MacBook Air M2 battery drains during sleep due to Bluetooth wakes

The most telling part of your findings isn't the 17% battery loss on its own, but the repeated Bluetooth-related DarkWakes every ~10 seconds, with the Mac awake roughly 75% of the time during those periods.

That pattern suggests the Mac was spending far more time active during sleep than it should. It could explain much of the battery drain, although the logs alone can't tell us exactly how much power was used or what triggered the wakes.

The entry wifibt SMC.OutboxNotEmpty bluetooth-pcie points to activity involving the Bluetooth/Wi-Fi subsystem, but it doesn't identify a specific accessory, application or process. The scheduled maintenance wakes are a separate issue, so I'd focus on the repeated Bluetooth-related wakes first.

Similar behaviour has been reported by other Apple silicon Mac users, but that doesn't confirm a widespread bug in macOS 27.0.1.

Here's how I'd narrow it down:

Test with Bluetooth off. Turn Bluetooth off before closing the lid, then leave the Mac asleep for a similar period. Compare the battery levels before and after. If the drain improves significantly, Bluetooth-related activity is a likely factor, though this won't identify the exact cause.

Check your accessories. If the first test helps, turn Bluetooth back on and disconnect your accessories. Reconnect them one at a time, testing sleep behaviour between each change. Pay particular attention to mice, keyboards and headphones.

Check the logs again. After reproducing the problem, run these commands in Terminal:

pmset -g log | grep -E 'DarkWake|Wake from|Entering Sleep'

To look for additional Bluetooth activity, try:

log show --last 6h --style compact \

  --predicate 'process == "bluetoothd"'

The second command may provide useful clues, but it won't necessarily identify which device triggered a wake.

Test Wi-Fi separately. If disabling Bluetooth doesn't help, repeat the test with Wi-Fi off. This may help distinguish Bluetooth-related activity from a broader wireless subsystem issue.

I wouldn't start by changing pmset power-management settings. It's better to isolate the cause before modifying them.

Apple's guidance on unexpected sleep and wake behaviour is available here: If your Mac sleeps or wakes unexpectedly.

My take: the repeated wakes are the most useful clue, but they don't yet tell us whether an accessory, a macOS issue or the wireless subsystem itself is responsible. If the problem continues even with Bluetooth off, I'd collect the logs and contact Apple 

 Product Feedback - and make it known to Apple regarding this ongoing issue

velurwnu wrote:

MacBook Air M2, macOS 27.0.1

Yesterday I closed the MacBook at 16:42 with 64% and opened it again at 22:54 with 47% — a 17% loss in about 6 hours of sleep. Overnight it also lost a few percent (44% at 23:08 → 41% at 11:57).

So what is different between the 17% loss and only the 3% loss overnight?

Did you turn off Bluetooth devices?

Did you quit apps?

I really hope Apple is aware of issues like this.

Don't expect others are reporting an issue. Report the issue yourself even if the forum is filled with reports. People tend to come here to vent, but most do not actually open a support ticket with Apple & have it escalated. At the very least people should be providing Apple with product feedback here:

Feedback - macOS - Apple

What did stand out in the log: in five stretches (16:42–16:57, 17:37–18:14, 20:00–20:10, 20:18–20:29, 20:42–20:55) the Mac woke up every ~10 seconds — about 490 wakes in ~84 minutes.

That does seem excessive...490 wakes every 10 seconds. I do know that Dark Wakes can be very common and can occur as frequently as every minute or two, and stretched out to maybe 10-20 minutes and during more quiet periods several hours. However, most Dark Wake events only last seconds (usually less than a minute at a time). Make sure you are reading those entries correctly at least on my organization's managed Macs. It is possible personal Macs where iCloud & Photo file syncing is more common could experience different behavior.

Usually the computer is in a low power state during the Dark Wakes so it should not be consuming much energy.

Almost every one was "DarkWake ... wifibt SMC.OutboxNotEmpty bluetooth-pcie", and the Mac was awake roughly 75% of that time. Outside those stretches sleep looked normal (a short wake every ~15 minutes). Wake for network access is off.

Has anyone seen this? What could cause these repeated Bluetooth wakes, and how can I find out which device or process is behind them?

Are you using any Bluetooth devices? External mice, trackpads, tablets, phones, earbuds/headphones, speakers, etc.?

