Windows 11 is designed to be the most efficient version of Windows yet, offering a range of settings to help you manage your laptop’s battery performance.
Even if you already have a laptop known for good battery life, everyone wants their laptop to stay charged as long as possible between plug-ins.The great thing is, you can make these adjustments without needing to install extra software, which means they’re both easy and free to do. Keep reading to discover how you can make your PC’s battery last longer.
# 6 .Use Windows’ built-in tools
Windows 11 is designed to be power-efficient, but some of its battery-saving features aren’t enabled by default. To maximize your laptop’s battery life, start by using Battery Saver, which lets you adjust settings like screen brightness and notifications to conserve power. For everyday tasks, switch to the Best Power Efficiency mode rather than using high-performance modes constantly. When not using your laptop actively, Hibernation mode can significantly reduce battery drain. Consider turning off wireless connections or using Airplane mode to further extend battery life, though this may not always be practical in today’s internet-focused work environment.
#5. Avoid extreme temperatures(You might want to find some shade if you like working outside)
Heat can significantly impact lithium-ion laptop batteries, so it’s crucial to avoid exposing them to direct sunlight, high temperatures, or excessive humidity. To maintain battery health, ensure air vents remain clear and free from dust to allow proper airflow. If ambient temperatures are uncontrollable, using a cooling pad with a built-in fan can help reduce laptop temperatures and keep the battery operating within safe limits. Additionally, avoid placing your laptop directly on soft surfaces like your lap, duvets, couches, or cushions, as these can obstruct airflow and cause overheating. Opt instead for a hard tray or table to promote better ventilation and extend battery life.
#4. Limit battery discharge cycles (Learn when to leave it plugged in and when not to)
Laptop lithium-ion batteries have a lifespan of around 500 charge cycles, after which their capacity may diminish to 80% or more. Each charge cycle represents full use of the battery’s capacity, even if it’s accumulated over multiple partial charges. While frequent charging affects battery life over time, it’s not significant until many cycles have passed.
Optimally, lithium-ion batteries perform best when kept between 20% and 80% capacity. Maintaining your laptop battery within this range can prolong its longevity. Some laptops offer software options to limit charging to 80%, which is beneficial for preserving battery health as it ages.
#3. Check your battery health (All the tweaks in the world won’t fix a failing battery)
Finding battery health information on Windows laptops isn’t always straightforward, as it often requires third-party apps or commands. However, Windows offers a built-in battery report accessible through Command Prompt. By typing “powercfg /batteryreport,” you can generate a detailed HTML file. Opening this file in a web browser reveals useful data such as remaining battery time, estimated battery life, and usage patterns. While not the most user-friendly method, this report is invaluable for understanding battery usage and planning for optimal battery life.
#2. Close power-hungry apps (Startup apps can be a huge drain)
Windows apps have a habit of placing themselves on the Startup apps list when first installed, whether you want them to or not. That’s fine if you’re using a desktop PC, or if you never unplug your laptop from the wall, because having those apps running saves time when opening them, making you more productive. When they can become a problem though, is when they are automatically opening on your laptop. Those startup tasks not only make your laptop take longer to boot up, but drain precious battery life in the background while you’re working. My take? Disable everything you see on the Startup apps list, then see how many of them you miss on the next boot. Any apps you find you can’t live without can return to the startup list, and any you can live without will no longer drain your battery life.
#1. Let your laptop suggest other tips (Windows 11 is pretty smart at picking out where you can save power)
If your laptop runs Windows 11, you have access to the Energy recommendations feature, which can significantly improve battery life. Located in the Settings app under Settings > System > Power & battery > Energy recommendations, this feature provides a comprehensive list of optimizations. These range from basic adjustments like setting power modes for efficiency to more nuanced tweaks such as disabling USB devices when the screen is off. Even if you’ve already adjusted some settings, this tool helps ensure you’ve optimized everything possible to extend your laptop’s battery life.
Battery life on Windows laptops doesn’t have to suck
Even the best laptops for battery life, like those powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chips, can do with a little tweaking to get the best possible battery life. Using all the options on this list will stack up to more battery life per charge on your laptop, enabling you to do more work without worry. Keep in mind though that these suggestions are geared towards battery maintenance, so if your battery is already failing, you may need to take it in for battery replacement or other solutions.
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