Is it a bad idea to keep a Macbook pro always on?

mac battery-life battery

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Solution 1

If you can, try to run the battery down every now and again. From Apple:

Apple does not recommend leaving your portable plugged in all the time. An ideal use would be a commuter who uses her notebook on the train, then plugs it in at the office to charge. This keeps the battery juices flowing. If on the other hand, you use a desktop computer at work, and save a notebook for infrequent travel, Apple recommends charging and discharging its battery at least once per month.

Solution 2

This debate very often pops up here. Long story short: Make sure you unplug it every once in a while (maybe weekly) and let it drain and charge. It is important to cycle the battery every once in a while for both the health and calibration of the battery. Check Apple's site for very specific Macbook battery tips here.

For proper maintenance of a lithium-based battery, it’s important to keep the electrons in it moving occasionally. Apple does not recommend leaving your portable plugged in all the time. An ideal use would be a commuter who uses her notebook on the train, then plugs it in at the office to charge. This keeps the battery juices flowing.

Solution 3

There are heat concerns - with the lid closed, there is less space for the heat to circulate. The hotter many computer parts are, the more likely they will have a shortened lifespan.

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Somebody still uses you MS-DOS

Just kidding. MS-DOS, you broke my heart. No more.

Updated on September 17, 2022

Comments

Somebody still uses you MS-DOS over 1 year

Possible Duplicate:
Is it better to use laptop on battery or on AC power?

I never turn off a macbook pro I've at home. It's always connected with the power source, but with the lid closed.

Is there a problem? Is the battery going to die slowly because of this?
- Arjan over 13 years
  
  possible duplicate of Is it better to use laptop on battery or on AC power?, Is it ok to keep your macbook plugged in when battery light is green?, ...
- Arjan over 13 years
  
  (It's not clear to me if you're using the MacBook with the lid closed. But still then: there's many duplicates here.)
- HikeMike over 13 years
  
  @Arjan You can work with peripherals with the lid closed. Otherwise, accessories like BookArc would be really pointless.
Arjan over 13 years

Do not use MacBooks while the battery is removed, it will decrease performance.
Leland Riordan over 13 years

I gave CaseyIT my vote because he posted first, but otherwise, a good answer.
uxout over 13 years

@Randolph Potter - Why not upvote both? ;) Good answers are good answers.
qJake over 13 years

Fixed. I can see why this happens, but I don't agree with it, I think it's kinda dumb.
Leland Riordan over 13 years

They point to the same link. I'm torn ... :-) Oh well, I'll relent.