How to Check Your Cycle Count on a MacBook
With this, you can quickly check your Mac’s battery health and avoid surprises.
Say you have a MacBook you’ve been using for a long time, practically built a life with, and you start to notice the battery isn’t what it used to be when you bought it. Or maybe you’re about to get a used Mac and you’re not exactly sure what else to look out for after checking things like storage, year, or cosmetic condition.
One important thing you want to check is your Mac's battery cycle count.
The battery cycle count tells you how many full charge cycles your Mac’s battery has gone through. It’s basically how many times the battery has been used up from 100% to 0% and then charged back up again, even if that happens over a few smaller charges.
Knowing the cycle count helps you understand the battery health and how close it is to needing a replacement. Nowadays, Apple batteries are rated for around 1000 cycles, unlike those of late 2006 to 2009 that are rated below 500. So, the closer you are to that number, the more likely it is that performance and battery life might take a hit.
Ogbonda Chivumnovu
Steps to Check Battery Cycle Count on a Mac
Step 1. Hold down the "Option" key and click the "Apple" logo at the top left of your screen to select "System Information"
Step 2. In the window that pops up, go to "Hardware" > "Power" on the sidebar.
Step 3. Under "Battery Information", you’ll see "Cycle Count" listed there.
Ogbonda Chivumnovu
Conclusion
If you’re buying a used Mac, checking the cycle count should be part of your first inspection, right after looking at the year, storage, and general condition. A high cycle count doesn’t mean the Mac is unusable, but it gives you a sense of how much life is left in the battery. If it’s already done 800+ cycles, chances are the battery won’t hold up like it used to.
For current users, seeing a cycle count close to or past 1000 isn’t a reason to panic, but don’t expect the same all-day battery anymore. You can either tweak your usage habits or start thinking about a battery replacement. The key is knowing what you’re working with, so you’re not caught off guard when performance starts to dip.
Image credit: Loy Okezie / Techloy.com
