 100% of your battery’s capacity* — but not necessarily all from one charge.
For instance, you might use 75% of your battery’s capacity one day, then recharge it fully overnight. If you use 25% the next day, you will have discharged a total of 100%, and the two days will add up to one charge cycle. It could take several days to complete a cycle. The capacity of any type of battery will diminish after a certain amount of recharging. With lithium-ion batteries, the capacity diminishes slightly with each complete charge cycle. Apple lithium-ion batteries are designed to retain 80% of their original capacity for a high number of charge cycles, which varies depending on the product.
How can I ensure the health of my battery so it will last longer?
Follow our “Smart Click” Simple Battery Rules:
- Charge Often, Charge Whenever: There is no “memory effect” anymore. You don’t need to wait for it to die. Plugging it in here and there during the day is fine.
- Don’t “Park” at 100%: It’s fine to hit 100%, but don’t leave it on the charger for days on end (like leaving it plugged in on a desk all weekend).
- The “Red Zone” is Real (0%): Avoid letting it go completely flat. If it hits 0% and shuts down that’s not good for the battery – if it’s happening all the time.
- Crucial: If it does go flat, charge it. Leaving a device flat in a drawer for weeks is the #1 way to kill a battery.
- Storage: If you want to leave the device unused, leave it at 50% battery before putting it in storage – then recharge in 6 months to 50%.
- Beat the Heat: Heat is the silent killer of batteries. Avoid charging your device on a bed, couch, or fuzzy rug. Always charge on a hard, flat surface to allow for proper airflow.
If your battery is failing or your MacBook is experiencing unexpected crashes, the local tech repair experts at Smart Click Computers in Leamington, Cambridge, Waikato are here to help diagnose and repair the issue. Conveniently located at 111A Shakespeare Street, our team provides fast and reliable Apple MacBook repairs for the wider Waikato region. Find out more about our trusted local services here: https://www.smartclick.co.nz/laptop-repairs/
Smart Click Computers 📍 111A Shakespeare Street, Leamington, Cambridge, Waikato
🌐 www.smartclick.co.nz
📞 07 827 6130