3 ways to make your laptop battery last longer—maybe all day

Maximize your laptop's battery life and escape the tyranny of the wall outlet! We all rely on our laptops, and a dying battery can disrupt our workflow. This guide offers practical tips and OS tweaks to significantly extend your battery's lifespan.

Optimize Screen Settings:

Your display is a major battery drain. Reduce screen brightness to a comfortable level using your laptop's keyboard shortcuts or system settings (Windows: System > Display; macOS: System Settings > Displays or System Preferences on older OS). Shorten the screen timeout period in your power settings (Windows: System > Power & battery; Windows 10: Power & sleep; macOS: System Settings > Screen Saver). Explore additional power-saving options like putting hard drives and USB devices to sleep. While individually minor, these adjustments collectively boost battery life. Windows users can activate battery saver mode, limiting background tasks and automatically adjusting brightness. macOS offers a similar low power mode, accessible through System Settings > Battery. For laptops with OLED screens, dark mode significantly reduces power consumption. (Windows: Settings > Personalization > Colors).

Reduce Computational Load:

Heavy computing tasks accelerate battery drain. Close unused background applications. Limit browser tabs (or put them to sleep) and avoid video streaming, which demands considerable processing power and keeps the screen active. Lower your audio volume or use headphones to conserve power. Disconnecting WiFi and Bluetooth, when feasible, also provides a small but noticeable improvement.

Maintain Battery Health:

Lithium-ion batteries degrade naturally. Avoid extreme temperatures (both hot and cold) as these accelerate degradation. Intensive applications generate heat, further impacting battery health; consider a laptop cooler for demanding tasks. For optimal long-term health, prioritize shallow discharges and recharges, performing a full discharge monthly. Unplug your laptop after it's fully charged. For extended storage, store with a 50% charge to prevent permanent damage.

This article has been updated. Originally published April 3, 2017.

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