Important!
This feature works differently depending on your MacBook model.
Three different categories:
- Apple Silicon MacBooks
- Intel MacBooks with Thunderbolt 3 ports
- Intel MacBooks without Thunderbolt 3 ports
You can find out here which category your MacBook model belongs to.
1. General explanation Apple Silicon MacBooks
When your MacBook is powered off, apps cannot run and make any changes. Therefore, AlDente is not able to make any changes to the charging behavior of your MacBook while it is powered off. As a result, your MacBook will always charge to 100% when it is plugged in and powered off, regardless of the set Charge Limit in AlDente. Due to Apple Silicon MacBooks resetting internally when they are shut down, it is not possible to stop or limit charging when they are shut down. The only way to avoid letting your MacBook go to 100% is to not shut it down and let your MacBook go to sleep instead or to unplug it before you turn it off.
2. General explanation Intel MacBooks with Thunderbolt 3
When your MacBook is powered off, apps cannot run and make any changes. Therefore, AlDente is not able to make any changes to the charging behavior of your MacBook while it is powered off. As a result, your MacBook will always charge to 100% when it is plugged in and powered off, regardless of the set Charge Limit in AlDente. Therefore, we implemented the feature “Stop charging when powered off”. When this feature is activated, AlDente will stop charging right before your MacBook is powered off. As a result, your MacBook will stay at the current battery percentage it had just before it got shut down. Therefore, the battery will not charge to 100%.
Example 1
Your MacBook is plugged in and the battery percentage is at the set charge limit of 80%. “Stop charging when powered off” is activated and you shut down your MacBook. AlDente will keep your charging paused even while your MacBook is powered off. When you open the turn-on and start using your MacBook again, the battery percentage is still at 80%.
Example 2
Your MacBook is plugged in and currently charging to the set charge limit of 85%. “Stop charging when powered off” is activated and you shut down your MacBook. At exactly the moment when you shut down your MacBook, your battery percentage was 67%. AlDente will pause charging right before the MacBook gets powered off and will keep the battery percentage at 67%. When you turn on and start using your MacBook again, the battery percentage is still at 67% and charging will begin again until the set charge limit of 85% is reached.
Special Scenario: Using Intel MacBooks With Thunderbolt 3 with Intel Mode enabled
Due to the Intel Mode using a different technical pathway of controlling charging, macOS does not need to be running in order for AlDente to be able to stop charging when the charge limit is reached. Therefore, your MacBook will stop charging at the set Charge Limit even when it is in Sleep, when you turn it off, or in Windows through Bootcamp. You can read more about the Intel Mode here.
3. General explanation Intel MacBooks without Thunderbolt 3
The technical pathway of controlling charging on Intel MacBooks without Thunderbolt 3 does not require macOS to be running in order for AlDente to be able to stop charging when the charge limit is reached. Therefore, your MacBook will stop charging at the set Charge Limit even when it is in Sleep, when you turn it off, or in Windows through Bootcamp.
Charge Limit Inaccuracies After Sleep Or Powered Off
Due to the different technical pathways, we are using for these devices to control charging, the real charge limit might deviate by a couple of percent from the charge limit set in AlDente. This is due to this mechanism always using the Hardware Battery Percentage and not the one macOS is showing you. Therefore, if you have the feature Hardware Battery Percentage activated, the real charge limit will be much more accurate as well. You can read more about the Hardware Battery Percentage here.
Example 1
Your MacBook is plugged in and charging, and the current battery percentage is 65%. The Charge Limit set in AlDente is 80% and the feature Hardware Battery Percentage is also enabled. You close the lid and your MacBook goes to Sleep. It will continue charging to the set Charge Limit of 80% and stop automatically when the Charge Limit is reached. When you open your MacBook after a while again, the battery percentage will be 80%.
Example 2
Your MacBook is plugged in and charging, and the current battery percentage is 60%. The Charge Limit set in AlDente is 80% and the feature Hardware Battery Percentage is also enabled. You turn off your Macbook. It will continue charging to the set Charge Limit of 80% and stop automatically when the Charge Limit is reached. When you turn on your MacBook again after a while, the battery percentage will be 80%.
