MacBook owners can now manually cap battery charging at any level between 80% and 100%, ending years of reliance on third-party utilities for basic battery health management.
Apple's macOS Tahoe 26.4 beta introduces a charge limit slider in System Settings under Battery settings, accessible through the information icon next to Charging.
Users select maximum levels in 5% increments—80%, 85%, 90%, or 95%—creating a hard ceiling that prevents lithium-ion cells from sitting at full capacity during extended plugged-in use.
The feature arrives years after iPhone users gained similar controls with iOS 18 and Windows PC manufacturers offered OEM utilities. MacBooks previously relied on Optimized Battery Charging, which uses machine learning to delay full charges based on usage patterns but still allows batteries to reach 100% regularly.
Keeping power cells between 25% and 80% reduces chemical stress that accelerates aging, particularly for laptops used as semi-desktop machines at desks or connected to external displays.
Each complete cycle contributes to wear, making partial top-ups preferable for long-term health.
Third-party app developers face immediate disruption from Apple's native implementation. AlDente, a popular MacBook utility whose primary function was enforcing charge limits, now competes against built-in system functionality though retains advanced features like recalibration and heat protection.
Shortcuts app integration in both macOS 26.4 and iOS 26.4 enables automated adjustments based on time, location, or Focus modes. Users can create workflows that lower limits during office hours then raise them before travel or extended unplugged sessions.
The beta requires enrollment in Apple's developer or public testing programs through System Settings > General > Software Update.
A public release typically follows weeks of testing, with .4 updates historically arriving between March and May.
Apple notes devices will occasionally bypass user-set limits to maintain accurate state-of-charge estimates.
