Charge to 50%, turn it off, and forget about it.

Yes, that’s basically it. Apple’s official recommendation is to store the battery at 50% charge, not fully charged or dead. A full charge stresses the battery chemistry; a dead battery can fall into deep discharge and become unusable. 50% is the sweet spot.

Turn the MacBook off completely (not just sleep). If you leave it on sleep, the battery will drain over months and hit zero. While it’s off, keep it in a cool, dry place — under 80°F is fine, but avoid hot attics or freezing garages. If you have the box, use it. If not, wrap it in something soft to avoid dust and scratches.

That’s it. You don’t need to run the battery down or do anything fancy. Just check on it every 3-4 months and top up to 50% if it’s dropped. Future you will thank you.