Batteries fail more frequently in laptops than any other hardware component. In some cases, the battery may lose its ability to hold a charge, requiring the user to keep his or her laptop plugged into a wall outlet. In other cases, it may stop powering the laptop altogether. There are several things you can do, however, to maintain your laptop battery and prolong its life.
#1) Reduce Heat
The hotter your battery becomes, the more likely it is to fail. If you place your laptop against a wall, the fan won’t be able to remove internal heat. As this hot air accumulates inside the laptop, it can degrade the battery. To prevent this from happening, place your laptop in an open area, such as the middle of your desk. Lifehacker even recommends placing laptops on an empty egg carton to further facilitate the cooling process.
#2) Unplug It
Leaving your laptop plugged into the wall typically won’t overcharge the battery, but it may still degrade its powering abilities nonetheless. When plugged into the wall, a laptop will receive electricity from the outlet until its fully charged. This constant flow of electricity changes the battery’s composition and lowers its lifespan. So, avoid plugging your laptop into a wall outlet unless the battery is low.
#3) Enable Power-Saving Mode
Most new laptops feature a power-saving mode. This feature is designed specifically to lower the amount of power used by the laptop. When enabled, power-saving mode may conserve processing power, disable unnecessary programs and perform other energy optimization processes.
#4) Turn Down the Brightness
Another tip to maintain your laptop battery is to turn down the brightness. Backlights consume a significant amount of power. And the brighter you set your computer’s display, the more power it will consume. In addition to protecting your battery from degradation, turning down the brightness will also protect your laptop’s backlight from premature failure.
#5) Avoid Full Charge Cycles
A typical laptop battery is good for about 500 full charge cycles, after which it will no longer hold a charge. What is a full charge cycle exactly? A full charge cycle occurs when a battery has been completely depleted of power and then recharged. You can avoid full charge cycles by recharging your laptop’s battery before it reaches 0 percent.
Following these tips will extend the life of your laptop battery, allowing you to get more use out of it.
