Mac Option Key tip #02: the Battery Status Menu

Updated April 21st, 2020.

(Second in a series.)

If you hold the Option key down before you click on the battery icon in the menu bar (Mac laptops only) you will see “Condition: Normal” (I hope) or “Replace Now” or “Replace Soon.” And, if you actually do choose that “Condition: ” menu item you’ll get a Help screen that gives you some explanation. Pretty neat.

If your battery is in terrible shape it will say “Service Battery” whether you hold the Option key down or not. Like it does on my Mac. Waaaaaaah.

This battery needs service. Discovered by holding the Option key and clicking on the Battery icon in the menu bar.
Service Battery!

By the way, when an Apple laptop’s battery goes bad it tends to swell. When it swells, it pushes up on the bottom of the trackpad, sometimes causing clicks all by itself. See this article by me for more on that.

BONUS: that “Show Percentage” item in the Battery Status menu is nice to have checked, as long as you have room in your menu bar.

That’s two.


Click here to see all of my blog posts involving the Option key. Save yourself time and effort with the tips in those posts! Copyright 2008-2023 Christian Boyce. All rights reserved.

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