Looking for a way to extend your MacBook battery lifespan, stop overcharging, or set a custom charging limit? The open-source tool batt is one of the best solutions for Apple Silicon MacBooks. With features like charge limiting, idle-sleep control, and MagSafe LED integration, batt gives you full control over how your MacBook charges — something macOS doesn’t offer natively.
This quick guide shows you how to install, configure, and uninstall batt in just a few minutes.
✅ What Is batt and Why You Should Use It
batt is a lightweight macOS utility that allows you to:
- Set a maximum battery charge limit (e.g., 70–80%)
- Reduce battery wear for long-term health
- Prevent idle sleep during charging
- Control MagSafe LED status
- Disable charging before sleep
- Run in the background with minimal resource usage
If you often keep your MacBook plugged in, batt can dramatically extend battery longevity.
View Source Code: GitHub Repository
🛠️ How to Install & Set Up batt on macOS
Install Options
A. GUI Version (Easy Method)
Download the .dmg from the GitHub Releases page → open it → drag batt.app into your Applications folder.
B. CLI Version (Homebrew)
brew install batt
sudo brew services start batt
C. CLI Version (Install Script)
bash <(curl -fsSL https://github.com/charlie0129/batt/raw/master/hack/install.sh)
🔧 Initial Configuration
Check installation:
sudo batt status
Set your preferred charge limit (recommended: 80%):
sudo batt limit 80
Important: Disable macOS Optimized Charging
Go to: System Settings → Battery → Battery Health → Turn off “Optimized Battery Charging.”
This prevents macOS from overriding batt’s charge control.
⚙️ Advanced Optimization Settings
Prevent idle sleep during charging:
sudo batt prevent-idle-sleep enable
Disable charging right before sleep (reduces overnight wear):
sudo batt disable-charging-pre-sleep enable
Enable MagSafe LED battery status:
sudo batt magsafe-led enable
Remove all charge limits:
sudo batt disable
# or
sudo batt limit 100
❌ How to Uninstall batt Completely
If Installed via Script:
sudo batt uninstall
sudo rm /etc/batt.json
sudo rm $(which batt)
If Installed via Homebrew:
sudo batt disable
sudo brew services stop batt
brew uninstall batt
sudo rm /opt/homebrew/etc/batt.json
If Using the GUI App:
Open batt.app → click Uninstall Daemon… → delete the app from Applications.
🎯 Final Thoughts: Boost Your MacBook Battery Health Easily
If you want more control over your MacBook’s charging behavior, batt is one of the most effective tools available for Apple Silicon devices. By capping charge levels and automating charging behavior, you can dramatically improve battery lifespan, reduce heat, and optimize long-term performance.
