MacBook Battery Draining Fast After macOS Catalina Update? Here’s How to Fix It

If your Mac started losing battery faster or refuses to charge after updating to macOS Catalina, you’re not alone. Many users have reported shorter battery life, charging problems, and overheating after the update. Thankfully, most of these issues are tied to software glitches or simple settings—and you can fix them without heading to the Apple Store.

Check Which Apps Are Draining Power

After an update, some apps might be using more memory or energy than usual, especially if they’re not optimized for the new macOS version.

Here’s how to find and stop them:

Open Finder.
Go to Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.
Click the Energy tab to see which apps are consuming the most battery.
Quit any high-energy apps you don’t need by selecting them and clicking the X button.

You can also click the battery icon in the menu bar to quickly spot which apps are using significant power.

Clean and Check Your Charger

If your MacBook isn’t charging properly, the issue might be physical—especially if your charging cable or port is dirty or worn out.

Try this:

Disconnect the charger from both the wall and your Mac.
Use a dry cotton swab or soft brush to clean the charging port gently.
Make sure there’s no debris or lint in the MagSafe or USB-C connector.
Try charging from a different outlet or using a different cable if available.

Disable Unnecessary Features and Adjust Settings

macOS Catalina may have re-enabled power-hungry settings during the update.

To tweak them:

Turn off Bluetooth if you’re not using it:
Go to System Preferences > Bluetooth, and switch it off.
Lower screen brightness and keyboard backlight:
Use the F1 and F5 keys (or the Touch Bar) to adjust these levels.
Enable Energy Saver settings:
Go to System Preferences > Battery (or Energy Saver) and choose options like “Put hard disks to sleep when possible” and “Slightly dim the display while on battery power.”

Disable Location Services

Location tracking can be a battery drainer, especially if background apps are pinging your location constantly.

To disable it:

Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy.
Click the Privacy tab.
Select Location Services, unlock the settings, and toggle it off.

Turn Off Automatic App Updates

Automatic updates mean your Mac could be downloading and installing updates in the background—using both battery and data.

To disable auto-updates:

Open the App Store.
Click App Store > Settings in the menu bar.
Uncheck “Automatically check for updates” or at least “Install app updates”.

Don’t Keep Your Mac On All Day

Leaving your Mac on all the time—even when not in use—can wear down your battery unnecessarily.

Do this instead:

Put your Mac to sleep when not in use:
Click the Apple icon > Sleep.
Use Standby mode for longer breaks.

Optimize Battery for Long-Term Storage

If you’re not using your MacBook for an extended period, avoid storing it with a full or empty battery.

Here’s what to do:

Charge the battery to around 50% before storage.
If it’ll be unused for more than six months, recharge it every 6 months to 50%.

Check Battery Health

If your Mac’s battery is old or has been damaged, it may just need to be replaced.

To check battery health:

Click the Apple menu > About This Mac.
Select System Report > Power.
Look for Battery Condition under Battery Information.

If it says “Service Battery”, it’s time to consider a replacement.

Disable Wi-Fi When Not Needed

If you’re working offline, turn off Wi-Fi to save power:

Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar and choose Turn Wi-Fi Off.

Still having issues? You may be dealing with a deeper macOS bug. If you’ve tried all of the above and your battery is still draining rapidly, you might consider:

Resetting the SMC (System Management Controller)
Booting into Safe Mode to test battery performance
Reinstalling macOS Catalina or upgrading to a newer version