{"id":68539,"date":"2020-12-04T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-04T15:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/?p=68539"},"modified":"2020-12-04T13:16:06","modified_gmt":"2020-12-04T19:16:06","slug":"big-sur-battery-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eshop.macsales.com\/blog\/68539-big-sur-battery-options\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Take Advantage of the Battery Options in macOS Big Sur"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The gone-but-not-forgotten start-up sound<\/a> has returned in macOS Big Sur<\/a>. But that\u2019s not the only MIA item that\u2019s back. The estimated remaining battery life removed from macOS Sierra in 2016 is back from the dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can view the estimate by clicking the battery icon on the top right side of your laptop\u2019s display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Battery
The new Battery dropdown menu in macOS Big Sur<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Battery Preferences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From here, you can also access the Battery Preferences<\/strong> (also available by going to System Preferences > Battery). One feature you might wish to activate is Optimized Battery Charging<\/strong>. This is designed to reduce the wear on your battery and improve its lifespan by ensuring that your Mac notebook is fully charged when unplugged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Optimized Battery Charging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Optimized Battery Charging<\/strong> \u201clearns\u201d your daily charging routine and activates only when your Mac predicts that it will be connected to a charger for an extended period of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"battery
Battery Preferences in macOS Big Sur<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Battery Usage History<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Battery Usage History<\/strong> displays graphs of battery level and usage for the past 24 hours and the past 10 days. The details are broken up by Battery Level<\/strong> and Screen On Usage<\/strong> to see just how your battery is performing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"battery
Battery Usage History in macOS Big Sur<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

You can also save battery life on a portable Mac at System Preferences > Battery. You can determine the amount of time it takes for your Mac to turn off its display. You can Enable Power Nap<\/strong> so that, when sleeping, your laptop occasionally checks for new emails, Calendar events, iCloud updates, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Automatic graphics switching<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can enable Automatic graphics switching<\/strong>, so your Mac will automatically switch between graphics modes to preserve battery life. You can also enable Optimized battery charging<\/strong> where your laptop \u201clearns\u201d from your daily charging routine so it can wait to finish charging past 80% until you need to use it on battery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Power Adapter Options<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To set up options for using a Power Adapter<\/strong> with your portable Mac, choose “Apple menu  > System Preferences > Battery > Power Adapter.” Here you can enable Power Nap while plugged into a power adapter<\/strong> and optimized battery charging features, as well as have your laptop Wake for network access<\/strong> or not sleep when the display is off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Important Battery Message<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, in the Battery Preferences is where you might also see the dreaded Important Battery Message<\/strong>, indicating that you might need to replace your battery<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ugh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Realted Reading<\/h4>\n\n\n\n