“Why is my laptop battery draining so fast?” If you have a laptop, there’s a good chance you’ve wondered about that. It’s one of the most common questions asked by every laptop user, since laptops came into being.
Most people like to believe that the laptop they’re using has a faulty battery. Actually this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Laptop battery draining is a problem faced by almost everyone, no matter which brand of laptop they use.
In this article I’m going to discuss the probable reasons behind your laptop battery draining faster than usual, and how to fix that.
Reasons Behind Laptop Battery Draining So Fast
One thing to remember about laptop batteries is that they’re an electronic appliance. And like any electronic appliance, they wear out over time. So if you have a laptop that you’ve been using for a long time, and the battery isn’t performing as well as it once used to, then it’s probably a good idea to just replace it.
However, if you have a relatively new laptop, or a new laptop battery, and you’re experiencing a fast battery drainage, then these might be the reasons why.
Display Brightness:
The display is the biggest occupier of your laptop battery. And a lot of people use their laptops on peak brightness levels, draining a huge amount of battery very fast. Because this setting uses a higher amount of charge, extended usage of this has a negative toll on your laptop battery.
Background Processes and Applications:
Your laptop runs a lot of processes in the background. Many of them are optional, even redundant. Perhaps you opened an application, but forgot to close. Chances are, they’re the culprit behind draining your laptop battery.
Excessive Multitasking:
Are you the kind of person who likes to play an online multiplayer game, while blasting loud music on your headphones and keeping 13 tabs open on your browser? If so, then your laptop battery is taking the toll for this one.
Backlit Keyboards:
A lot of high end, and gaming laptops feature backlit keyboards. While they are a blessing for working in a poorly lit or dark environment, they do end up draining a lot of battery.
Network Connections:
Do you use your laptop as a hotspot to provide internet for other electronic devices? If you do, then you should know that having a lot of devices connected to your laptop can drain it’s battery significantly.
Keeping WiFi on Perpetually:
Unknowingly or mistakenly, we often forget to turn off the WiFi settings. Because the setting is turned on, our laptop is always looking for an WiFi network to connect to. This leads to unnecessary battery usage, draining the battery quicker. The same thing can be said about Bluetooth settings.
Unnecessary Peripherals:
Many people use peripheral devices with their laptops, such as headsets, external keyboards and mouses, hard disc drives, or webcams. What they don’t notice is that these casual devices are running off the laptop’s battery. And they need a lot of juice to run.
Overcharging:
Overcharging is the worst thing you can do to damage your laptop battery. Ironically, this is the thing that most people do with their laptops. And it is the most common reason behind laptop battery problems. Many people like to keep their laptops plugged into a charger all the time, despite the battery being at 100% capacity. This accelerates and overheats the battery, damaging it significantly.
Undercharging:
Same as overcharging, many people connect their laptops to a charger when it’s at critically low point. Some disconnect the laptop before it reaches 100% battery levels. This critically damages the battery, shortening it’s lifespan.
Keeping the Battery Inactive:
A laptop battery, like any other battery, deteriorates over time if kept unused. So if you don’t use your laptop after charging, or use it every once in a while, it’ll go stale.
How to Fix the Laptop Battery Draining Fast Problem?
Now that we know the reasons behind your laptop’s battery draining, we’re going to ask the next question.
Are these problems fixable?
Of course they are. All these problems are easily fixable, all by yourself.
Now we’re going to provide you with some easy fixes that’ll help extend the battery life of your laptop.
Adjusting the Display Brightness:
What most people don’t realize, is that we use laptops in well-lit indoor environments. We don’t need peak brightness there. So, it’s a good idea to lower your laptop’s brightness levels. To do this, go to settings > system. Then click display, and adjust your brightness levels. Turn it lower. That should help your battery drain less.
Eliminate Unnecessary Background Processes:
Too many background processes drain your battery. To prevent this, open the task manager on your computer. Click processes. It’ll show you a list of all the programs that are running in the background. Close the programs that are consuming “high” and “very high” amounts of battery. Another way is, go to Settings > Privacy. Scroll down to background apps. You’ll see a list of programs. Turn off the ones you don’t want to run in the background.
