Gaming while charging MacBook Pro M4 battery health?

<< I’ve heard that when gaming, it’s actually better not to run the laptop on battery power. >.

nonsense.

That computer is a battery-CAPABLE device, It is not optimized as a battery-operated device (it is not an iPhone.)

Your computer performs best when connected to AC power, such as the power adapter. It can use the full output of the Power Adapter AND when doing especially challenging work could also freely "borrow" power from the battery. In some cases, even with the power adapter connected, the charged state may decline during very stressful work.

When used only on battery, your computer has no extra cushion of power, and may perform more slowly. However, for ordinary non-stressful tasks this may not be objectionable (possibly not even noticeable.)

In general, you should ALWAYS connect a power source when it is possible to do so, and only run on batteries (which could be somewhat slower) when no power sources are at hand. Modern Macs maintain optimum battery charge levels under program control, and will NEVER over-charge. Connected to Power is NOT necessarily charging.

The CHARGER is inside the MacBook Pro, and is completely under program control. Your Mac accepts some power when needs to run, and accepts more power when it intends to charge its internal battery. A power source like the Power Adapter or certain Displays can not 'force itself' on your MacBook Pro. Only the algorithms inside your Mac can decide when is a good time to charge the battery. Your Mac can NEVER be over-charged.

Here is some of Apple's guidance regarding battery health and management:

Batteries - Maximizing Performance - Apple Support

About battery health management in Mac laptops - Apple Support 

In a nutshell, to get the most from your battery:

• Let the OS and charging circuits manage the charging.

• Plug in when using the computer near available power - gaming or not.

• Use on battery when ac is unavailable or when you must be mobile.

• Don’t subject the computer and battery to extreme temperatures.

• Don’t allow the battery to regularly discharge deeply before plugging in. Yes, it may happen from time to time, just don't make it a habit.

• Don’t obsess over battery life and/or health.  

❝Worry is the misuse of imagination.❞ – Zadra

Catalina software 10.15.5 and later for MacBook Pro with T2 chip (2018 models and later) and all Apple-Silicon MacBooks includes a feature called Battery Health Management. Now, based on your usage patterns, this widens the hysteresis to initiate a charge cycle at a lower level, and stop well before 99 percent. 

About battery health management in Mac notebooks - Apple Support

About battery health management in Mac laptops - Apple Support

Battery Health Management feature tracks your usage history and detects that you do not generally run your battery down to low levels. So when you see less than 100 percent as a full charge, it is charging less than the highest level for longest battery lifetime.

NOTE that charging to 80 percent is a side-effect, NOT the GOAL.

The goal is to have some hurly-burly (percolating activity) around using your battery, either by your actually using it, or by leaving it less than fully charged, so that the cells are not 100 percent charged 100 percent of the time. Battery Health Management will also from time-to-time let the battery decline slightly to 'get some exercise' and run lower (thought to be around twice monthly) if you do not do so by your ordinary use.

The feature tracks you actual usage. If you continue to not require 100 percent charge for a few weeks, it generally will revert to a lower "full" level. but it takes some experience, which takes some time

If your recent usage patterns demand top battery capacity, the battery will charge completely to be sure you are not stuck out in the wild with no power.

Executive summary: “If you keep your Mac plugged in continuously for several days, it will start pausing the charge at 80%. If you run a small amount of the time on battery, it will keep doing that. If you run some of the time on battery, it will charge to 100%.” © 2025 neuroanatomist

'They' say a lot of things, and many things 'they' say are irrelevant, wrong, or as our friend @Grant Bennet-Alder accurately posted, "nonsense".

Apple has something to say about their own product. Go back and read again the docs I posted previously.

Your MacBook is not a phone, and you have been provided with good guidance from your peers and from the manufacturer of your laptop.

What you should do is heed this basic guidance:

• Don't over think this.

• Plug it in when you are near ac power and can do so.

• Let the computer manage the charging as designed.

• Don't kid yourself by thinking you can manage the battery better than the system can. The system was designed by those who know their business.

Enjoy gaming on your MacBook Pro, my friend.

No need to stress. Simply use it on AC power whenever it is available, and use it on battery power whenever portability is needed.

razaelo wrote:

I have a MacBook Pro M4, and when I want to play heavy games on it, I plug it into the charger. I wanted to know whether doing heavy tasks—especially gaming—while the laptop is charging can damage the battery in the long run.

At the same time, I’ve heard that when gaming, it’s actually better not to run the laptop on battery power.

What should I do? I’d really appreciate your guidance.

Honestly, as someone who has recently switched from Windows to macOS, I feel quite stressed about this.

The rule of thumb—if you are near the mains leave it plugged in, if you need the portability then run on the battery only—this is how you help optimize your battery charging and extend the working life of your battery by reducing the cycle count.

The 20% - 80% “rule” is vastly overrated. Any attempt to micromanage the charging process in modern, battery equipped devices is an absolute waste of your time.