A modern MacBook can generally remain plugged in during use: its battery-management software tracks battery condition, charging habits and changes in power use, and may pause charging temporarily to help limit wear.
The article explains how this charging behavior works, when battery health management is enabled by default (macOS Catalina 10.15.5 and later), and why heat is a key concern.
Heat is the biggest factor affecting battery health. A hot environment combined with charging can put a strain on the battery. Some cases or stands can also cause the computer to overheat. If your MacBook is getting hot, check to make sure its fans aren't blocked.
How your Mac manages charging
Battery Health Management is enabled by default on Mac laptops with macOS Catalina 10.15.5 or later. If you have it disabled, you can enable it from the Apple menu, choosing System Preferences > Battery > Battery Health and selecting Battery Life Management.
How to check the battery
To check its status, open System Preferences and choose Battery > Battery Health. Common indications are Normal and Service Recommended. Apple does not recommend replacing the battery before its capacity drops below 80%.
If you're going to store your MacBook for a long time without using it, Apple recommends keeping it charged to about 50%. If it's left fully charged for a long time, it can lose some of its capacity and last less when you use it.
For the MacBook Air, Apple lists its operating temperature range as 10–35°C. Thunderstorms and power outages are also unusual electrical problems worth considering.
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