MacBook Pro M4 battery draining too fast with light use

Etrecheck also identified that you have not activated Time Machine, or any other popular method of making backup copies of your files.

SSD drive failures typically leave NO SURVIVORS.

If you do not have a recent local, disk-based backup, your computer is like a ticking Time bomb. You are only one disk failure, one mainboard failure, one crazy software, or one "oops" away from losing EVERYTHING! Drives do not last forever. It is not a question of IF it will fail, only WHEN it will fail.  In addition, you never know when crazy software or Pilot Error throws away far more than you intended.

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Etrecheck calls out HEAVY CPU usage, and in your case, is accurately calling that out.

CPU Usage Snapshot:

Type Overall

System: 2 %

User: 12 %

Idle: 85 %

Top Processes Snapshot by CPU:

Process (count) CPU (Source - Location)

com.apple.WebKit.WebContent (31) 110.40 % (Apple)

WindowServer 39.38 % (Apple)

kernel_task 12.82 % (Apple)

EtreCheckPro 9.96 % (Etresoft, Inc.)

com.apple.WebKit.GPU 8.22 % (Apple)

That is NOT as you suggested, "light use".

You have FAR too many windows open in Safari, doing far too much background processing. Just switching to another Open window does not stop processing in those non-frontmost windows.

You can use Bookmarks to save your place on those web sites and return to them later.

executive summary:

if you want results similar to the lab test Apple achieved with its battery testing, close ALL Browser windows except the current active window.

Saxman wrote:

I have a nearly new M4 Pro MacBook Pro 16" laptop, yet my battery level just went down by 40% in just three hours. And pretty much all I have open is Safari, and I've played a few videos, for maybe a total of 90 minutes.

So I can't figure out why it's being drained so quickly, as it's supposed to give me, what, something like 20 hours of battery life? Where is that?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Why is my battery running down so quickly?

Maybe you are running apps in the background. Post an Etrecheck report so that we can see what may be affecting your battery performance. Plug in the computer if near a power outlet.

By far the easiest way to cause poor performance, instability, overheating and crashing is to install ANY third-party speeder-uppers, Cleaners, Optimizers, or Virus scanners, Bit Torrent, or a VPN that you installed yourself.

Your exceptionally well-crafted Macintosh computer does not accumulate filth that needs any third-party anything to clean it. Everything needed to run it efficiently was included in the box, except ONE: a drive on which to store a second copy of your files in case the first copy is damaged or deleted by accident. The backup software, Time Machine, is already present -- integrated deeply into MacOS.

You should remove any and all (other than Apple built-in) virus scanners, speeder uppers, optimizers, cleaners, App deleters or VPN packages you installed yourself, or anything of that ilk.

<< much of the CPU usage is due to iCloud's "data recovery" processing, >>

Network connection is actually quite slow compared to local disk speeds. That means in general iCloud updating (and Dropbox syncing) does NOT tend to drive up CPU (and battery consumption) but instead tends to drive up Network use, and shows itself as:

nDNSresponder as the task that is using the most Network resources.

iCloud syncing is unrelated to WebKit. WebKit is consuming a very large amount of CPU resources and Energy.

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Your initial query was about battery consumption, and the amount of WebKit CPU usage [in my opinion] can completely explain that higher than expected battery use.

<< if Apple's OS is designed.so well, it needs none of those "helpers", why then is the App Store full of dozens of them? Why offer them if they are all unneeded, if not detrimental? >>

Great question!

This User Tip holds the answers:

Effective defenses against malware and ot… - Apple Community

great. Please post the report.

If you follow the directions faithfully, its report (pre-laundered of all personally-identifiable information) can be "Shared" to the System ClipBoard, then Pasted into an ‘Additional Text’ window in a reply on the forums.

Then start a reply on the forums, click the "additional text" icon, and PASTE

“Why is my battery running down so quickly?: So I can't figure out why it's being drained so quickly, as it's supposed to give me, what, something like 20 hours of battery life? Where is that?”

———-

Troubleshooting a Draining iPhone Battery:

Unfortunately, there is no way to determine why, nor when, the Battery Health decreased. What is provided is the percentage remaining you have until the battery goes dead from having any change whatsoever. Apple recommends you get a new battery, when the Battery Health reaches 80% or less.

So, if it's Time for a New Battery:

Your iPhone battery has degraded, and it is overheating, as a result. Applerecommends you get a new battery when the Battery Health reaches 80% or lower.

Where to get a New Battery:

Getting a New iPhone Battery:

Contact Apple, and setup a Genius Bar Appointment or see an AASP (Apple Authorized Service Provider) in your local area. Be wary as to where you get this item, ask you may get an error of an ungenuine battery. So, to avoid this continual message, it is best to have an Apple or an AASP replace the battery. So, where to get a new battery:

A. Apple Contact Info:

• Contact Us - Choose Locations
• Proceed from there, as necessary

B. Contact an AASP: 

1. Go Here: Find Locations - Apple Authorized Reseller
2. Click: Service & Support
3. Enter: your location information
4. See: if there is an AASP nearby
5. Contact: an AASP that shows up, and find out more about the services that they offer to fix the battery

“Why is my battery running down so quickly?: So I can't figure out why it's being drained so quickly, as it's supposed to give me, what, something like 20 hours of battery life? Where is that?”

———-

Troubleshooting iPhone Power:

Save a Few: Visit the following links for tips on troubleshooting this...

I. Try what is on this Link: If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch won't Turn on or is Frozen - Apple Support

II. View the Battery Health:

Apple recommends you get a new battery, once the Battery Health reaches 80% or lower. When the Battery Health is 80% or lower, it is time for a new battery.

1. Go To: Settings
2. Tap: Battery
3. Tap: Battery Health
4. View: [the percentage]
5. Is it 80% or less?  If so, it is time for a new battery.

III. Perform a Restart:

Try Force Restarting your iPhone. Save any information that need be. Then perform the restart.

Go Here: Force Restart iPhone - Apple Support

IV. A Few Apple Support Sites that May Help:

• iPhone Battery and Performance - Apple Support

• Charge and Monitor the iPhone Battery - Apple Support

• About the Battery Usage on your iPhone - Apple Support

• If your iPhone or iPod touch won't Charge -Apple Support

• About Optimized Battery Charging on your iPhone - Apple Support

• If you see "Your iPhone Battery may Need to be Serviced" - Apple Support