- PPF Points
- 2,888
I've learned the hard way how to extend the battery life of my laptop, especially when working remotely or traveling and not always having easy access to a power outlet. I've developed a few easy yet efficient habits over time that have truly enabled me to maximize each charge. Even if you're not very tech-savvy, anyone can perform these simple tricks.
Reducing the screen's brightness was among the first things I learned. Although it might not seem like much, I found that my battery lasted nearly an hour longer when I started to dim my screen even halfway. Particularly on more recent high-resolution screens, you'd be shocked at how much power that bright screen consumes.
Closing background apps was another important change. I used to have ten tabs open in Chrome, music playing on Spotify, and possibly a code editor open as well. I now turn off anything I'm not using right away to save battery life. Even when you're not using them, Chrome extensions and apps like Slack or Discord can stealthily use up system resources.
I also make an effort to switch off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when not in use. For example, I turn off those services when I'm just offline editing a document or writing a blog post. It saves more battery life than you might imagine and lessens background data syncing.
When I know I won't have access to a charger for a while, I also switch to battery saver mode. The majority of operating systems, including Windows and macOS, come with built-in battery-saving settings that slightly reduce performance in order to prolong battery life. To be honest, I don't even notice the difference when it comes to routine tasks like writing or browsing.
Another piece of advice: I don't always charge my laptop to 100%. In fact, you can extend the life of your battery by keeping it between 40% and 80%. Additionally, I make an effort to avoid leaving it plugged in while working—something I used to do constantly until I realized it was gradually depleting my battery.
Lastly, I keep my laptop cool. The enemy of battery health is heat. When I'm working for hours on end, I use a cooling pad or make sure there's airflow underneath my laptop. My battery life drastically decreased after my fan became clogged; clearing it out really helped.
All in all, saving battery life isn’t about just one trick—it’s about forming better habits. By combining small changes like dimming the screen, shutting off background apps, and using battery saver mode, I’ve been able to get more time out of every charge and keep my laptop battery healthy for longer.
Reducing the screen's brightness was among the first things I learned. Although it might not seem like much, I found that my battery lasted nearly an hour longer when I started to dim my screen even halfway. Particularly on more recent high-resolution screens, you'd be shocked at how much power that bright screen consumes.
Closing background apps was another important change. I used to have ten tabs open in Chrome, music playing on Spotify, and possibly a code editor open as well. I now turn off anything I'm not using right away to save battery life. Even when you're not using them, Chrome extensions and apps like Slack or Discord can stealthily use up system resources.
I also make an effort to switch off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when not in use. For example, I turn off those services when I'm just offline editing a document or writing a blog post. It saves more battery life than you might imagine and lessens background data syncing.
When I know I won't have access to a charger for a while, I also switch to battery saver mode. The majority of operating systems, including Windows and macOS, come with built-in battery-saving settings that slightly reduce performance in order to prolong battery life. To be honest, I don't even notice the difference when it comes to routine tasks like writing or browsing.
Another piece of advice: I don't always charge my laptop to 100%. In fact, you can extend the life of your battery by keeping it between 40% and 80%. Additionally, I make an effort to avoid leaving it plugged in while working—something I used to do constantly until I realized it was gradually depleting my battery.
Lastly, I keep my laptop cool. The enemy of battery health is heat. When I'm working for hours on end, I use a cooling pad or make sure there's airflow underneath my laptop. My battery life drastically decreased after my fan became clogged; clearing it out really helped.
All in all, saving battery life isn’t about just one trick—it’s about forming better habits. By combining small changes like dimming the screen, shutting off background apps, and using battery saver mode, I’ve been able to get more time out of every charge and keep my laptop battery healthy for longer.
