MacBook battery: the 5 best energy saving tips
Find out how best to save energy with your MacBook in this practical tip. If you use your Mac frequently on the go or if you have an old device, find out from us how to save your battery.
Quit unused programs
Processes that you do not need often run unnoticed in the background. Close them to save energy.
- Open Mac's own task manager by pressing [cmd] + [alt] + [esc] at the same time. You will see the active programs there.
- For a more detailed list, tap on the magnifying glass next to the clock in your menu bar and enter "Activity display".
- Select an unused process and choose the small cross at the top left (see screenshot).
Turn off unnecessary lights
If you work in daylight, you do not need extras such as keyboard lighting.
- You switch off the keyboard illumination by holding down [F5] for longer. If you want to raise the lighting again, press the [F6] key.
- Use the [F1] or [F2] keys to change the screen brightness.
Protect your MacBook battery by working offline
If you do not necessarily need a connection via W-LAN or Ethernet, save battery by deactivating the interfaces.
- In another practical tip you will read how to deactivate the WiFi on the Mac and switch off your Bluetooth.
- Alternatively, pull the Ethernet cable to cut this connection.
Use the Mac's internal energy-saving tricks
The operating system has its own area in the system settings, with the help of which you save energy.
- To do this, open the system settings by clicking on the Apple icon in your menu bar and selecting "System Settings ...".
- Click on "Save energy" under the small light bulb.
- In another practical tip, we will explain how you can regulate the behavior of your monitor during mains operation.
Remove all peripheral devices on your Mac
All devices that are connected to your MacBook and do not have their own power supply get the energy from your MacBook.
- Therefore, disconnect the connection to external devices such as a CD drive, the trackpad or a USB multiport.
The tips refer to Mac OS X 10.9.4 on a MacBook Air. Other devices and versions may differ. You can learn more about Mac and power in articles about Mac auto shutdown and how to optimize your processor's power consumption.