What Does Service Battery Mean Macbook Air

Simple Ways to Fix the Service Battery Warning on Mac

Getting the Service Battery Warning on your Mac and not sure what you should be doing to fix it? If yes, then read on.

It wouldn't be wrong to say that your Mac's battery takes a lot of stress. And just like any other battery, your Mac's battery also starts losing its power as it gets older, resulting the need for a battery replacement.

But what about the Service Battery Warning? In this article, I am going to show you a few simple ways to fix this error.

So here we go:

Contents

Why do I see Service Battery on Macbook Pro?
Your Mac's Battery Conditions Explained
How to Check the Battery Cycle Count On Mac?
Mac Battery Cycle Count Limits
3 Simple Ways to Fix the Service Battery Warning on Mac
- 1. Reset SMC Or System Management Controller
- 2. Recalibrate your Mac's Battery
- 3. Go To Apple Store Or Service Center
How to keep using MacBook After The Service Battery Warning Appears?
- Closing Words:

Why do I see Service Battery on Macbook Pro?

There are several reasons why the service battery warning is showing up on your Mac. However, below are some of the common reasons that will pretty much give you an idea of why the error appears.

Every Mac battery comes with a specific lifespan, and after that, it needs to be replaced.
Mac comes with a lithium-ion battery, and when it dies, a battery replacement is required.
Your Mac's battery cycle count probably got exceeded its limits. Hence, the battery needs to be replaced.

Your Mac's Battery Conditions Explained

Before I share any of the fixes for the service battery warning. Let me talk about three conditions that allow us to know if the Mac battery really needs a fix. And these conditions are:

Normal: If you see this, then your battery has no issues.
Replace Soon Or Service Recommended: This shows that the battery is still in working conditions. But the battery may need to be replaced pretty soon.
Replace Now or Service Battery: This indicates that your Mac battery is at its last stage, and you should get it serviced or replaced.

However, not always a need to replace your Mac's battery after that battery warning pop-ups. But there is one vital check that you can perform to ensure whether your Mac's battery needs to be replaced.

How to Check the Battery Cycle Count On Mac?

Just like any laptop battery, your MacBook battery also has a limited cycle count. Once the battery reaches its cycle count, you start facing battery related issues.

The count increases every time you plug your charger into your MacBook. And after a while, you have to replace your MacBook's battery.

The service battery warning is a way of letting you know that your Mac's battery about to reach the cycle count. But sometimes, your MacBook has a good number of battery cycle limits left before you need to replace the battery.

And to find that out, you can follow these steps:

At first, click on the Apple menu logo from the toolbar and hold the option key.
Then select the System Information option.
Next, launch Spotlight and search for "System Information."
Once it's launched, you have to scroll to the hardware section in the menu tree on the left and, from there, open the Power screen.
Over here, you will find all the relevant information about your battery. However, pay a closer look at the Health Information section, and here you will find the cycle count.

Now note down the cycle count and check the number listed on Apple's support page, and from there, you will get a clear idea or you can simply look at the below chart. However, if the cycle count is really low, you can follow the below methods to fix the service battery warning on Mac.

Mac Battery Cycle Count Limits

Computer	Maximum Cycle Count
MacBook
MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, 2017) MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2016) MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, Early 2015) MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2010) MacBook (13-inch, Late 2009)	1000
MacBook (13-inch Aluminum, Late 2008)	500
MacBook (Mid 2009) MacBook (Early 2009) MacBook (Late 2008) MacBook (Early 2008) MacBook (Late 2007) MacBook (Mid 2007) MacBook (Late 2006) MacBook (13-inch)	300
MacBook Pro
MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2019, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015) MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014) MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2013) MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2013) MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Late 2012) MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012) MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2011) MacBook Pro (13-inch, Early 2011) MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2010) MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009) MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015) MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014) MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013) MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Early 2013) MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012) MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012) MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011) MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011) MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010) MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.53 GHz, Mid 2009) MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2009) MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2011) MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2011) MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010) MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2009) MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009)	1000
MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2008)	500
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2008) MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.4/2.2GHz) MacBook Pro (15-inch, Core 2 Duo) MacBook Pro (15-inch Glossy) MacBook Pro (15-inch) MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2008) MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2008) MacBook Pro (17-inch, 2.4GHz) MacBook Pro (17-inch Core 2 Duo) MacBook Pro (17-inch)	300
Macbook Air
MacBook Air (M1, 2020) MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2020) MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2019) MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018) MacBook Air (13-inch, 2017) MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2015) MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2014) MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2013) MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2012) MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2011) MacBook Air (11-inch, Late 2010) MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015) MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2014) MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2013) MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2012) MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2011) MacBook Air (13-inch, Late 2010)	1000
MacBook Air (Mid 2009)	500
MacBook Air (Late 2008) MacBook Air	300

3 Simple Ways to Fix the Service Battery Warning on Mac

1. Reset SMC Or System Management Controller

One of the first things that you can try out is to reset SMC. By resetting SMC, you will be able to get rid of a wide range of issues on your MacBook.

Since SMC is responsible for a wide range of parts on your Mac. Like fans, backlights, display, and battery. So issues related to this can be fixed with a simple reset. And for this, will need to follow these below steps:

At first, shut down your MacBook completely.
Then connect the power adapter from your Mac to a power outlet.
Next, hold down Shift + Control + Option + Power buttons at the same time and then release them.
Finally, power up your MacBook, check the battery status menu and see if the Service battery warning is still there.

2. Recalibrate your Mac's Battery

This is one of the methods recommended by the Apple itself to take care of your Mac's battery. However, this will take some of your time to complete the whole process.

Also, if you go by Apple's words, they recommend you to perform battery recalibration once in a couple of months.

However, it is a pretty long process and takes about 6 to 8 hours to get completed. Also, the time depends on what MacBook model you are using.

Anyway, for this, you will need to follow these steps:

At first, charge your MacBook battery to 100 percent.
Once it's charged, use the MacBook for about two hours while the charger is still plugged in and turned on.
After that, unplug the charger and use the MacBook until it runs out of battery. Also, as the battery starts running out, you will see a battery warning on the battery status menu.
Continue to use your Mac, and it will sleep without any warning. And once this happens, turn off your MacBook.
Then wait for about five hours or more and then charge your Mac 100 percent again.

That's it. This will calibrate your Mac's battery and probably make the service battery warning error disappear from your Mac.

3. Go To Apple Store Or Service Center

If you failed to fix the service battery warning on Mac, then there is nothing much that you can do. As a result, you better be visiting the Apple store or Apple's authorized service center, and they will diagnose your problem and fix it for you. You may also need to replace Mac's battery completely.

How to keep using MacBook After The Service Battery Warning Appears?

The end of the result is definitely to replace the MacBook's battery. However, if you don't want to do that yet, you will still be able to use your MacBook.

You just have to keep your MacBook plugged into a power outlet whenever you are working. Or you should not let the power drop below to 50%.

This will help in reducing the number of times your MacBook will have to charge and extend its battery life. As you simply reducing strain on your Mac's battery by not letting the power get low.

Closing Words:

So those were a couple of fixes for the service battery warning on Mac. Now go ahead and try the above steps out and see if they have worked for you or not.

Overall, the end of the solution is definitely to replace the battery. So you better have a talk with the Apple service center.

Anyway, if there is anything else you wish to ask, then do comment below.