How to Check MacBook Battery Health and Cycle Count

Your MacBook does not last as long on a charge as it used to, and you want to know whether the battery is wearing out. macOS keeps exact numbers for this. You just have to know where to look.

The short answer: open System Settings > Battery and click the info button next to Battery Health to see the condition and maximum capacity. For the cycle count, hold Option, click the Apple menu, choose System Information, then Power. Most recent MacBooks are rated for 1,000 cycles, and Apple designs the battery to keep up to 80% of its original capacity at that point.

Method 1: System Settings

1. Open System Settings and click Battery.
2. Click the info button next to Battery Health.

It shows the battery's condition and its Maximum Capacity.

Method 2: System Information (for the cycle count)

1. Hold the Option key and click the Apple menu.
2. Choose System Information.
3. In the sidebar, under Hardware, click Power.

Under Health Information you will see three lines:

On our test Mac, a MacBook Air running macOS 27.0.1, it showed a cycle count of 167, condition Normal and maximum capacity 98%.

Method 3: Terminal

For a quick reading without clicking through menus:

system_profiler SPPowerDataType | grep -E "Cycle Count|Condition|Maximum Capacity"

On our test Mac it printed:

          Cycle Count: 167
          Condition: Normal
          Maximum Capacity: 98%

The battery also reports the number of cycles it was designed for:

ioreg -rn AppleSmartBattery | grep DesignCycleCount

On our test Mac that answered "DesignCycleCount9C" = 1000.

What counts as a charge cycle

A charge cycle is using 100% of the battery's capacity, though not necessarily all in one go. Using half the battery one day, charging it, and using the other half the next day adds up to one cycle. Topping up from 80% to 100% several times counts as a fraction of a cycle each time.

What the numbers mean

• Cycle count against the limit. Apple publishes a maximum for every model; most recent MacBooks are rated for 1,000 cycles, older ones for 300 to 500. Apple says the battery is designed to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at its maximum cycle count. A MacBook at 167 of 1,000 has used about a sixth of its rated life.
• Maximum capacity. 100% is new. It falls slowly as the battery ages. A lower figure means a shorter time on a full charge, not a fault. If your Mac is covered by AppleCare+, its terms cover the battery when it holds less than 80% of its original capacity.
• Condition. Normal means the battery is working as expected. If macOS recommends service, the battery holds noticeably less than when new or is not working normally, and Apple can replace it.

How to make the battery last longer

• Leave Optimized Battery Charging on. macOS learns your routine and holds the charge at 80% until you need it, which reduces wear from sitting at 100%.
• Avoid heat. Heat ages batteries faster than anything else. Do not leave a MacBook in a hot car or charge it under a pillow. Our guide to why a Mac overheats covers what makes it run hot.
• Do not worry about cycles themselves. They are meant to be used. A battery at 500 cycles with 90% capacity is in good health.

Keep an eye on it from the menu bar

MacStats is a menu bar monitor whose dashboard shows your battery's charge, whether it is charging and the time remaining, next to CPU, memory and your busiest processes. With MacStats Pro, clicking the battery card gives you a plain-English explanation of the battery's state that takes its cycle count into account, and what, if anything, to do.

Know what your battery is doing without opening System Settings.

Download MacStats for Free

Frequently asked questions

How do I check my MacBook's battery health?

Open System Settings, click Battery, and click the info button next to Battery Health. It shows the battery's condition and maximum capacity.

How do I find the battery cycle count on a Mac?

Hold Option, click the Apple menu, choose System Information, then click Power under Hardware. The cycle count is listed under Health Information. In Terminal, system_profiler SPPowerDataType shows the same figure.

How many cycles does a MacBook battery last?

Most recent MacBooks are rated for 1,000 cycles; older models for 300 to 500. Apple designs the battery to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at its maximum cycle count.

What is a good maximum capacity for a MacBook battery?

100% is new, and it falls slowly with age. The figure tells you how much shorter a full charge lasts compared with new. A condition of Normal means the battery is working as expected.

Does charging to 100% damage a MacBook battery?

Sitting at 100% for long periods adds wear, which is why Optimized Battery Charging holds the charge at 80% until you need it. Leave that setting on.