Sometimes, people face the MacBook Pro service battery warning. This warning is definitely more serious than the “Battery Low” one.
Mostly, you will see the warning “Service Battery” in the taskbar along with the battery icon. If you have no idea what this warning actually means, continue to read to exactly know about the issue.
On facing the MacBook Pro service battery warning, you need to know about certain things. For instance, does this warning indicate you need to replace the battery, or what else?!
Before we answer your questions, it becomes really important for you to understand what to expect from the batteries of the MacBook.
Nowadays, technology keeps on increasing with each passing day. However, the problem with batteries remains the same. No doubt, progress has been made in this field, but still, most people face problems with batteries at one time or another.
The earlier models of MacBook offer a decent battery life of about 8 hours for iTunes playback or wireless browsing. However, the latest models of MacBook Pro or MacBook offer a 10-hour battery life for the same activities.
PS: If you have problems with how to view HEIC photos on your Macbook, just click on it.
Part 1. What to Do on Facing the “MacBook Pro Service Battery Warning”?
MacBook Pro keeps a check on battery health with the help of its original base capability. When the function of the battery begins to become impaired, it issues a warning like a MacBook Pro service battery.
On receiving the MacBook Pro service battery warning, you need to examine the “System Report” in the very first place. Through this report, you can see the condition of the MacBook Pro battery and the cycle count. To view this report, read the following instructions.
Also, if you are experiencing MacBook Pro screen flickering, don’t worry; here, we will explain how to fix this error and get your MacBook Pro working again.
Steps for Viewing the System Report:
In order to see the status of your MacBook Pro battery, you have to follow the instructions listed follows:
Step 1: Go to the Apple Menu
In the first place, you have to click on the icon “Apple”, present on the home screen. It is also called the Apple Menu. From this menu, you need to choose the option “About This Mac”.
Step 2: Tap on “Power”
From there, you need to select the option “System Report”. Next, you have to tap on the option “Power”.
Step 3: Examine the status
Now, you will be able to see the battery status. You have to check your battery’s “Cycle Count”. Note down the number against cycle counts.
In MacBook Pro models, a battery needs to go through the maximum listed cycles before being considered to be a used one. If the battery of the MacBook Pro is still under the maximum cycle limit for your model, there is no necessity to replace your MacBook battery.
The 2010 or later models of MacBook Pro or MacBook are all fine for 1000 cycle counts. In order to check your model’s cycle-count limit, you can check all details on the official site of Apple.
Mac OS plays intelligently when it comes to counting these cycles. It does not count as an extra cycle if you have to recharge your MacBook Pro battery after using it for a few hours.
This smart OS creates an equivalent after combining various smaller charges for a single cycle. In this way, you will not burn up your battery by a year or two only because you love to keep the battery full all the time.
Part 2. How to Reset the MacBook Pro Service Warning?
If the battery cycles for your MacBook Pro are moderately low and still facing the warning, do the following things. In this situation, there are two things that one can do.
The first thing is to calibrate the battery while the other one is to reset SMC. In the first place, you have to begin with recalibrating the MacBook Pro battery. On the other hand, resetting SMC even resets a few settings on your system.
The process of battery recalibration will take several hours. That’s why; it is best to perform this task overnight. You should calibrate the MacBook Pro battery on the very first day you get your MacBook Pro. Just in case you have not done this, here’s the way to perform it!
Steps to Calibrate MacBook Pro Battery:
In order to calibrate the MacBook Pro battery, follow some simple steps listed below.
Step 1: 100% Battery Charge
Initially, you need to charge the MacBook Pro battery to 100 percent. Once fully charged, you will see a green light on the MagSafe ring. You can even check the icon’s drop-down list indicating that the battery is 100% charged.
Step 2: Run the laptop
Next, you need to keep running the laptop while keeping it linked to the power supply for several hours.
Step 3: Unplug the laptop
Now, unplug the laptop from the power supply. You need to keep the MacBook Pro on the run until you notice the warning of low battery. If you are using your laptop, you need to save work if anything is important.
Step 4: Let it shut down
Next, allow the laptop to keep working until the battery runoff. You need to leave the laptop without power overnight.
Step 5: Charge the laptop
The next morning, you have to charge your MacBook Pro fully. This process is called calibrating. It even resets the MacBook Pro Service Battery warning. Not just that, but it also synchronizes the battery power and its indicator.
Part 3. How to Reset SMC to Fix the MacBook Pro Service Warning?
The SMC (System Management Controller) is a chip that manages hardware settings, including the power status.
It is very reliable but needs a reset on some malfunctioning. Resetting this controller can even reset hardware settings or other power plans.
Steps to Reset SMC for Fixing the Battery Warning:
To reset SMC, follow the instructions given below.
Step 1: Switch off
In the first place, you have to shut down your MacBook Pro.
Step 2: Press the tabs
Next, you have to press the keys “left Shift + Ctrl + Option + Power tab” together. Keep holding these for a while.
Step 3: Release keys
Now, you need to release all tabs together.
Step 4: Switch on
Lastly, you have to switch on your MacBook Pro. You have successfully reset SMC to fix the MacBook Pro service warning.
This process should rest the warning, but it may even reset other hardware settings. The SMC organizes backlights, indicator lights, computer fans, display-related aspects, batteries, and ports.
If you reset SMC, you are forcing your laptop to relapse back to the default settings of the system. This process would reset the MacBook Pro service battery if it was happening due to corruption with the SMC.
By the way, you can switch to it if you have problems with Mac stuck on the Apple logo or MacBook Pro Trackpad not working.
Part 4. Other Methods to Tackle the MacBook Pro Service Warning
To find the cycle count perfect, you need to perform the above-listed methods to get rid of this warning. If you have tried calibrating the system and even resetting the SMC, it can be something serious. In that case, there is only one thing that you can do. You have to take your MacBook Pro to the nearest Apple Store.
The officials at the store can tell you what’s exactly wrong with your device. There might be something wrong with your battery. To get real answers, you have to take your laptop to the store. Definitely, they will help you better with this and tell you the right solution.
Now, you know what you need to do on facing the MacBook Pro service battery warning. As stated earlier, examine your laptop’s battery status. If the cycle counts are perfect, only then move to the other solutions.
Otherwise, you need to replace the battery. However, if that’s not the case, try recalibrating your laptop. It will surely help you in getting rid of the MacBook Pro service battery. If did not work, try to reset the SMC. This is the last thing you can do on your own to address the warning or service battery.
It is best to take your system to the nearest Apple store if nothing works. So, keep your battery in check so that you do not have to face this frustrating warning in the first place.