How to Use New Battery Settings in macOS Big Sur? Improve Battery Life

Apple included a number of new features in the latest Mac operating system called macOS 11 Big Sur. The current Macintosh operating system is inspired by iOS 14 and iPadOS 14. Some iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 functional features were added in macOS Big Sur. In iOS and iPadOS 14, you have a new update in Control Center, Notification Center, and much more. So, the same features and update was included in macOS 11 Big Sur.

There are multiple new improvements and the major update comes in the Safari web browser. However, you can customize the Safari start page or you can set a new Safari wallpaper in macOS Big Sur, Control Center, Notification Center, and the main point that we are discussing in this article is a new battery setting. In macOS 11 Big Sur you have the option to customize new battery settings to enhance battery life.

Without new battery settings, you have many other new settings that need to customize it. But, in this article, I will guide you on how to use/customize the new battery settings in macOS 11 Big Sur to improve battery life.

How to Use New Battery Settings in macOS Big Sur?

In the latest Mac operating system, Apple introduced a new battery usage tools and a comeback of battery life quotation. But, in macOS Big Sur the Network Utility tool deprecates.

In macOS 11 you can find a new battery Usage History feature in System Preferences that provides users the spoon on their Mac’s battery life over the past 24 hours or 10 days. The pane breaks that down in addition to Battery Level and Screen On Usage, however doesn’t provide granular detail for person apps.

The previous option in the Energy Saver pane is replaced with the new options in the updated Battery section, along with a new Battery and Power Adapter sections was updated in macOS Big Sur. Besides that, Apple brings back the battery ‘time remaining’ features. Such as the iconic Mac startup chime.

In the first developer beta, Apple deprecates the Network Utility tool in macOS Big Sur. This feature gives details, tips, and tools for users to check the network connections.

So, there are six steps to use new battery settings in macOS Big Sur, and one by one I will describe it for you.

#1: Check Battery Time Remaining Estimation

Now you can check your Mac battery time remaining estimation in macOS 11 Big Sur. Simply, tap on the battery icon on the top menu bar. Here you will see a menu pop-out displaying the battery time remaining estimation along with different useful data. In this menu, you can find the apps that eat the significant battery on your Mac.

Apple gives you the option to take control of those applications that are using significant energy on your Mac. If you want to improve your battery life then manage the application.

How to Use new battery Settings in macOS Big Sur — Check Battery Time Remaining Estimation

#2: Check Battery Usage History

In macOS 11 Big Sur, you can check the battery usage history in order to know how the battery is performing. With this feature, you can find the battery drain issues in your Mac whenever you want. So, this option may be helpful in giving a greater perception.

Tap on the battery icon from the top menu bar and click the Battery Preferences.
From the sidebar, tap on Usage History.
Here, you have options to check the battery usage history. Whether you want to check out the energy usage of the past 24 hours or last 10 days. Simply tap on the option to show the usage history.

So far, macOS Big Sur is in beta version and it doesn’t show the application details that used the battery. So, we hope Apple should include the detail in the upcoming macOS 11 version.

#3: Change Battery Preferences to Improve Battery Life

In this option, you can customize the battery preferences to enhance battery life on your Mac. Here how to do it.

Tap on Battery Icon from the top menu bar and click the Battery Preferences.
Tap on the Battery option from the sidebar.
Here, you have 4 options to enhance the battery life on your Mac.
- Show Battery Status in Menu Bar: If you want to see the battery status of your Mac in the menu bar. Then, check the Show Battery Status in Menu Bar.
- Turn Display off After: This option is necessary to keep shorter auto-lock time. You can set the time to turn off display after 1-5 minutes, This option can improve the battery life on your Mac.
- Slightly Dim the Display While on Battery Power: If you are curious to improve the battery life of your Mac by cutting down all the useless apps. Then, check the box for it and it will turn off all the unnecessary things on your Mac.
- Enable Power Nap While on Battery Power: This option is the best one to protect the battery life on your Mac system. Hands down, by checking this option you can get a new email, calendar, and other iCloud pictures while your Mac is in sleep mode.

Customize Battery Settings — Customize Battery

#4: Change Power Adapter Preferences

In macOS Big Sur, Apple included such handy features that you can boost the battery life of your Mac notebook. Here, you can take control of the power adapter preferences.

Tap the battery icon from the top menu bar and click the Battery Preferences.
Tap the Power Adapter from the sidebar and change its options.
Here you have 5 options to enhance the battery life of your Mac
- Show Battery Status in Menu Bar: This option is recommended for your Mac, iPhone, and iPad. This will help you to check the battery status.
- Turn Display off After: This option allows you to set the auto-lock of your Mac. Simply move the slider left or right to adjust the auto-lock-time.
- Prevent Computer from Sleeping Automatically when the Display is off: If you don’t want your Mac to sleep while the display is off then check the box for it.
- Wake for Network Access: I recommend to check this box to make your Mac desktop wake for network access.
- Enable Power Nap While Plugging into a Power Adapter: Simply check this box to make your computer take a Power Nap when plugging into a power adapter. Remember, your Mac can backup using Time Machine and periodically check for things such as email, calendar, and iCloud updates.

Customize Battery Power Adapter on Mac — Battery Power Adapter

#5: Schedule Your macOS Big Sur to Start-Up

In macOS 11 Big Sur battery settings, you will have an option to schedule your Mac computer to start up or wake at a preferred time. In case, you want your Mac to be ready at a specific time and automatically go to sleep mode. Then, this feature can help you.

Tap the battery icon from the top menu bar and click the Battery Preferences.
Tap the Schedule option from the sidebar.
Now customize the start-up or wake time table.

New Battery Settings Schedule — Battery Schedule

Show Battery Percentage in Menu Bar

In macOS 11 Big Sur, Apple hides the battery percentage and no longer you see in the menu of the battery icon. However, the battery percentage is one of the helpful features for all devices. This will help the device owner to plug the charger when the battery charge is low.

You don’t need to worry, here how you can get it back. Simply, go to System Preferences and click on Dock & Menu Bar. Here, tap on Battery from the sidebar and tick the box for show Percentage. Now, you will have the percentage in the menu bar of the battery icon.

Show battery percentage in macOS 11 — Show Battery Percentage

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Conclusion

So, these are the method or steps that help you to boost your Mac battery life. In macOS 11 Big Sur you can use the new battery settings to enhance the battery life and cut down the useless applications or other things in Mac. For me, this feature is handy and I thank Apple for updating this feature in the latest macOS 11 Big Sur.