Glossary · 用語
Thermal throttling.
Thermal throttling is what happens when your MacBook’s chip slows itself down because it’s too hot. The CPU drops below its rated clock speed to avoid damage — and the same heat also pauses battery charging.
macOS triggers throttling around 100°C internal silicon temp. When charging pauses for heat — separate from throttling, but usually caused by the same condition — the menu bar can read “Not Charging” even with the adapter plugged in. The system isn’t broken; it’s protecting the cells.
Heat is also the single biggest accelerator of battery aging. Industry-standard estimates put the curve at roughly +10°C ≈ halved lifespan. A MacBook left in a hot car or charging on a duvet ages its battery measurably faster than one running warm on a desk.
Common causes: dust-clogged vents, sustained 100% CPU load, sun on the lid, hot ambient temperature, or a video call that won’t release the GPU. Sensei surfaces the live thermal state next to the watts readout — when charge holds steady while plugged in, that’s usually why.