AlDente on Mac: how to set it up
AlDente installs with Homebrew as a cask, so the command is brew install --cask aldente, not brew install aldente. On 2026-10-18, the Homebrew page for the aldente cask listed version 1.39.4, a requirement of macOS 12 or later, and a note that the app updates itself. After installing, open AlDente from the Applications folder, approve its helper tool, set a charge limit, and turn off Optimized Battery Charging in macOS so the two do not work against each other.
That covers the whole setup. The sections below go through each step in order, explain what the cask actually installs, show why brew upgrade leaves AlDente alone, compare AlDente's limit with the charge limit now built into macOS, and end with a clean uninstall that removes the helper and the settings files.
Installing with Homebrew
Homebrew separates command line tools, called formulae, from Mac apps, called casks. AlDente is an app, so it lives in the cask repository.
brew install --cask aldente
On recent versions of Homebrew, brew install aldente without the flag usually finds the cask as well, because Homebrew searches both when there is no formula with that name. Using --cask makes the intent explicit and avoids surprises if a formula with the same name ever appears.
The cask downloads the same disk image the developer offers on its website. Its definition, visible in the cask data, points to a file on apphousekitchen.com and copies AlDente.app into the Applications folder. There is no separate Homebrew build.
To see what is installed and what version Homebrew knows about:
brew info --cask aldente
What the cask tells you before installing
The cask data includes three details worth reading before running the command:
- Minimum system: macOS 12 or later.
- Auto updates: true. AlDente updates itself.
- Uninstall steps: the cask unloads a launch daemon named com.apphousekitchen.aldente-pro.helper, quits the app, removes its login item, and deletes a helper tool at /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools.
The last point explains what happens on first launch. AlDente controls charging through a privileged helper tool, and macOS asks for administrator approval before such a helper can be installed. That prompt is expected.
First launch and the charge limit
The developer's GitHub repository describes the two features of AlDente Free:
- Charge Limiter: set the maximum charging percentage of the MacBook.
- Discharge: run the MacBook on battery even while it is plugged in, to bring it down to the charge limit.
Steps
- Open AlDente from the Applications folder. Its icon appears in the menu bar.
- Approve the helper tool when macOS asks.
- Click the menu bar icon and set the charge limit with the slider.
- Leave the charger connected. When the battery reaches the limit, charging stops and the Mac runs from the adapter.
- If the battery is already above the limit, use Discharge to bring it down while plugged in.
On Apple silicon MacBooks, the repository notes that limits below 80% can be enabled in AlDente's Charge Settings. The default range starts higher.
The same repository states a requirement of macOS 12 Monterey or later, up to macOS 27 Golden Gate, and a supported Apple silicon or Intel MacBook. The developer's FAQ adds that AlDente supports all MacBooks with Apple silicon and most Intel MacBooks from 2013 onward, that version 1.38 and later support macOS 12 through 27, and that macOS 11 Big Sur is supported up to version 1.37.3.
Avoiding a clash with macOS battery settings
The most common setup mistake is leaving the macOS battery features on alongside AlDente. macOS has two of its own, and both decide when to stop charging.
Apple's support article About Optimized Battery Charging and Charge Limit on Mac describes them:
- Optimized Battery Charging requires macOS Big Sur 11 or later. It learns the daily routine and delays charging past 80%. While charging is delayed, the battery menu shows Charging On Hold.
- Charge Limit requires macOS Tahoe 26.4 or later and a Mac with Apple silicon. It sets a limit between 80% and 100%.
Both are in System Settings, under Battery, behind the info button next to Charging. Either can be overridden for a single charge with Charge to Full Now in the battery status menu.
AlDente's FAQ recommends setting the macOS charge limit to 100% and turning off Optimized Battery Charging, so that macOS does not interfere with AlDente. With both macOS features active, two systems decide when to pause charging, and the result can look like AlDente is not holding its limit.
Do you still need AlDente?
On a Mac with Apple silicon running macOS Tahoe 26.4 or later, the built in Charge Limit covers the basic need without installing anything. The differences are in range and extras.
| Feature | macOS Charge Limit | AlDente Free | AlDente Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charge limit | 80% to 100% | Yes, below 80% possible on Apple silicon | Yes |
| Requirement | macOS Tahoe 26.4, Apple silicon | macOS 12 or later, Apple silicon or Intel | macOS 12 or later, Apple silicon or Intel |
| Discharge while plugged in | No | Yes | Yes, plus automatic discharge |
| Heat protection, sailing mode, calibration | No | Listed under Pro in the repository | Yes |
| Price | Included | Free | Paid |
Intel MacBooks and Macs on macOS versions before Tahoe 26.4 do not have the built in Charge Limit, so AlDente remains the practical option there. Anyone who wants a limit below 80% also needs AlDente, since Apple's setting stops at 80%.
Setting it up on several Macs with a Brewfile
For anyone who sets up more than one Mac, or rebuilds a Mac from scratch now and then, Homebrew's Brewfile turns the install into a single line in a text file. A Brewfile lists formulae and casks, and brew bundle installs everything in it.
cask "aldente"
With that line in a file named Brewfile, running brew bundle in the same folder installs AlDente along with everything else listed. Running brew bundle dump on an existing Mac writes a Brewfile from what is already installed, which is a quick way to capture a working setup before moving to new hardware.
