macOS Ventura Battery Drain

Each macOS update brings major new functionalities and features to the user's Mac device. One unfortunate side effect of the expanded capabilities is the additional strain that older Mac devices may experience. As a result, some macOS Ventura users may have noticed occasional slowdowns or increased energy requirements, after upgrading from the previous version. The higher energy draw could lead to increased battery drain and reduced operational time of the device.

The most obvious sign that macOS Venture is the culprit behind the faster battery drain is confirming that the Mac stays on a full charge for a far shorter amount of time when compared to older macOS versions. Users also may hear the fan of the device spinning more frequently, as well as the entire Mac getting hotter much faster. While nothing major, letting the system perform under these conditions for a prolonged period is not recommended. Instead, check the suggestions outlined below and see if they help with the unexpected battery drain on your Mac.

Check if Spotlight or Photos are Indexing

After a fresh update to a newer version, the Mac device may be reindexing some of its databases, such as Spotlight and Photos Library. This is a temporary process and after it has been completed, the device is likely to return to its previous levels of battery usage. To check if this is indeed the reason behind the current issues, follow the instructions:

1. Click the Spotlight icon found in the menu bar.
2. Perform a search in the search box. You can also simply type a couple of characters in it. 
3. When the results window appears there should be a message stating if it is indexing at the moment. 
4. If you don't see such a message for Spotlight, open Photos and confirm that it is up to date. 

Check the Activity Monitor

If neither Spotlight nor Photos can explain the increased battery usage, it is time to check for abnormal processes running on the Mac. A convenient way to do so is via the Activity Monitor. 

1. Go to Applications and select Utilities.
2. Now, find and launch Activity Monitor.
3. Once it is opened, go to the 'Energy' tab.
4. Locate the 'Energy Impact' column and click it to sort the displayed processes according to the battery power they use.
5. If you identify a process taking up a disproportionate amount of energy, select it, and then click on the 'x' in the toolbar. 

Keep in mind that although the process has been stopped for now, it may simply be relaunched the next time you turn on the device. To prevent it from activating on every system boot, users may need to locate its associated launch agent and remove it. 

Additional actions that users may try include closing any unnecessary browser tabs to reduce the pressure on the Mac's CPU and GPU. Of course, the achieved results may vary, as some browsers are way better at handling multiple active tabs than others. Keeping all applications as up-to-date as possible is not only a good cybersecurity practice but it also can resolve any potential issues introduced after updating the macOS.