02 / POWER · 6 min read
How to Check MacBook Battery Health and Cycle Count
Find your cycle count and battery condition on any MacBook, and learn why charging speed changes.
Open System Settings, go to Battery and click the info button next to Battery Health to see its condition and maximum capacity. For the cycle count, hold Option, click the Apple menu, choose System Information and open Hardware, then Power.
Apple designs recent MacBook batteries to keep up to 80% of their original capacity after 1,000 full charge cycles. Checking your battery now and then tells you how worn it is, before it starts to cause trouble.
How to check battery health
- Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Click Battery in the sidebar.
- Click the info button (ⓘ) next to Battery Health. On macOS 13 Ventura, click the Battery Health… button instead.
- Read the Maximum Capacity percentage and the condition. A lower capacity means a more worn battery.
How to find your cycle count
- Hold down the
Optionkey and click the Apple menu in the top-left corner. - Choose System Information.
- In the sidebar, open Hardware, then Power.
- Under Health Information, look for Cycle Count and Condition.
What counts as a battery cycle
A cycle is not counted every time you plug in your charger. One cycle equals using 100% of the battery in total. If you use 50% today, charge to 100%, and use 50% tomorrow, that is one cycle across two days.
Why your 96W charger does not always charge at 96W
The wattage printed on the charger is its maximum. Your MacBook asks for less or more power depending on:
- Battery level: charging slows down after about 80% to protect the battery.
- Heat: if the Mac or the battery gets warm, charging slows down.
- What you are doing: during heavy work, much of the power goes straight to the Mac instead of the battery.
For related reading in Russian, see «Мощность зарядки MacBook и здоровье батареи». It explains charging wattage; this guide focuses on battery health and cycle count.
Watching your battery with Tegaro
The Tegaro Power tool lives in your menu bar, so battery and charging details are one click away. It stays free after the 14-day trial.
Software cannot fix a damaged battery. If your trackpad is lifting, the case is bulging, or the Mac shuts down unexpectedly, take it to an authorized service provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many battery cycles can a MacBook last?
Apple designs recent MacBooks (MacBook Pro and MacBook Air) to keep up to 80% of their original capacity at 1,000 charge cycles. The battery keeps working after that, but holds less charge.
Why is my MacBook charging so slowly above 80%?
This is on purpose. Charging slows down near full to reduce heat and wear on the battery.
Does Tegaro Power use up my battery?
Tegaro Power only shows battery information in the menu bar. It does not need an account or an internet connection for this.
Ten Mac tools, one icon
Tegaro puts Power, Clipboard, Displays, Power and more in one menu-bar icon. Everything is free for 14 days, no card needed; after that the core tools stay free and Pro unlocks the rest.