Battery1.4.0

Battery keeps a plugged-in Apple Silicon MacBook at an 80% charge ceiling, helping limit the wear associated with staying fully charged. Its graphical interface manages charging status, and its first use also installs a command-line interface (CLI). The utility can discharge the battery down to 80% while connected to power, stop charging above that point, and resume charging below it.

It preserves the limit through reboots and after the tray application is closed, so the charging rule continues outside the visible interface. CLI users can turn charging on or off with commands such as battery charging off and battery charging on; the battery icon provides a visual way to confirm the resulting state. Running battery without parameters displays help for the command-line controls.

For someone who keeps a MacBook plugged in at a desk, Battery offers a focused way to cap charging instead of allowing prolonged full-charge operation. The GUI suits users who prefer a tray control, while the CLI is intended for people comfortable managing charging from a terminal. It is a MacOS System Tools program for Apple silicon Macs, specifically M1, M2, and M3 models, and its arm64 build will not work on Intel Macs.

Current version 1.4.0 is freeware and open-source software. Users coming from earlier versions of the battery utility may encounter path or permission issues, and Little Snitch users should know that blocking all URLs contacted by Battery can break automatic operation.