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Shutdown MacBook, it is necessary?

MacBook Pro on top of a table with a few books at the back.

Here are a few considerations :

Convenience: Sleep mode allows your MacBook to quickly resume its previous state when you open the lid or press a key. This means you can quickly start using your MacBook without waiting for it to boot up. If convenience and instant access to your work and applications are important to you, leaving it in sleep mode can be a good option.

Power consumption: When in sleep mode, your MacBook uses a small amount of power to maintain its state. However, it consumes significantly less power than when it is fully on and in use. If conserving energy and maximizing battery life are important to you, using sleep mode can be more energy-efficient than leaving your MacBook fully on.

Updates and maintenance: Some software updates and maintenance tasks, such as installing system updates or running disk utility checks, may require a restart. In these cases, shutting down your MacBook and performing the necessary updates or maintenance tasks is necessary.

Extended periods of non-use: If you’re not planning to use your MacBook for an extended period, such as when you’re going on vacation, it’s generally recommended to shut it down completely. This can help conserve battery life and prevent any potential issues that may arise from prolonged periods of inactivity.

When its necessary to shutdown the MacBook?

MacBook Air with pop-up box message confirming if want to Shut Down the computer

Picture source: UX

Are you experiencing a slowdown or suboptimal performance on your Mac? Over time, your Mac’s RAM can become cluttered with processes and apps, particularly on older models. If it has been several days since you last shut down your Mac, you may notice a decrease in performance.

To address this issue, you can try closing and relaunching apps, closing excessive browser tabs or simply rebooting your Mac. Although macOS efficiently manages memory usage, occasionally a complete shutdown and restart are necessary to give your device a clean slate. This action clears the RAM and resolves any stuck processes, allowing them to resume normal functioning.

Furthermore, it’s important to note that some updates can only take effect upon rebooting your Mac. By regularly shutting down and restarting your Mac, you ensure that all updates are applied, guaranteeing optimal system performance.

Letting MacBook Sleep better than Shutdown?

MacBooks that are in sleep mode can be instantly awakened, allowing you to pick up right where you left off. Just open the lid or touch the trackpad, and your MacBook will light up, ready for use.

Shutting down your MacBook will close all running programs and applications. When you start your Mac again, you’ll need to manually reopen all the apps and programs, unless you have enabled the option to reopen previously opened windows before shutting it down.

MacBook Air with pop-up box message confirming if want to Shut Down the computer and reopen windows after logging in.

Is your MacBook really Sleeping in Sleep Mode?

The answer is no. If the MacBook is connected to a network, it will continue to:

Sync devices.

Automatically update apps such as Mail, Calendar, Notes, Photos, and Contacts and keep iCloud Documents.

Automatically updates the location for Find My, providing a valuable benefit if your device becomes lost or misplaced.

Does MacBook consume battery power in Sleep?

Yes, it does! An M1 MacBook Air will consume around 0.18W per hour in Sleep mode while in idle mode it will consume 3.22W an hour.

Leaving your MacBook in sleep mode is generally safe and shouldn’t cause any concerns. However, Apple advises against keeping the battery fully charged at 100% or fully discharged at 0% for extended periods.

Storing the battery at full charge for a long time can lead to a loss of capacity, resulting in reduced battery life over time. Conversely, storing the battery fully discharged may cause it to enter a deep discharge state, rendering it unable to hold a charge and necessitating a battery replacement.

To maintain optimal battery health, it is recommended to keep the battery level between 20% and 80% for storage purposes. This range helps preserve battery capacity and prolong its lifespan.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your MacBook’s battery retains its efficiency and longevity for an extended period.

FAQ Shutdown MacBook, it is necessary?

Will not shutdown your MacBook cause any damage? The answer is no. However, it’s important to note that keeping your MacBook in sleep mode will consume battery power.

How long can my MacBook Air or MacBook Pro remain in sleep mode? The duration depends on the battery charge. For newer models such as the MacBook Air or MacBook Pro with M1 or M2 chips, they can remain in sleep mode for several days.

What should I be aware of before putting my Mac to sleep? If your battery charge is very low, it is advisable to save all your work and shut down your MacBook to prevent data loss.

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