How to Use Low Power Mode on Mac

If you’ve ever used an iPhone, you must have used theLow Power Modeat some point to save battery. MacBooks also have a built-in Low Power Mode that helps extend the battery life when the machine is running out of juice. Thanks to the power-efficientM-series processors, the latest MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models already have improved battery life. That said, every Mac reaches a point when it’s running out of power and you can’t plug in a charger immediately. In such cases, you would want to extend the battery life to finish an important project before your Mac shuts off. So, you should know how to use Low Power Mode on a Mac to boost battery life.

How Does Low Power Mode Work on Mac

Low Power Mode is a battery-saving feature on MacBooks that reduces energy use to increase battery life. When you use Low Power mode on a Mac, macOS alters the following features:

In addition, this feature makes your MacBook run cooler and quieter than before. Also, it might disable some background processes and affect the transfer speeds as well. For instance, you might experience slower AirDrop transfers.

We all use Low Power mode on iPhones and iPads that’s designed tosave battery lifeby limiting or disabling some features. Mac’s Low Power mode is the macOS-optimized version of the same feature.

Mac Low Power Mode Requirements

How to Enable Low Power Mode on a Mac

Now that you know what Low Power Mode means and does to your Mac, you should know how to enable it. Move along, here’s how you can enable Low Power Mode on your Mac to reduce battery usage:

Tip:A quick way to access the Battery section on Mac is to click on the Battery icon from the Menu bar and choose Battery Settings.

To verify that your Mac is running on low power mode, click on the Battery icon from the top right of the screen. Here, you’ll see “Low Power Mode: On”.

When You Should Use Low Power Mode?

The Low Power Mode is designed to save battery life on your MacBook. So, you can use it when your Mac is running out of juice and you wish to use your MacBook for a prolonged period without having to connect a charger. That said, there are no strict rules to it. You can use it according to your preferences.

It’s worth knowing that Low Power Mode does a trade-off between battery consumption and performance. It limits background activity, and more noticeably, reduces screen brightness to boost battery life. This also reduces the CPU speed, which might make your Mac slower. You won’t notice any drop in everyday usage and performance. You can browse websites, use social media, do your office work, and do other stuff without any issues.

On an iPhone or iPad, the battery icon turns Yellow to indicate Low Power Mode is enabled on the device. Unfortunately, the battery icon on the Mac doesn’t show the status of Low Power Mode. To tell if your Mac is running on Low Power Mode, click on the battery icon from the top right to reveal additional information about your Mac’s battery. If you see, “Low Power Mode: On”, your Mac is running on the energy saving mode.

Low Power Mode is a useful feature that helps extend the battery life of your MacBook by reducing background activity screen brightness, and CPU’s processing speed. As a result, your Mac requires less power to keep running. It’s a good idea to use Low Power Mode on a Mac when you want to use it for a prolonged period without having to connect a charger.

Kanika Gogia

Kanika has been a loyal iPhone user since 2014 and loves everything Apple. With a Master’s in Computer Applications, passion for technology, and over five years of experience in writing, she landed at Beebom as an Apple Ecosystem Writer. She specializes in writing How To’s, troubleshooting guides, App features, and roundups for Apple users to help them make the best use of their gadgets. When not writing, she loves to try out new recipes and enjoy some family time.

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