Hannah Hopkins 
Dec 02, 2023
We all want our laptop batteries to last longer than an extra slice of pizza at a party, right? But here’s the thing: keeping your laptop battery happy requires more than just a random charge here and there. Lucky for you, Gad Insider has gathered some savvy tips on how to treat that battery like royalty and make it go the distance.
How to keep your laptop battery healthy?
Understanding laptop battery health
Your laptop battery isn’t a gym membership — you don't have to discharge it fully and then recharge it just for a "reboot." That's old-school nonsense. Lithium-ion batteries (yep, the ones in your laptop) have their own language. They like to hang around the 20% to 80% charge zone for maximum health. So, stop stressing about reaching that 0% — it is not helping your battery last longer.
Optimal charging habits
Forget what your grandma told you about not leaving stuff plugged in. Modern laptops are smart cookies — they know when to stop charging at 100%. So, relax! Keeping your laptop plugged in doesn't mess with your battery’s life expectancy. But remember, don’t let it run on empty. Keep it above 20% whenever possible, and it'll love you back for longer.
Keeping your battery cool, for real
Did you know your laptop battery throws a tantrum when it gets too hot? It starts overproducing energy it can't use, kind of like a Friday night with too much caffeine. That leads to unnecessary wear and tear. Keep your laptop cool, don’t block those vents, and don’t leave it sunbathing on your car seat. Your battery will thank you later.
It's okay, leave it plugged in
Modern laptops don’t mind being plugged in, especially when they're doing some heavy lifting. It’s those discharge cycles that do the real damage. So, when you're binging on that graphics-heavy game or handling power-hungry tasks, plug it in. But hey, if you're just chilling and browsing, let the battery take the lead.
Softwares to get battery health reports
Want to keep tabs on your battery’s health without hiring a private investigator? There are cool apps like BatteryCare for Windows and Battery Monitor for macOS that spill the beans on your battery's secrets — from charge cycles to temperature.
Battery-conscious modes and updating your OS
Treat your laptop like a pro by enabling battery-saver modes, adaptive brightness settings, and dark mode — they're like superfoods for your battery. Also, don’t be lazy with those software updates; they can make your laptop run smoother and save precious battery power.
