How to Extend Laptop Battery Life

May 20, 2024, 01:56 PM
by Md. Mehedi Hasan

UNB News
Publish- May 20, 2024, 01:56 PM
Md. Mehedi Hasan
Update- May 20, 2024, 02:41 PM

Representational image: UNB Digital

The short battery life of a laptop can be annoying for the user. Laptops have gained popularity mostly for their mobility. Users can take laptops outdoors or far from charging ports and do their tasks. However, when a laptop's battery gets weaker it hampers its mobility. In most cases, they need to use laptops while plugging them in. This issue is limiting. But with just a few tweaks in daily use, you can ensure a long-lasting battery life for your laptop.

What Is Laptop Battery Life?

A laptop battery is a rechargeable device that powers a laptop without needing to be plugged into a power outlet. Located on the underside of the laptop, it is easily replaceable. There are different types of laptop batteries such as nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, and the most common, lithium-ion, which is preferred for its higher energy density, longer lifespan, and lighter weight.

Typically, a laptop battery lasts between 2-5 years or 300-500 charge cycles, depending on its type, age, and usage. Factors such as frequency of use, running applications, and power management settings can affect its longevity.

Tips to Increase Laptop Battery Life

Never Reach Zero

To extend your laptop's battery life, don't let it drop to zero. Many people also ask if they should charge their laptop to 100%. The answer is no. A full recharge can be as harmful as letting it drop to zero.

The only time you should let your battery drain completely is when you're installing a new one. This helps calibrate the battery gauge for your device.

Optimize Your Battery Setting

Your laptop has settings to help extend battery life. If your battery dies quickly, try this: type "battery" in the Windows search bar at the bottom left of your screen. This will open a window where you can turn on "battery saving options" and find other ways to improve performance.

Lower your screen brightness. Look for a function key on your keyboard with a sun icon. Press it and use the arrow keys to reduce brightness. You can also find this setting by searching "display brightness levels" in the Windows search bar.

Close Energy Consuming Applications

Closing energy-draining applications on your laptop helps the battery last longer. To save battery, close applications that are not in use. Typing "battery usage" in the Windows search bar shows which apps use the most battery.

For example, Google Chrome might use 45%, Microsoft Excel 21%, and Microsoft Word 9%. Closing the biggest battery drainers, like Google Chrome, can help. Another tip is to switch the laptop to airplane mode to reduce battery consumption.

Adjust Display and Graphics Settings

A graphics processor on a laptop can drain the battery significantly. Opening the "battery usage" screen will show how much battery it consumes. If the usage is high, adjusting graphics settings can help save battery power.

For instance, reviewing program settings and assigning different applications to specific graphics processing chips can reduce battery load. Games can be aligned to a discrete graphics card, while everything else can be set to use integrated graphics.

Ensure Good Air Circulation

Placing your laptop in a bag is convenient but can interfere with airflow, reducing battery life. The material can block the battery ventilation ports, causing faster wear. Before putting your laptop in its bag, power it down or switch to standby. Once you arrive at your destination, unpack your laptop. Use a flat, hard surface like a desk instead of a softer one, like your lap, to improve airflow and conserve battery life.

Additionally, dirt and debris can clog ports and force the battery to work harder. Compressed air can easily remove dust and help normalize battery consumption.

Go For an SSD

Replacing your laptop's hard drive with a solid-state drive (SSD) can make a big difference. A laptop will go from slow to fast, like a total transformation. With an SSD, everything runs quicker, so you can open files fast and finish tasks in no time, which also helps save battery life.

Plus, SSDs use flash memory, which uses much less power than traditional hard drives. This means your laptop's battery will last longer with an SSD.

Use Updated Operating System

When you update your operating system, it doesn't just give your laptop new features; it also boosts performance. This makes programs run smoother, helping to save battery power more effectively.

Moreover, updating your OS might introduce advanced power-saving modes that further optimize battery usage. Additionally, you might get a smart charging mode that improves how your laptop charges, making it more efficient.

Conclusion

By maintaining a few guidelines, users can significantly extend the battery life of their laptops. From simple adjustments to more substantial upgrades, there are various strategies available to optimize battery performance and enhance overall efficiency. Whether it's avoiding full charging, adjusting settings, closing energy-draining applications, or upgrading hardware, each recommendation plays a crucial role in maximizing the battery lifespan of a laptop.