If your MacBook is out of warranty when you need to replace the battery (which it most likely will be), Apple can replace it for $129 to $199 depending on the model. In most cases you are better off getting a genuine replacement through Apple, or through a trusted third party repair shop.
Well, Apple does not recommend leaving your portable plugged in all the time, as for a lithium-based battery, it's important to keep the electrons in it moving occasionally. MacBook / Pro, though, are designed to deliver up to 1000 full charge and discharge cycles before it reaches 80% of its original capacity.
Older MacBooks and MacBook Pros appear to last longer by approximately one year so on average – up to 6 years and often much longer. If you have a Mac that is no longer working and you are contemplating buying a new computer but are not certain we offer a $75 diagnostic service.
Apple has determined that, in a limited number of 13-inch MacBook Pro (non Touch Bar) units, a component may fail causing the built-in battery to expand. This is not a safety issue and Apple will replace eligible batteries, free of charge.
8 tips for improving battery life on your MacBook
- Show battery percentage.
- Check battery condition.
- Dim the display.
- Keep current with software updates.
- Kill keyboard backlights when not needed.
- Turn off Bluetooth.
- Quit applications you are no longer using.
- Disconnect unused dongles.
How to check the battery health on your MacBook
- While holding down he option key, click the battery icon in your status bar (top right corner)
- You battery health will appear at the top as either: Normal, Replace Soon, Replace Now, or Service Battery.
Typical Mac users never need to shut down their Macs on a daily basis. It is better to let your Mac go to sleep so it can handle maintenance tasks while you aren't using it. This will make your Mac faster when you are using it, and also allow you to avoid any delay while it starts up.
On a MacBook, you'll usually notice the swollen battery pressing up on the trackpad and surrounding bottom casing. A swollen battery can present a fire safety risk, so it's important to take caution with any device that has an expanded battery.
A SWOLLEN LITHIUM-ION BATTERY MAY CATCH FIRE OR EXPLODE. PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION AND AT YOUR OWN RISK WHEN REMOVING A SWOLLEN BATTERY FROM AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE. IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT YOUR ABILITY TO DO SO SAFELY, POWER DOWN AND ISOLATE THE DEVICE, AND CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL REPAIR TECHNICIAN IMMEDIATELY.
13-inch MacBook Pro (non Touch Bar) Battery Replacement Program. Apple has determined that, in a limited number of 13-inch MacBook Pro (non Touch Bar) units, a component may fail causing the built-in battery to expand. This is not a safety issue and Apple will replace eligible batteries, free of charge.
Apple has determined that, in a limited number of older generation 15-inch MacBook Pro units, the battery may overheat and pose a fire safety risk. Affected units were sold primarily between September 2015 and February 2017 and product eligibility is determined by the product serial number.
If your 13-inch MacBook Pro (non Touch Bar) has an eligible serial number, Apple will replace the battery, free of charge. This program does not affect 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar or older 13-inch MacBook Pro models.
Start by clicking on the Apple menu in the upper-left hand corner of your screen and then on "About This Mac" from the menu. If the model comes back as "MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)," you need to go to Apple's recall website and enter your serial number to see if your laptop is part of the recall.
If so a swollen battery is clearly a warranty concern. What you really need to do is take it to an Apple Store if you can. Even if it's out of warranty you should be able to get a replacement device for less than the full retail cost, although it won't be like a new device with a new warranty.
How long ago was that? Swollen batteries in MacBooks are covered for 3 years after the Date of Purchase. If within this time the battery starts to swell it will be replaced free of charge, if the battery damages any other components due to this they will also be replaced free of charge.
The main cause for battery cell swelling is what is known as thermal runaway. This creates a runaway thermal overload which can end in one of two ways, the cell and therfore the battery pack, catches fire or the reaction fizzles out with the cell in a swollen state.