The Brewfile installs the app only. The charge limit, the helper approval and any Pro licence still need to be set on each Mac, because those live in the app's own settings and in the system, not in Homebrew. Keeping a short note next to the Brewfile with the chosen limit and the macOS battery settings saves guessing later.
Checking that the limit is working
After a day or two with AlDente running, it is worth confirming that charging actually stops where it should. Three places show it:
- The AlDente menu bar icon shows the current charge and whether charging is paused.
- The battery status menu in macOS shows the percentage and whether the Mac is running on the adapter.
- System Settings, Battery, shows the battery health and its history over the last day and the last ten days. A flat line at the chosen limit while the charger stays connected is the sign that the limit is holding.
If the charge keeps climbing to 100%, check first that Optimized Battery Charging is off and that the macOS charge limit, where available, is set to 100%. The repository also notes that newer versions of macOS run an automatic calibration, during which macOS temporarily charges the battery to 100%. Apple's support article says the same thing from its side: the Mac occasionally charges to full to keep its battery estimates accurate. A single full charge every so often is therefore expected and is not a fault in AlDente.
Updating: why brew upgrade skips AlDente
After installing, running brew upgrade may report nothing to do for AlDente, even when a new version exists. This is intended.
The cask is marked as auto updating, because AlDente updates itself from within the app. Homebrew's default is to leave such casks to their own updater, so brew upgrade skips them. Two ways to handle this:
- Let AlDente update itself. This is the simplest choice and the one the developer supports.
- Force Homebrew to upgrade it with
brew upgrade --cask --greedy aldente.
Mixing the two can leave Homebrew believing an older version is installed after the app has updated itself. brew info --cask aldente shows the version Homebrew recorded. If it lags behind, brew upgrade --cask --greedy aldente brings the record back in line.
AlDente Pro and its prices
AlDente Pro adds, according to the repository, automatic discharge and discharge in clamshell mode, heat protection, sailing mode, top up, calibration mode, control of the MagSafe LED, Apple Shortcuts support, customizable menu bar icons and the pop up window, and email support.
The developer's pricing page, checked on 2026-10-18, showed:
| Plan | Price on the page | Period |
|---|---|---|
| AlDente Free | Free | No limit |
| Pro Subscription | 11.49 euros | Billed annually, renews automatically |
| Lifetime License | 23.99 euros | One time |
| Pro via Setapp | 9.99 per month | Monthly, with other Setapp apps |
The page states that each purchase covers up to three macOS user accounts. Prices are shown in euros on the page, and the displayed currency may differ by region.
Sleep behavior
The FAQ notes that AlDente may temporarily prevent the MacBook from sleeping in some cases: during calibration mode, during discharge, and when Disable Sleep until Charge Limit is active. A blog excerpt on the developer's home page adds that AlDente Free never disables sleep. If a Mac stays awake unexpectedly, these modes are the first thing to check.
Uninstalling cleanly
There are two ways to remove AlDente, and both take care of the helper tool.
From within the app, the FAQ describes: open AlDente Settings, go to General, click Remove AlDente, choose what to delete, and confirm with the password.
With Homebrew:
brew uninstall --cask aldente
This runs the uninstall steps listed in the cask: it unloads the helper, quits the app, removes the login item, and deletes the helper from /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools. Settings files stay in place, which is convenient for a reinstall.
To remove those as well:
brew uninstall --zap --cask aldente
The zap step moves the files listed in the cask to the Trash, including the folder in Application Support, the caches, the HTTP storage, the preference files and a statistics database. Before uninstalling, set the macOS charge limit and Optimized Battery Charging back to the preferred values, because once AlDente is gone, those settings decide charging again.
Keeping the AlDente icon in view when it matters
AlDente lives in the menu bar, and on a MacBook that bar fills up fast. Many people hide the icon once the limit is set, then miss the moment when the battery drops or discharge stops.
A menu bar manager for macOS can keep such icons hidden most of the time and bring them out on a condition, such as the battery falling below a set level or the Mac running on battery power. The features page shows how those conditions work, and the FAQ explains the permissions such a tool needs.
What to change first
Run brew install --cask aldente, approve the helper, set the limit, and turn off Optimized Battery Charging. If the AlDente icon then disappears into a crowded bar, a tool such as Koffret can bring it out only when the battery needs attention.
Frequently asked questions
Why does brew install aldente say no formula was found?
AlDente is a Mac app, which Homebrew distributes as a cask rather than a formula. Use brew install --cask aldente. Running brew update first also helps if Homebrew's local list is out of date.
Is the Homebrew version of AlDente different from the website download?
No. The cask downloads the same disk image from apphousekitchen.com and copies AlDente.app into the Applications folder. Pro licences work the same way in either case.
Should I keep Optimized Battery Charging on with AlDente?
The developer recommends turning it off and setting the macOS charge limit to 100%. Otherwise macOS and AlDente both decide when to pause charging, and the limit set in AlDente may not hold.
Do I need AlDente if my Mac already has Charge Limit?
On an Apple silicon Mac with macOS Tahoe 26.4 or later, the built in Charge Limit sets a limit between 80% and 100%. AlDente is still needed for limits below 80%, for discharge while plugged in, for the Pro features, and on Intel MacBooks.
How do I remove AlDente completely?
Run brew uninstall --zap --cask aldente. It removes the app, the helper tool and the login item, and moves AlDente's settings and cache files to the Trash. Without Homebrew, use Remove AlDente in the app's Settings, under General.