Some MacBook users have reported that their battery drains much faster after upgrading to macOS Tahoe (macOS 26). In some cases, the battery can drop from 87% to 20% in just a few hours of normal use. This issue may be caused by new macOS settings, background processes, power-hungry apps, hardware behavior, or system indexing tasks triggered after the update.
If your MacBook battery is draining quickly after installing macOS 26, this guide will walk you through effective solutions to help fix the problem.
Before You Begin: Check Battery Health
Make sure your MacBook battery is in good condition: System Settings → Battery → Battery Health → Info. Check Battery Condition and Maximum Capacity. If the battery condition is Service Recommended, software fixes may not help.
1. Check Which Apps or Processes Are Using the Most Battery
Open the Activity Monitor app and review the following: Energy tab — shows apps consuming the most energy. CPU tab — shows background processes using high CPU resources.
High-usage apps and processes will drain your MacBook battery quickly. Quit unnecessary tasks to reduce energy consumption.
2. Check iCloud Sync Activity
If iCloud is enabled, macOS may sync a large amount of data such as: iCloud Photos, iCloud Drive, iCloud Notes, Messages, Contacts, etc.
During heavy syncing, your MacBook may use significantly more CPU and network power. If you notice iCloud processes consuming high energy: Temporarily pause or turn off iCloud sync, or Keep your Mac plugged in until syncing completes.
3. Check Time Machine Backup
When your Mac is connected to an external drive, Time Machine may perform a full or incremental backup. This involves intensive disk read/write operations, which can drain the battery quickly.
You can pause the backup: Click the Time Machine icon in the menu bar. Select Skip This Backup. Consider running backups at a more convenient time when your Mac is connected to power.
4. Rebuild the Spotlight Index
After a macOS upgrade, Spotlight may begin reindexing your entire drive. During this process, battery drain is normal.
To force-rebuild the index: System Settings → Siri & Spotlight, scroll to Spotlight Privacy, add your main disk to the excluded list, remove it again to trigger reindexing. Close System Settings and wait for indexing to finish, restart your Mac afterward. This can resolve ongoing indexing loops that drain battery life.
5. Turn On Low Power Mode
If you want your battery to last longer: System Settings → Battery → Low Power Mode → On
Low Power Mode reduces: CPU performance peaks, Display brightness, Background app refresh, System animations. This can noticeably extend your MacBook’s battery runtime.
6. Update macOS to the Latest Version
If the battery drain is caused by a macOS bug, Apple often fixes such issues in later updates.
Go to: System Settings → General → Software Update. Download and install the latest macOS 26 (Tahoe) updates available.
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