Using MacBook Pro (16-in, 2021) to charge iPhone

Question

Level 1

16 points

Using MacBook Pro (16-in, 2021) to charge iPhone

I've been forced to choose a topic, since topics were devoid of MacBooks, I chose iPhones, please understand that the topic is MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2021) Battery

Due to an old house/lack of enough electrical outlets, I plug my iPhone-13 into my MacBook to charge, (of course my MacBook is plugged in when I do this). Does this harm my MacBook battery?

I'm asking because I am constantly seeing "Battery Charging on Hold". I always open up 'Battery Preferences' to see what's going on, then it will begin charging again, but for reasons unknown because I haven't changed anything. Today though, it didn't respond to that, Battery Charging is still on hold.

Pamela

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 12.5

Posted on Aug 7, 2022 8:58 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

y_p_w

Level 6

17,678 points

Aug 7, 2022 9:17 AM in response to Cruredes

There should be no issue. I've charged my iPhones with Macs (while connected to external power) for years and it's not detrimental to the battery. Of course if it's not connected to external power, then it will use battery power to power the iPhone, and that reduces charge which does eventually degrade a battery. However, that's the inevitable result of discharging and charging a battery.

Reply

Answer 2

Aug 7, 2022 10:40 AM in response to Cruredes

Look at the PHONE to decide what is really happening.

If it shows green and a lightning bolt in its charge indicator, the phone is proceeding to charge.

I concur with others -- no bad effects on either device to charge in this fashion.

Reply

Answer 3

y_p_w

Level 6

17,678 points

Aug 7, 2022 11:42 AM in response to Cruredes

Cruredes wrote:

Great relief 😮‍💨! I was fairly it wasn’t an issue, power in-power through-power out, but I wanted to be certain.

Theoretically everything that uses an electronic device contributes to at least a little bit of wear, but there is no utility to an electronic device without being used. For the most part, when a Mac is connected to power and charging a device, that's being provided from the power management circuits and not through the battery. However, if it's heavily loaded, there is a chance that the battery is being tapped into. However, it's a battery operated device and battery power is an important part of the functionality.

My philosophy is "Does the device serve you, or do you serve the device?" There comes a point where parts such as batteries may well need to be replaced, and it's a nominal cost compared to the price of a new device. It is possible to overthink everything.

Reply

Answer 4

Cruredes Author

Level 1

16 points

Aug 9, 2022 12:59 AM in response to Cruredes

You see that post up there that's me, but I am not "Cruredes", he is one of the people here who helped me. My Profile Name is "Pammama", I have no idea what happened here but I was on the page when all the names began changing around and also the avatars, then the comments themselves were assigned to different Profile Names and Avatars.

WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?!!

I'VE BEEN ASKING, BUT NO ONE ANSWERS YET.

I even asked my partner to look at it because I'm dealing with a possible brain tumor, I wasn't sure if I was seeing it correctly, but yeah, he sees the same problem.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD GO BACK TO NORMAL TODAY, BUT IT HASN'T.

Reply

Answer 5

Cruredes Author

Level 1

16 points

Aug 9, 2022 1:01 AM in response to y_p_w

You see that post up there that's me, but I am not "Cruredes", he is one of the people here who helped me. My Profile Name is "Pammama", I have no idea what happened here but I was on the page when all the names began changing around and also the avatars, then the comments themselves were assigned to different Profile Names and Avatars.

WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?!!

I'VE BEEN ASKING, BUT NO ONE ANSWERS YET.

I even asked my partner to look at it because I'm dealing with a possible brain tumor, I wasn't sure if I was seeing it correctly, but yeah, he sees the same problem.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD GO BACK TO NORMAL TODAY, BUT IT HASN'T.

Reply

Answer 6

Cruredes Author

Level 1

16 points

Aug 9, 2022 1:04 AM in response to lobsterghost1

You see that post up there that's me, but I am not "Cruredes", he is one of the people here who helped me. My Profile Name is "Pammama", I have no idea what happened here but I was on the page when all the names began changing around and also the avatars, then the comments themselves were assigned to different Profile Names and Avatars.

WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?!!

I'VE BEEN ASKING, BUT NO ONE ANSWERS YET.

I even asked my partner to look at it because I'm dealing with a possible brain tumor, I wasn't sure if I was seeing it correctly, but yeah, he sees the same problem.

I THOUGHT IT WOULD GO BACK TO NORMAL TODAY, BUT IT HASN'T. Help?

Reply

Answer 7

Aug 7, 2022 9:42 AM in response to Cruredes

This should be perfectly OK. The reason you see Battery Charging on Hold is because you have the MBP plugged in and are using Optimized Battery Charging as you should be doing.

Reply