Squeeze more juice from your laptop battery | Little Aussie Communities

Squeeze more juice from your laptop battery

Whether you're working from home, writing that novel at a coffee shop, or binge-watching your favourite shows, your laptop it's a vital part of your digital life. But have you ever felt that sinking feeling when the battery percentage drops faster than you'd like?

May 21, 2024

Manufacturers often provide an estimated battery life, but it can vary depending on how you use your laptop. Intensive tasks like gaming and video editing consume more power, and things like screen brightness, WiFi usage, and background apps also play a role. Here's how you can give your battery a longer life.

Power mode and battery saver

Switching to a more efficient power mode can significantly help your battery. Most Windows laptops offer modes like ‘Battery Saver’ ‘Better Battery’ and ‘Best Performance’. Choosing a more efficient mode when you don't need maximum power can help you conserve energy.

Battery saver mode is great for extending your battery life. It reduces background activity and push notifications and activates automatically when your battery falls below 20%. However, you can manually raise this threshold if needed.

Brightness matters

A bright screen is a notorious battery drainer. Adjust your screen brightness to an acceptable level to reduce power consumption. If your screen has a backlight keyboard, turning off the backlight when not needed will also help extend battery life.

Reduce volume and mute if possible

Sound uses energy, so lower the volume or mute your device when you don't need audio.

Reduce background app activity

Background apps can be sneaky power consumers. Disabling unnecessary apps running in the background will help keep your battery healthy. Check which apps are using the most power and decide if you really need them.

Disconnect devices

Unplugging external devices like USB drives, mice, and headphones when not in use will reduce the laptop battery drain.

Turn off Bluetooth and WiFi

When you're not using Bluetooth or WiFi, switch them off. Wireless technologies are another source of battery drain, so use wired alternatives like Ethernet cables, a mouse, and a keyboard whenever possible.

Disable animations and shadows

While animations and shadows make your laptop look cool, they don't serve a practical purpose and consume battery power. Consider turning them off to save energy.

Sync less

Constant syncing of email, calendars, and contacts can drain your battery quickly. Set your email sync schedule to a longer interval or turn off auto-sync for apps that don't need it.

Monitor battery usage

Use your laptop's built-in tools to see which apps and processes consume the most battery. On Windows, you can generate a battery report that provides detailed insights into what's draining your power and receive personalised suggestions to improve your battery life.

Avoid over charging

Leaving your laptop plugged in all the time can hurt the battery’s longevity. Try to keep the charge between 20% and 80%.

Stay cool

Overheating speeds up battery drain and can damage your battery over time. Make sure your laptop is well-ventilated, and regularly clean dust out of the vents and fan to prevent overheating. Avoid using it on pillows, cushions or blankets that can trap heat.

Turn off your laptop each day

Leaving your laptop on all the time may seem convenient, but it weakens your battery over time. Try shutting down your laptop at the end of each day to maintain your battery's ability to hold a charge.

Keep your operating system updated

Outdated software can cause issues with battery management. Keep your operating system up to date to ensure it's running efficiently.

Use the ‘official’ charger

Using a third-party charger might be tempting, but it can damage your battery in the long run. Stick with the charger that came with your laptop for the best results.

A little tweaking here and there can make a big difference to your Windows laptop's battery life, giving you the power to stay productive (or entertained) for longer periods.

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