If any of those devices have the manufacturer's third party proprietary software installed, then make sure that software is completely up to date and fully compatible with your exact version of macOS (including patch level). We have seen the Logitech software cause a lot of problems over the past year with many of the minor macOS update patches.

Each DarkWake, Wake, and Sleep event listed in the "pmset" log will report the Battery charge level. When is the battery charge level dropping significantly? Those are the events which should be easier to investigate because the system should be much more active during that period. See my other post here where I show how to filter the "pmset" log:

@HWTech's Instructions for Tracking Battery Drain - Apple Community

Actually, instead of the "pmset" command in that link, try using the following one as it may provide a bit more detail (copy & paste since the filter depends on being exact):

pmset  -g  log  |  grep -E  'Sleep  |Wake  |Notification  |BatteryHealth  '

While reviewing the system log as instructed in my other linked post is a huge pain (thousands of entries per second), it is best to review all entries so you may be able to see what activity is occurring during the high battery drain wake periods which is not occurring during the low drain period. It won't be easy & will drive you crazy because most of those log entries will be repeating non-sense with many sounding scary.

If you don't need Bluetooth, then just turn Bluetooth off in the System Settings. Otherwise, turn off your Bluetooth devices to see if one of them is causing the problem.

And figure out what is different between the two cases you mentioned.....the 17% loss and the 3% loss. It could be something running on your laptop (or not running), a physically connected device (or not), or a wireless/bluetooth device, or something environmental (someone else is there one time & not the next), or something you do differently (closing the lid versus manually initiating Sleep through the Apple menu, etc.). Do you have pets or kids (or even other adults) who may be moving or activating something?

As others have mentioned, connecting the laptop to power whenever possible prevents those battery drains.

The most likely cause of the issue is a rogue bluetooth device: A nearby mouse, keyboard, trackpad, phone, or smart device with a weak connection or a stuck key/signal can flood the Bluetooth controller with handshake requests, even if "Wake for network access" is disabled.

How to Identify the Culprit

Check Bluetooth Activity and Disconnect Peripherals

• Turn off Bluetooth completely in System Settings > Bluetooth or via Control Center before closing the lid for a test sleep period to see if the 10-second wake loop stops.
• If the drain stops, unpair all Bluetooth accessories (mice, keyboards, headphones, third-party trackers) and re-pair them one by one.
• Check for the battery drain after each device is successively re-paired.

More info from Apple: Connect a Bluetooth device with your Mac - Apple Support

Side note: this issue was what our car dealer suggested was the cause of our EV not starting (requiring a 'jump start' for the regular car battery in it) – leaving the car unlocked meant it was repeatedly connecting to one of the phones or the key fob that were in the living space of our house (the garage is on the basement level), and that led to the standard battery being drained (most of the driving is short trips, that were apparently insufficient to fully recharge the standard battery from the EV battery). They suggested keeping the car locked when parked in the garage so it would not keep trying to access our devices. Not sure if that was the issue, but the car has not shown the problem since we started keeping it locked.

MacBook Air M5 — Battery Drain During Sleep and Suspected Bluetooth Wake Activity

Background

The MacBook Air M5 continues to experience excessive battery drain during sleep despite being erased and tested with a clean macOS installation, without installing additional software or restoring from a Time Machine backup.

Since the issue persists, further investigation into macOS power management, Bluetooth wake activity, firmware, and potential hardware faults is warranted.

Recommended Troubleshooting

1. Document battery drain and wake activity

Record the battery percentage before and after a controlled sleep period, the duration, connected Bluetooth accessories, and whether the Mac feels warm when reopened.

Where practical, repeat the test with Bluetooth accessories switched off and compare the results.

To review sleep and wake activity, open Terminal and run: pmset -g log

Look for repeated wake events and their reported causes. Bluetooth-related wake events may provide useful evidence, but do not conclusively establish the cause of the battery drain.

2. Try a DFU Revive first

Given that the issue persists after a clean installation, a DFU Revive is a reasonable next step. It attempts to recover the firmware and recovery environment without intentionally erasing user data.

3. Consider a DFU Restore

If the problem persists after a Revive, a DFU Restore is a reasonable next troubleshooting step.

