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Does MacBook Pro battery get stressed when I'm connected to power supply?

Hi there,


I recently started connecting my MacBook Pro to an external monitor, so that when I'm at my desk at home I can use it as a a Desktop PC.

However I noticed that, in order to use the external monitor, I need to connect my MacBook to the power supply and therefore my battery gets charged up to 100% and then stop charging (under the battery menu I see that the Mac is no longer using the battery but just the external power supply).

Is this phenomenon going to ruin my battery in time because the battery Is always kept at 100%?? I'd really like to avoid reducing the great performances I've experienced during the last year.


Thanks in advice!


Gabriele


PS: I forgot to mention that I'm referring to the closed display mode, which needs the charger to be connected, according to Apple's website:

https://support.apple.com/it-it/HT201834

Posted on Apr 27, 2021 7:00 AM

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Posted on Apr 27, 2021 7:15 AM

I've been using the MacBook Pro and all its predecessors that way, and non of the batteries got damaged.

The charging controller will stop charging the batterie at 100%, which will not harm the batterie.

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7 replies

Apr 27, 2021 8:14 AM in response to GabboPi

Don't ry to micro-manage the power adapter. Don't disconnect it.


That computer is a battery-CAPABLE device. It is not optimized as a battery-operated device.


Your computer performs best when connected to AC power. It can use the full output of the Power Adapter AND when doing especially challenging work will also freely "borrow" power from the battery. In some cases, even with the power adapter connected, the charged state may even decline during stressful work.


When used only on battery, your computer has no extra cushion of power, and will perform more slowly. However, for ordinary non-stressful tasks this may not be objectionable (possibly not even noticeable.)


In general, you should ALWAYS connect AC power when it is possible to do so, and only run on batteries (which will be somewhat slower) when no AC sources are at hand. There are three micro-controllers cooperating on battery and charging issues, and your Mac will NEVER over-charge.


A charge cycle is ever-so-slightly destructive to batter longevity. When operating as designed (and not using Battery Health Management) battery charge level is allowed to decline to about 92 percent level before initiating a recharge cycle to top up to about 99 percent.


————

Catalina software 10.15.5 and later for MacBook Pro with T2 chip (2016 models and later) includes a new feature called Battery Health Management. Based on your usage patterns, this widens the hysteresis to initiate a charge cycle at a lower level, and stop before 99 percent.


About battery health management in Mac notebooks - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211094


This relaxes the set points around re-charging (based on your usage patterns) and can improve long term battery lifetimes. When active, recharging may stop short of 100 percent charged. Recharging may only begin at a lower level than the previous "normal" threshold of 92 percent or less.


Apr 27, 2021 9:46 AM in response to Ingo2711

It is NOT charging at all times when connected. Charging is done only when necessary, and is handled by a team of three micro-controllers. This is a problem best handled by the computer itself, and you should not intervene.


I suggest you Don't disconnect the power adapter unless you are moving the computer to a different location to use it on battery..

Does MacBook Pro battery get stressed when I'm connected to power supply?

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