Since the new update to macOS Monterey 12.2 last month, several users have reported that their MacBook’s battery drains overnight. The new macOS Monterey 12.3 (of which the second beta has now been released) fixes this problem.
macOS Monterey 12.3 beta 2
Several MacBooks have been experiencing the same problem since macOS Monterey 12.2. If you don’t charge the laptop at night, the battery will be empty the next morning. The bluetooth connections to an external mouse or keyboard are the problem. A bug in the software causes these devices to wake up the MacBook every so often when you’re asleep. This results in a MacBook that turns itself off and on all night and is completely exhausted in the morning.
The new macOS Monterey 12.3 beta 2 software patch, which addresses these bluetooth issues, is currently only available to beta testers and developers. Do you also suffer from these bluetooth battery problems? We expect macOS Monterey 12.3.2 to be available for every MacBook in March or April.
What can you do now to solve your MacBook’s battery problems?
Although Apple is aware of these slightly too active Bluetooth connections, they do not immediately come up with a solution. The beta tester Mr. Macintosh already has macOS Monterey 12.3 beta 2 tested several times and notices that his MacBook’s battery no longer drains after this update. Clamshell mode is one of the major culprits. Here you use the laptop closed. With this mode, your MacBook is connected to a keyboard, mouse and external screen by default and serves purely as a computer.
An obvious solution is to temporarily disconnect the Bluetooth connection with these devices at night. You can do this easily by clicking on the Apple logo at the top left. Then choose ‘System Preferences’ and click on ‘Bluetooth’. There is the option ‘Turn off Bluetooth’ to prevent the draining battery at the touch of a button.
With this simple solution, your MacBook will get through the night peacefully, but you will have to reconnect your mouse and keyboard the next morning. We have to wait for Apple to fix this bug. The macOS Monterey 12.3 beta 2 software patch will be available soon for the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.