4 Signs It’s Time to Replace Your MacBook Battery

Swelling is the only urgent sign Replace the battery immediately if the trackpad clicks unevenly, the case feels bulged, or the bottom won’t sit flat. That is a fire risk—stop charging and get to a repair shop.

You can’t get through a normal workday without plugging in If you need the charger with you everywhere, the battery no longer meets your needs. Replace it when it stops lasting through your typical use.

Apple’s battery health percentage is a rough guideline, not a rule A MacBook at 80% health may still last fine for browsing and email, while one at 85% might randomly shut down. The number helps, but real-world performance matters more.

Age matters more than cycle count Most Airs are good for 500–1000 cycles, but a three-year-old battery at 200 cycles can be worse than a two-year-old one at 400. If you are checking cycle count, you probably already know it is time.