macOS Tahoe 26.4 adds a battery charge limit slider

macOS Tahoe 26.4 adds a charge limit slider to preserve your MacBook battery

macOS 26.4 features a battery charge limit slider, like iOS 26.

The Mac just got an iPhone and iPad feature, as macOS Tahoe 26.4 includes a dedicated slider to adjust the battery charging limit.

With the debut of the iPhone 15 range, Apple introduced an opt-in setting that limited battery charging to just 80%. The goal of the feature was to help preserve battery lifespan over time. iOS 18 gave iPhone users an additional option to limit battery charging anywhere from 80% to 100%.

Now, macOS has gained the same battery-preserving capability, thanks to the first macOS 26.4 developer beta, released on Monday. The macOS Tahoe version of the feature works the same way it does on iOS, featuring a slider that lets users select a specific battery charging limit.

Users can activate Charge Limit by opening System Settings, navigating to the Battery section, and clicking on the information symbol next to the Charging option.

Additionally, the iOS 26.4 and macOS 26.4 developer betas have made the Charge Limit feature available in the built-in Shortcuts app for even more customization.

Apple's decision to bring charging limitations to macOS is a good move, but its usefulness will depend on individual work habits. Some might leave their MacBook Pro plugged in during most of the day, while students might need to carry it around and use the built-in battery more often.

Comments

lam92103 · 177 comments · 6 Years About 2 months ago

Veritasium has a great explainer video on Lithium Ion batteries.

The correct way to increase the lifespan is by keeping the battery from over-discharging

dewme · 6327 comments · 12 Years About 2 months ago

This seems like an area where Apple Intelligence would really shine. If Apple Intelligence is monitoring, trending, observing charging and discharging patterns, and trying to predict the tradeoffs between runtime needed to get the user's job done and expected battery wear and lifetime prediction based on actual usage patterns, it should help the user choose where to put the slider given the condition of the battery. No two users have the same usage needs or use their devices the same way for the same mix of applications. My goal has never been to focus too heavily on battery wear and aging. I'm more concerned about my device serving alll of my needs over its useful lifetime. If the battery needs to be replaced earlier than I expected, maybe I'm asking more of the device than it can be expected to handle. So far, that has never been the case for me. These are tools that need to serve me, not the other way around.

maltz · 589 comments · 15 Years About 2 months ago

I wondered when they would finally add this to Macs, since iOS added it last year. (The watchOS version of it almost never works for me though - it's just the "Optimized Charging" option instead of a specific slider, and it almost always charges to 100% anyway.)

All of them are pretty late to the party, though. My 2016 Dell has this as a BIOS setting.

macxpress · 6150 comments · 18 Years About 2 months ago

I always turn off optimize battery. It pisses me off that it doesn't charge to 100%. Plug it in for 3hrs and oh only 80% charge!

dws-2 · 283 comments · 24 Years About 2 months ago

This is perfect for people who leave their laptop plugged in most or all of the time. Sitting at 100% charge for weeks at a time is pretty bad for a battery. However, for those people who regularly use their batteries away from wall outlets, it probably isn't worth it unless you never use more than half the battery capacity (never goes below 50%).

Share Your Thoughts on our Forums ->

News

macOS Tahoe 26.4 adds a charge limit slider to preserve your MacBook battery

EU's artificial intelligence requirements are profoundly risky, says Apple

M5 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Book6 Ultra: Compared

RCS & encryption haven't fixed the green bubble problem

System 7 transformed the Mac on May 13, 1991

How to view translated lyrics in Apple Music

espresso Pro 15 review: The ultimate 4K portable display for Mac & iPad users

Hackers attack Foxconn again, Apple doesn't appear to be at risk

Premiere motorsports simulations race onto the Apple Vision Pro with iRacing Connect

Follow us on Social Media