Just bought a new MacBook Air (m4). I won't be able to use it right now until I clear up some issues with my old m1 air. They're non critical so I have put it aside for now. I need to know how long can I leave the new m4 air in the box before the battery runs down. Can I plug in the charger without starting it up?
iPhone 13, iOS 18
No one can forecast how long your new M4 Air battery will remain charged while in the box. Assume Apple did not ship it fully charged, and yes, you can charge it without opening the lid or powering it up.
I have had just-out-of-the-box Macs boot up (boot chime) when connected to power with the lid closed. You can just leave it closed and it will shut back down, or open it press Command-Q or press and hold the power button (Touch ID sensor) until it shuts off then close the lid. When you next open it, the Setup Assistant will start up.
Unasked question, but personally I find the best way to set up an new Mac from an old one is to use a current Time Machine backup of the old Mac on an SSD – the fast, stable wired connection makes setup fast and reliable.
Several new Mac laptops I have purchased shipped with a 50% charge, which was Apple's old recommended charge level for storing a battery-powered device. You may not have a full charge now
The real issue is that any battery is a little factory that converts stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Even with the computer off, the "factory" doesn't have an off switch. It will still be using its chemical resources outputting a small amount of power to maintain system settings and, in a new computer, the start-up/set-up routines.
I suggest you start using the new Mac now.
Thank you for your very helpful reply
How long can I keep a new MacBook Air m4 in the box before the battery runs down?