Unlike Erase All Content and Settings, a DFU Restore also restores the firmware and recovery components and reinstalls the required software. It erases the Mac, so ensure a current backup is available before proceeding.

After either procedure, set up the Mac as new, without restoring a backup or installing third-party software. Repeat the same sleep tests under comparable conditions.

Interpreting the Results

If the issue persists after a DFU Restore and clean setup, avoid repeating erases and reinstalls without new evidence. The investigation should focus on:

• Repeated or unexplained Bluetooth-related wake events.
• macOS sleep and power-management behaviour.
• Bluetooth or wireless firmware.
• Potential hardware or power-management faults.
• A possible macOS regression affecting the M5 MacBook Air.

Request for Apple Engineering Investigation

The MacBook Air M5 continues to experience excessive battery drain during sleep despite being erased and tested with a clean macOS installation, without additional software or a Time Machine restoration.

Bluetooth-related wake activity is suspected, but the underlying cause remains unconfirmed.

Please investigate the sleep and wake behaviour, including Bluetooth activity, power management, firmware, and potential hardware faults.

If the issue persists after a DFU Revive and, if necessary, a DFU Restore, please document the results and escalate the case to Apple Engineering to determine whether this is a macOS or firmware defect, a Bluetooth-related issue, or a hardware problem.

The objective is to identify the underlying cause rather than repeat troubleshooting steps that have already failed.

If the Mac is covered by warranty or AppleCare, contact Apple Support before performing a DFU Restore so the troubleshooting history can be documented and hardware diagnostics considered.

Apple Support References

• Erase: Erase a Mac with Apple silicon

• Backup: Back up your Mac with Time Machine

• DFU Revive / Restore: Revive or restore Mac firmware

• Battery settings: Change Battery settings on a Mac laptop

If the user ( @ eyecloud-anuj ) believes this current issue stems specifically from macOS 27 Golden Gate and / or the M5 MackBook Air

For a thorough test of both Golden Gate / Hardware and to  determine the possible root cause of all the computer issue.

For Apple Silicon computer >> Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon.

Use the Erase All Content and Settings feature to quickly and securely erase all settings, data, and apps, while maintaining the operating system currently installed.

Always make a Time Machine backup before proceeding.

Run the computer without installing any additional software and without restoring from your Time Machine backups.

Run the computer in this mode for a reasonable period of time report back if the previous issue reoccur.

Should the battery drain occur, be sure to mention to Apple Engineering the above circumstances in which this issue has re-occurred

Owl-53 wrote:

If the user ( @ eyecloud-anuj ) believes this current issue stems specifically from macOS 27 Golden Gate and / or the M5 MackBook Air

For a thorough test of both Golden Gate / Hardware and to  determine the possible root cause of all the computer issue.

For Apple Silicon computer >> Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon.

Use the Erase All Content and Settings feature to quickly and securely erase all settings, data, and apps, while maintaining the operating system currently installed.

Always make a Time Machine backup before proceeding.

Run the computer without installing any additional software and without restoring from your Time Machine backups.

Run the computer in this mode for a reasonable period of time report back if the previous issue reoccur.

Should the battery drain occur, be sure to mention to Apple Engineering the above circumstances in which this issue has re-occurred

This issue has persisted since macOS 26, which came preloaded on this Mac. And still persisting in macOS 27, despite clean installing several times. Even the Service Center also clean installed the OS from their end.

Nothing works at all. I already tried whatever I could from my end, so I won't have to submit it to the Service Center. But eventually, I had to seek Apple Support's help, which resulted in total disaster, despite Executive Relations' intervention.

Since there are so many Mac users going through the same rough time (Apple Discussion & Reddit), I think Apple might be aware of this issue, and is working for patch from their end. Which is why they couldn't provide me with a final resolution, despite being in coordination with them for more than a month.

Rest, I have no idea when this issue is going to finally end, or if it's going to be lifelong. But I do know that it's very real and it's significantly impacting the User Experience, making the machine unreliable.

My advice is to plug in the computer whenever possible. Also, shut down the computer when not in use.

Welcome to the club, man.

MacBook Air M5, purchased in July.

First noticed this issue on September 3.

