When should I plug in my MacBook Pro?

I have a MacBook Pro, and I want to keep its battery healthy for as long as possible.

I've heard many "myths" about all these, one of them being that the battery will get "hurt" if I plug in the MacBook when its battery is high enough (higher than 75%), let it until it reach 100%, then unplug it.

Is that true? Also, is it good to let the MacBook battery go to 0 then plug it?

Solution 1:

You are right lots of myths.

and more info this "kb/ht1446"

Apple Portables: Calibrating your computer's battery for best performance

_{The battery has an internal microprocessor that provides an estimate of the amount of energy in the battery as it charges and discharges. The battery needs to be recalibrated from time to time to keep the onscreen battery time and percent display accurate and to keep the battery operating at maximum efficiency. You should perform this procedure when you first use your computer and then every few months after that. If you normally leave your Apple portable computer connected to AC power and very rarely use it on battery power you may want to perform this process once a month.}

• Portables with built-in batteries (aka MacBook Air)

Current Apple portable computer batteries are pre-calibrated and do not require the calibration procedure outlined in this article.

In summary:

The battery has no memory effect & can be charged whenever you like. You can't overcharge it, & charging automatically stops when your battery is full. The two biggest killers of Lithium batteries are heat & frequent full discharge/recharge cycles. For calibration reasons (to make your battery status indicator accurate) you can discard but not less than 20% once in a few months.

Best way to prolong the life is to keep it as cool as possible. That might mean do not take your lap top in your bed, do not keep it in the sun, ect.

Solution 2:

I can only offer my personal experience on this, but I strongly believe that constantly leaving the battery at full charge (i.e., always using the laptop plugged in), in conjunction with heat, is detrimental to the battery's life. A lithium-ion or -polymer battery needs to be used--neither left at full charge or completely discharged for too long. So, in addition to the recommendations in the KB article, I would recommend that you not keep the laptop running off the AC adapter if the battery is fully charged.