How to Unlock Hidden High Power Mode on 16″ MacBook Pro M1 Max
Do you own a top performance 16-inch MacBook Pro with the latest and greatest Apple M1 Max processor? You should be aware that your laptop has a hidden “High Power Mode” that you can turn on when doing resource-intensive tasks like 4K or 8K video editing. Here’s what High Power Mode does on the 16-inch MacBook Pro and how to turn it on.
What is high power mode?
Just like your Apple devices have a low power mode to conserve battery power, some Apple laptops have a high power mode that allows you to unleash the full potential of the M1 Max processor. When you turn it on, your MacBook Pro’s fans will turn on and your laptop’s processor will run at full power. By enabling high power mode, you can speed up video export or other heavy tasks on your 16-inch MacBook Pro.
At the time of writing, High Power Mode was only available on the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 Max processor. It works on battery and when the laptop is connected to the charger.
When high power mode is enabled, your laptop’s fans will run at a higher speed to keep the processor cool. This means your laptop will be noisier than usual, which can obviously disturb the people around you, and it goes without saying that the high power mode will probably drain your battery a lot faster than normal.
How to Enable High Power Mode on a 16-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Max
If you feel like you can use the boost, here’s how you can enable high power mode on your 16″ M1 Max MacBook Pro:
- Go to System Preferences > Battery .
- Click the dropdown menu next to Power Mode .
- Select High Power .
How to Check if High Power Mode is Enabled
When your MacBook is in high power mode, you will hear louder fan noise. You can also confirm that your 16-inch MacBook Pro is indeed in high power mode by clicking the Battery icon in the menu bar. Under the Power Source section, you will see High Power Mode: Enabled if it is enabled.
With high power mode enabled, it’s always a good idea to take a couple of precautions to avoid overheating. You should try not to use it for a long time in very hot environments; in the height of summer, you might want to turn the air conditioner up a little higher than normal. Alternatively, you may want to consider using a laptop cooler .