The performance of your laptop’s battery depends on the conditions under which it’s used. The older the device, the more likely it is that the battery will start to drain quickly and overheat, even while you are completing the easiest task at work or creating a Hellspin login. As a result, you may find yourself “tethered” to a power outlet, and your laptop may perform poorly due to overheating.
When the situation becomes irreversible, the only solution is to replace the battery, and the cost of an original replacement part can exceed $100. So, it’s cheaper and better to use your device correctly from the start. Here are some useful tips to help you charge your laptop’s battery properly and extend its lifespan.
How to Check Battery Wear
Modern batteries have a low self-discharge rate, can be very compact, and are significantly better than outdated nickel-cadmium counterparts. However, they also have drawbacks: a limited number of charge-discharge cycles and the “aging effect.” Even if you don’t use the device for years, its capacity will gradually decrease. As a result, the battery life will shorten.
It’s easy to understand how worn out the battery is.
Instructions for MacBook
Hold down the Alt key on the keyboard and click on the Apple logo in the upper left corner of the display. In the menu, select “System Information…” — “Power.” The screen will display information about the number of charge cycles your MacBook has gone through, the battery condition, and its capacity.
Algorithm for Windows Devices
How to check the battery wear on a laptop? Simply:
- Press the following key combination: Win (with the Windows logo) + R.
- In the newly opened window, type “cmd.”
- The command prompt will open. Next to the username, there is a blinking cursor. On the same line, without any spaces or line breaks, type “powercfg /batteryreport.”
- The command prompt will display the message: “Battery life report saved to the following location: C:\Users\username\battery-report.html.”
- Open File Explorer (the folder icon on the bottom panel or in the Start menu). At the top of the opened page, there are two input fields. In the long one on the left, you enter the address of the folder or file to find it. In the shorter one on the right, you enter the name of the folder or document for searching.
- In the long input field on the left, delete everything currently there and enter the address that appeared in the command prompt: C:\Users\username\battery-report.html.
- A new window will open, where you need to find the “Installed batteries” section. “Design Capacity” is the original battery capacity, “Full Charge Capacity” is the current capacity, and “Cycle count” is the number of cycles, although it doesn’t always appear.
How to Extend Your Laptop’s Battery Life
If your battery retains over 50% of its original capacity, you won’t need to replace it just yet. With proper usage, the battery can last several more years. These tips help extend its lifespan.
Use Power Saving Mode
Every device has a power-saving mode. Sometimes there are multiple options, or you can customize it yourself. For example, MSI models offer several modes: power-saving, standard, or performance. The latter consumes more battery power.
You can also disable Bluetooth and reduce screen brightness. This will help conserve battery life.
Avoid Using Your Laptop in Extreme Temperatures
The operating temperature range for most laptops is between -20°C and +50°C. Lithium batteries can function within this range. However, at +50°C, overheating and even a fire hazard are possible, while at -20°C, the device may slow down significantly. It’s better to avoid operating at these extremes since optimal performance typically occurs at temperatures 10-15 degrees closer to 0°C than the maximum.
Don’t Store Your Laptop with a Dead Battery
Lithium-ion batteries don’t tolerate being completely discharged. What should you do when you see 0% battery? Immediately plug your laptop into a charger. If you don’t use the device often, check its battery capacity from time to time and give it a slight charge.
Otherwise, deep discharge is inevitable, leading to battery degradation. If your laptop sits forgotten with a 0% charge for several months, it will discharge quickly upon reactivation.
How to Charge Your Laptop Properly
Charge It While It’s Off
Why? It will charge faster than if you’re using it simultaneously, and this prevents additional overheating.
Of course, there are different scenarios. If your room is cool, a laptop cooling pad is in use, and you’re just watching a movie, charging while in use won’t cause issues. However, if you’re running demanding applications, the room is hot, and the charger is connected, this can significantly heat the device, affecting its performance.
Maintain Proper Temperature Conditions
The user manual specifies the minimum and maximum ambient temperatures for charging your device. Usually, this range is from +10°C to +30°C. If the temperature exceeds this range, it may lead to overheating of the charger or battery, causing malfunctions, shutdowns, or even a fire.
If the temperature is too low, sudden shutdowns or charging failures may occur — devices behave unpredictably in cold weather, especially when temperatures drop below 0°C.
Be Mindful of Recharging Cycles
This term refers to a full discharge to 0% and a charge to 100%. Typically, batteries are designed for a certain number of cycles. If your device is connected to the charger for an extended period and the battery is fully charged, it will begin to discharge by 1-2% and then recharge repeatedly. This consumes charging cycles.
Some models have special controllers that stop charging when a certain percentage is reached and resume it when the level drops to a certain point. For example, macOS Catalina 10.5.5 includes an optimized charging option that prevents charging beyond 80%. You can check your laptop’s manual to see if this feature is available.
If it isn’t, it’s better to monitor the battery charge, keeping it from dropping below 40% and rising above 90%.
Use Original Chargers
Aftermarket chargers aren’t the best if you want to extend the life of your device. Non-original chargers may not provide the necessary current, are made from low-quality materials, and are cheaper. Consequently, they are more prone to swelling and overheating, which can damage your laptop’s port or battery.