If you own an iPhone, I’m sure you’ve used Low Power mode to squeeze the most of your battery while away from a plug. Well, Apple also introduced this feature to Macs with macOS Monterey.
If you’re frequently out and away from an energy source and find your Mac running low on battery, use Low Power mode to reduce its energy consumption and extend its battery life. Besides, enabling Low Power mode on Mac is straightforward. Let me walk you through it!
What happens to Mac on Low Power mode?
Similar to iPhone’s Low Power mode, Low Power mode on Mac optimizes battery life by modifying your device’s energy use. It turns down screen brightness, slows down system clock speed, and turns off non-essential background tasks. Because of the reduced CPU speed and energy usage, a Mac on Low Power mode will also run more quietly.
While it helps squeeze more juice for your Mac to keep running, it won’t solve any existing battery drain issues on your Mac. It may also be good to check your MacBook’s Battery Health to see if it needs a replacement.
Which Macs support Low Power mode?
Because the update was introduced in macOS Monterey, your device should be running macOS Monterey or newer. It’s also understandable why this feature does not work on Macs that are perpetually plugged into wall outlets like iMacs, Mac Minis, and Mac Pros.
How to enable Low Power mode on Mac
- Go to System Preferences → Battery.
- On the right-hand pane, select Battery → toggle on Low Power Mode.
Low Power mode will only work when you’re running on battery power. However, you may also want to enable Low Power mode while your Mac is plugged into a power source. This may help conserve energy, allowing it to charge faster.
To do this, go back to System Preferences → Battery → select the Power Adapter pane, and enable Low Power Mode.
How to quickly turn on Low Power mode on Mac
Unlike in the iPhone, you cannot enable the feature with just a tap. You may want to use the Cooldown app to quickly turn on Low Power from your Mac’s menu bar.
Otherwise, click the Battery icon in the menu bar → Battery Preferences to change your settings quickly.
FAQs
While Low Power mode can help extend your battery life, it will slow down its performance. This may not be ideal for power-intensive tasks like rendering heavy video and graphics.
Low Power mode works on Macs running macOS Monterey and later, except for Macs plugged in on wall outlets like Mac Mini and iMac.
It may be because your macOS is not updated to macOS Monterey. So, update your macOS and try again.
Wrapping up…
If you’re running low on battery or planning to spend hours away from a power source, enabling Low Power Mode on Mac can make your battery last longer—hopefully, long enough until you can plug it into a power source. How often do you charge your MacBook? Share your answers in the comments below.
Read more:
- How to keep your iPhone on Low Power mode permanently
- How to fix MacBook battery drain issue
- How to show battery percentage on Mac
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Rachel loves anything Apple —from iPhones, to Apple Watches, to MacBooks. She is also a medical writer and a ghostwriter for various publications.
