4 Ways to Fix MacBook Draining Battery When Closed

Quick Tips

• A complete shutdown offers the best battery saving, but the sleep mode is ideal for quick restarts.
• Disable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when not in use. Background scans for devices and networks consume battery.
• Disable unnecessary features like keyboard backlighting and automatic screen brightness adjustments.

Preliminary Fixes

• Disable the background process: If you are downloading a large file or installing an app from the Mac App Store, pause the process first and close the lid.
• Disable Bluetooth: When you close the lid, the system suspends Bluetooth. However, there are times when the MacBook stays connected to your devices via Bluetooth and drains the battery.
• Stop demanding apps: Noticing any abnormal battery drain after installing a specific app? The newly added app can be the culprit. Remove such apps and try again.
• Unplug connected devices: When you close the MacBook lid, unplug the USB drive, SSD, microSD, wired keyboard, mouse, and other devices from your device.
• Update macOS: Apple frequently releases updates that include bug fixes, performance improvements, and battery usage optimizations. By ensuring your macOS is up-to-date, you can potentially rectify any software glitches causing battery drain.

Fix 1: Turn off Screen Time

Step 1: Click the Apple icon at the top-left corner > open System Settings.

Step 2: Scroll to Screen Time in the sidebar.

Step 3: Disable the App & Website Activity toggle.

Fix 2: Check MacBook Battery Health

Step 1: Click the Apple logo at the top-left corner and open System Settings.

Step 2: Scroll to Battery in the left sidebar. Click the i button beside Battery.

Step 3: Check your MacBook’s battery condition and maximum capacity.

Lower capacity may result in fewer hours of usage between charges. If your MacBook battery health is indeed lower than 70%, you should replace it with a new one.

Fix 3: Disable Siri

Step 1: Click the Apple logo at the top left and open System Settings.

Step 2: Scroll to Siri & Spotlight. Disable the Ask Siri toggle and confirm your decision from the pop-up menu.

Fix 4: Disable Power Nap

Step 1: Open the Applications menu and launch Terminal.

Step 2: Run the following commands and hit Return:

sudo pmset -a tcpkeepalive 0

sudo pmset -a powernap 0

That’s it. Once the above commands are executed, restart your Mac. Once the Mac comes back, the battery drain issue will be resolved.

While the latest Apple Silicon MacBook promises stellar battery backup, the system draining the battery in sleep can ruin your macOS experience.