Turn on Battery Saver:
This is an easy step to lessen battery drainage. Go to your Notifications bar, there you’ll find an option called Battery Saver. Turn it on. This will dim your screen’s brightness, turn off background activity and give you a longer time on the available charge.
Turn Off Backlit Keyboard:
Even though backlit keyboards help us type in the dark, we don’t always need it. Therefore, it’s a waste of power. To prevent this, simply press Function + F5 to lower the brightness.
Don’t Use Your Laptop as a Hotspot:
Unless it is absolutely necessary, don’t use your laptop as a hotspot. Instead, buy a router. Routers cost less than a new laptop battery.
Turn Off WiFi:
If you’re not using the internet, or if you’re not in an available WiFi link area, then you should turn off your WiFi settings. This will stop your laptop from constantly seeking an internet connection. To deactivate this setting, go to Settings > Network Connections. If you’re connected to a Network, click your right mouse button to disconnect it. If you’re not connected to a WiFi network, just turn the setting off.
Turn Off Bluetooth:
Click on the Notifications bar, and go to Bluetooth. Turn off Bluetooth settings. This’ll prevent your laptop from seeking out any bluetooth based device. If you’re connected to a bluetooth device that you’re not using, disconnect it.
Remove Peripherals:
If you’re not using the external keyboard, or mouse, disconnect it from your laptop. Connect it when you need to. Disconnect it the minute you’re finished. This’ll prevent unnecessary drainage on your part.
Multitask with Caution:
This doesn’t mean you cannot multitask on your laptop. However, some applications are more power hungry than others. Like online gaming, or graphic designing. In these cases, try to do one task at a time. This will put a lesser strain on your battery.
Make Sure You Have Enough RAM:
You probably didn’t know this, but your laptop’s RAM uses it’s space to store data. If you have a lot of data but not enough RAM to process them, it’ll lead to your RAM always working, leading to a massive battery drainage in the process. Make sure you have enough RAM compared to your HDD or SSD.
How to Charge Your Laptop For A Long Battery Life?
All electronic devices have a lifespan. Same goes for a laptop’s battery. We know that a battery won’t last forever. But like anyone else, we’d like to preserve our laptop’s battery life as long as possible. Some simple charging hacks can have an amazing effect on a battery’s health. Here are some tips on how to charge your laptop efficiently to get a long battery life.
Plug In Your Laptop Before It Reaches 20%:
Some people don’t charge their laptop until it dies. This is a big mistake. Using a laptop when it’s battery is critically low damages it. It’s best to charge the battery when it reaches 20% charge. This extends the life of the battery.
Don’t Keep Your Laptop Plugged In Always:
When your laptop battery has charged to 100%, disconnect it. Don’t keep your plugged in all the time. Instead, use your laptop till it reaches 20% battery. Then plug it in, and unplug when it reaches 100%. This routine will help maintain the longevity of your laptop battery.
Turn Off Your Laptop When It Is Charging:
While it’s totally alright to use your laptop while charging, it may cause overheating. It’s better to keep the battery cool when it is charging, and even when it is not in use. So try to keep your laptop in a cool place. Turn it off when it is charging.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a laptop battery cost?
Answer: A laptop battery can cost anything from 50 to 200 dollars. While different brands charge different prices for their laptop batteries, most of their costs will fall under this pricing.
How long should a laptop battery last?
Answer: If you’re an average user, then your laptop battery should last 2-4 years. That’s the equivalent of 1000 charge cycles. After that your laptop’s battery will start draining, and lose its ability to hold charge. It’s charge time will lengthen, and it’ll lose battery much faster.
Can a laptop run without a battery?
Answer: Yes, it is possible to run a laptop without a functioning battery. However, it’ll act like a regular computer. You’ll have to keep it plugged in all the time, and it’ll turn off instantly if you were to unplug it. It’s not an ideal way to run a laptop, but it is very much possible.
Conclusion
In this article I’ve tried to answer any and every query someone might have regarding their laptop battery. I hope this has been helpful to you. If none of these tips work for you, then you should replace your battery. Thanks for reading.