It's been more than a month, 14 days at the service center, and still no proper resolution. Then I brought it back, as my workflow was highly disrupted. I continued sending the diagnostic data from my end, working side-by-side with the Technical Support. That didn't help. Then I even reached out to Apple Executive Relations. Finally, someone intervened on October 9. The case was transferred to the Executive Relations team in Hollyhill, Ireland. The engineering team kept asking for logs repeatedly, and eventually, today, they told me, "We found no issues, the Mac is working as it should."

Yet, the battery is draining overnight by 15-20%.

Don't expect others are reporting an issue. Report the issue yourself even if the forum is filled with reports. People tend to come here to vent, but most do not actually open a support ticket with Apple & have it escalated. At the very least people should be providing Apple with product feedback here:

Feedback - macOS - Apple

I did report to the internal engineering team. I've been in coordination with them since September 12, sending logs every 3rd day, yet they're unable to diagnose, despite multiple attempts to follow diverse diagnostic steps.

My MacBook Air M5, purchased in July, started facing this issue on September 3. I tried fixes myself, but didn't work out properly. So I submitted the laptop at Service Center. They kept it for 14 days, and still couldn't fix it. So I brought it back, as my work flow was disturbed. I was still in coordination with the Technical Support who were sending the logs to the internal engineering team on my behalf, it continued for another 14 days, but with 0 solution.

Then I reached out to Executive Relations, I was approached by Hollyhill, Ireland team. They took over this case, assigned a dedicated person of their own for coordination, engineers demanded the different logs again.

And yesterday, they finally came with the solution that the Mac is working fine as it should. Yet, the drain is happening, regardless the device is on sleep mode or switched off or wifi/bluetooth is on or off.

Tell me, how much does you Mac drain overnight on sleep mode, including even when it's switched off. Because I analyzed my colleague's and friend's silicon Mac, it hardly drains at all.

If the hardware is fine, mac is working fine as it should, then why is the drain happening? There gotta be an explanation for it.

Request for Apple Engineering Investigation

The MacBook Air M5 continues to experience excessive battery drain during sleep despite being erased and tested with a clean macOS installation, without additional software or a Time Machine restoration.

Bluetooth-related wake activity is suspected, but the underlying cause remains unconfirmed.

Please investigate the sleep and wake behaviour, including Bluetooth activity, power management, firmware, and potential hardware faults.

If the issue persists after a DFU Revive and, if necessary, a DFU Restore, please document the results and escalate the case to Apple Engineering to determine whether this is a macOS or firmware defect, a Bluetooth-related issue, or a hardware problem.

The objective is to identify the underlying cause rather than repeat troubleshooting steps that have already failed.

If the Mac is covered by warranty or AppleCare, contact Apple Support before performing a DFU Restore so the troubleshooting history can be documented and hardware diagnostics considered.

I stumbled upon this DFU concept yesterday during the research, and it seems worth a try.

Since you also recommended it, I'll give it a try.

And speaking of the Engineering team, I mentioned earlier that I've been in coordination with them since September 12, 2026. I have mentioned everything that's happening, including noticing the time and percentage of drain during observation, terminal logs, Apple Capture Data, and sysdiagnose data by pressing multiple keys at once.

They just cannot figure it out. However, they didn't mention anything about DFU or firmware-related issues. They just quoted that the We dind't find any hardware defect. The Mac is working fine as it should. However, I have pushed the Executive Relations team to investigate it more thoroughly, as it's not an ideal response to such a critical issue, which has been happening for more than a month.

Moreover, my issue isn't related to Bluetooth. Bluetooth is always off. I don't use it at all. And it doesn't even seem like WiFi, as I have tested multiple times with WiFi on and WiFi off, and didn't notice any difference in the drain percentage.

Predicated on the placement of the Original Question and the very Nature of the Original Question

Any and all suggestions where and are based on the Original Issue " MacBook Air M2 battery drains during sleep due to Bluetooth wakes " with the exception to your configuration being a M5 MBA

Personal have the M6 MBA originally arrived New From Apple on Apr 24, 2026 with macOS 26.2 ( 25C56 ) and subsequent updated and upGraded to macOS macOS 27.01 ( 26A434 )

Can not relate to the issued that you have presented

It appears to be a localized and unique issue related to your setup

As for anyone from Apple Suggesting DFU mode

As no one but yourself and the Apple Rep are privy to those conversations

We are not in a position to comment any further as to what was or not said