macOS 26.4 the latest Mac software update and as well new emoji and a Compact Tab Bar option The new release in Safari also adds three battery-related features. How to use them.
#1: Charge Limit
Batteries deteriorate over time. Therefore, in recent years, Apple has introduced a “Charge Limit” feature for the iPhone that allows you to set a maximum limit below 100%, which can help extend battery life.
With macOS 26.4 there is a Charge Limit Come to Mac too.
You can find the Charge Limit by opening System Settings ⇾ Battery, then clicking the ‘i’ icon next to ‘Charging’.
According to Apple supporting document:
Use Charge Limit to set the limit at which your Mac considers a full charge. Your Mac will charge within a few percentage points of its charge limit, then stop charging and the battery status menu will show “Charged to (%) Limit”. If the battery charge level drops below 5% when plugged in, the charge is recharged to within a few percentage points of the limit.
Apple allows you to set your MacBook’s maximum charge from 80% to 100%. While it’s hard to know how much of a difference a Charge Limit will make to Mac battery life, the idea is that a lower charge limit leads to a healthier battery over time.
#2: ‘Slow charger’ indicator
Another new macOS 26.4 feature you can find in System Settings is ⇾ Battery “Slow charger” indicator.
In fact, if your MacBook is connected to a charger that offers a low charging speed, your Mac will let you know. The ‘Slow charger’ message appears in the battery status menu as well as in System Settings.
If you see the message and want to fix your charging problem, you need to get a new charger to take advantage of the improved speed.
There is Apple official support document describes the minimum recommended charging wattage for each Mac. Here are the recommendations for the latest Macs:
- MacBook Neo: 20W USB-C Power Adapter and USB-C Charging Cable
- MacBook Air: Apple 30W USB-C Power Adapter (13-inch only), 35W Dual USB-C Port Power Adapter, 67W USB-C Power Adapter or 70W USB-C Power Adapter and USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable
- 14-inch MacBook Pro: Apple 67W, 70W or 96W USB-C Power Adapter and USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable
- 16-inch MacBook Pro: Apple 140W USB-C Power Adapter and USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable
You can buy official Apple chargers from the company’s website, but in most cases This is a 100W Anker power adapter is a more cost-effective alternative that will get the job done.
#3: Automate battery charging limit with shortcuts
“Charge Limit” is new in macOS 26.4, but Apple has also introduced a way to change your Mac’s limit through the Shortcuts app.
macOS 26.4 has one in the Shortcuts app new ‘Set battery charge limit’ action you can use.
If you’re at all familiar with the Shortcuts app, you know that there are a variety of ways to use this new action.
You can create single-action shortcuts that change your Charge Limit with a custom keyboard shortcut, for example. Or you can turn “Set Battery Charge Limit” into complex, multi-step shortcuts.
I think a new activity is especially powerful when you automate it. The Mac’s Shortcuts app only recently added the Automation tab that’s been available on iPhone and iPad for years.
With the Automation tab, you can set your Payment Limit to automatically update based on various triggers, such as the time of day.
Planning to use any of the new battery features in macOS 26.4 for Mac? Let us know in the comments.
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