Apple has launched a new service program to replace, free of charge, faulty batteries in certain MacBook Pro models that won’t charge above 1%.
A small batch of 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro units manufactured in 2016 and 2017 are apparently plagued with this weird charging issue. Affected customers may see a message in the Battery preference pane to indicate “Service Recommended.”
If you see this message, you’re eligible for Apple’s free battery replacement. Conversely, if the message indicates that the battery is in normal condition, you’re unaffected.
According to a support document on Apple’s website, the battery charging problem affects “a very small number of customers” with 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro computers.
Is My MacBook Pro Affected?
The following 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro models may exhibit these behaviors:
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017)
To quickly identify your computer’s model, choose “About This Mac” from the Apple menu.
How to Check Mac Battery Health
You can check the current health of the battery in your MacBook Pro in macOS easily.
In Big Sur, choose “System Preferences” from the Apple menu. In the System Preferences window, click “Battery”, then select “Battery” in the sidebar and click “Battery Health”.
If your Mac is using macOS Catalina or earlier, hold the Option (⌥) key on the keyboard while clicking the Battery icon in the menu bar. This will reveal the Battery status menu.
If your notebook is eligible for Apple’s service program, you can have it replaced free of charge by contacting Apple through its Support website. “Your computer will be examined prior to service to verify that it is eligible for the free battery replacement,” Apple notes.
Emergency Updates With a Battery Fix
After becoming aware of this bug, Apple swiftly pushed a pair of macOS updates—the macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 or later for Macs powered by the Big Sur software and the macOS Catalina 10.15.7 supplemental update for Mac owners on macOS Catalina and earlier.
According to release notes on Apple’s website, macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 “addresses an issue that may prevent the battery from charging in some 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro models.” Apple advises that everyone install these updates in order to prevent the battery issue from happening to other 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pros.
How to Update Your Mac
To update the macOS software on your Mac to the most recent version, go to System Preferences > Software Update. If you see a message saying that any updates are available, click the “Update Now” button to install them. You might be asked to enter your administrator password to finish updating your Mac.
If you’d like your computer to automatically download and install future updates, select the option “Automatically keep my Mac up to date” in the Software Update window. You will be notified when pending updates require a restart, and you can opt to install those later.