MacBook Air shuts down at 40% battery despite 100% health

The classic engineering question for aberrant behavior is, "Do we have a real problem or a reporting problem?"

For potential power management issues, resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) often corrects reporting issues. Instructions here, but be certein to use those for Apple Silicon:

Reset the SMC of your Mac - Apple Support

However, you are under warranty so must have Apple evaluate. When I had an older Mac laptop start shutting down at ±40% after only 11 months, it proved to be a defective battery. Caught just in time for the warranty to cover.

A MacBook Air shutting down when the battery still shows around 40%, then showing around 10% after you plug it in, is worth looking into. 

The 100% Battery Health reading alone does not tell us why this is happening.

First, make sure macOS is fully up to date. Then go to System Settings >> Battery >> Battery Health and check that the condition says Normal, rather than looking only at the 100% capacity figure. Apple: Check battery health

Next, disconnect any USB-C hubs, external drives, displays, or other accessories and use the Mac on battery again. 

Make a note of the battery percentage when it shuts down and see whether the same thing happens again. 

Apple recommends disconnecting peripherals when investigating unexpected shutdowns. Apple: If your Mac restarted because of a problem

If it happens again, try Safe Mode. Shut down the Mac, hold the power button until Loading startup options appears, select your startup disk, hold Shift, and choose Continue in Safe Mode. 

Then use the Mac normally for a while and see whether the shutdown occurs again.

If the problem continues, run Apple Diagnostics. 

Shut down the Mac, hold the power button until the startup options appear, then hold Command (⌘)-D.

If a reference code appears, make a note of it. Apple: Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac

If the Mac keeps shutting down at roughly the same battery percentage, I too would also suggest having Apple Support or an Apple Authorized Service Provider take a look. 

Have the computer evaluated by the Professionals who have the Special Hardware Software and Expertise to diagnose the issue and offer possible solutions

Make an Appointment at the Apple Genius Bar or call 1 800 MyApple and have them evaluate the computer

Other location Call Centres 

 Contact Apple for support and service

Your MacBook Air shutting down when the battery is still around 40–45% isn’t expected. The fact that it then shows about 10% after you connect the charger and restart it is also important.

Even though Battery Health shows 100% and Normal, that does not explain why the Mac is shutting down. Since you are  already tried Safe Mode and the other relevant troubleshooting steps, I would have Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider run Apple Diagnostics and examine the Mac. 

Apple’s repair documentation for the 2025 M4 MacBook Air includes troubleshooting for battery, power, and intermittent shutdown issues.

When you take it in, I’would explain it like this:

“My MacBook Air repeatedly shuts down when the battery is around 40–45%. After I connect the charger and restart it, the battery indicator shows around 10%. Battery Health reports 100% maximum capacity and Normal.”

Also mention that the Mac was purchased this year, that this has happened repeatedly at roughly the same battery level, and that most recently it stayed at 99% for an unusually long time before showing 100% after a restart. Those details may help the technician investigate the problem, although they do not  establish what is causing it.

At this point, I would not keep trying additional resets. Having Apple or an authorized service provider diagnose it is the sensible next step.

Click the Support link, then proceed through the options that result in arranging to have the Mac evaluated. Most likely, its battery needs to be replaced.

Everything starts with Support.

Hi ,

Yes I was having the same issue and it got resolved ...... what I did was that I visited Apple Store and showed them my recorded video of my Mac and then they submitted my laptop for three days and they reinstalled the macOS. the only problem I faced was that my data was erased because of reinstalling the macOS but yes my Mac is perfectly fine now... they told me sometimes software updates not get properly download which cause some issues so the solution is reinstalling the updates.....

That is not normal behavior. Contact Apple to have it evaluated. Use the Support link on these pages.

I have submitted my MacBook at the official Apple Store, and they told me that they would inspect the device and inform me about the issue and the next steps. They also mentioned that my MacBook is out of warranty and advised me to contact Apple Support. When I contacted Apple Support, I was told that a free repair might be possible as an exception. I would suggest you to do the same incase you might find any more issues in your mac or battery……

Hi, I recommend just taking your Mac to the store (either iStyle or any store who has authorized service provider) and they will help you

As I haven't been home recently, I just took it to iStyle today, and they told me that it is a classic battery occurence, and asked me if I noticed some parts of my Mac lifting up (which I haven't). They will just send it to service and I suppose change the battery, but I'm not sure how much it can cost as your warranty has expired.

Hi! I brought my Mac to the iStyle store, but I was told that I need to send my Mac to another city for service. When I contacted the service through mail, I was told that the fix would last between 2 weeks and 1 month, and first of all my warranty was expiring that week and I needed my Mac so I couldn't not have it for more than I week, I didn't send it. Same problem is still reocurring, but I'll be able to travel to that other city next year so then I'll see what can they do and how much will it cost.

Update: Did everything you all told me to try (safe mode, SMC restart, battery health says it's normal as well,...). Last night it shut down again at 45%, and I charged it to 99% at around 9:30pm last night. Now it's 10:12pm next day and it stayed at 99% all day long- and I used it for work, uni, TV show. I tried to restart again and when it restarted, it says now it's charged to 100% lol. So tomorrow I'll bring it to iStyle to ask for their help.

Is your mac fine now ? if yes , what were the steps taken by the service centre ?

I am little nervous as my mac is no more under 1 year warranty and if they changed your battery then it will happen with me also and it will cost alot in India......

Hello! Not sure if the following question has been answered already, but did the issue get resolved? I'm dealing with the same exact problem with my Mac M4 right now as well and I already went to the Apple Store three times. I'm going again next week because my Mac just died at 46% not so long ago even after they rebooted my software with another Mac the previous time I went. I was wondering, if you did get the issue resolved, do you happen to know what caused it in the first place so I can bring it up with the technician as a probability? Thank You!

I can't find anything on Support to solve this, do you have any other tips I could try?

Hi , I am having the same issue in my macbook air m4, have you got any solution?

Alright, thank you!

Thank you!!