Ways to check your laptop battery health and make it last longer

Your laptop’s battery won’t last forever, but there are several ways to extend its lifespan. In this article, we’ll walk you through checking your battery’s health on both Windows and Mac and offer tips to maintain its performance.

How to check battery health on Windows devices

Windows provides a variety of diagnostic tools, from straightforward software reports to in-depth hardware analyses, making it easier to monitor and manage battery performance.

The deep dive: Windows Battery Report

The Command Prompt offers one of the most effective ways to analyze your power consumption in detail. Through this often-overlooked feature, you can generate a comprehensive HTML file known as the Battery Report. It provides valuable insights into your battery’s performance, its current charge capacity, and how that capacity has evolved over time.

To access the Battery Report, take these steps:

1. Press the Start button and type “Command Prompt”.
2. Open the application and type this command: “powercfg/batteryreport”
3. Press Enter.
4. Navigate to your user folder (usually C:UsersYourUsername) to find the battery-report.html file.

When you open this file in a web browser, compare the Design Capacity against the Full Charge Capacity. A significant gap between these two numbers indicates that the chemical capacity of the battery has degraded, and it may be nearing the end of its life.

The manufacturer route: proprietary apps

Many modern laptops have built-in manufacturer-specific management tools that allows users to check their device’s battery health:

• Dell SupportAssist On-Board Diagnostics
• HP Support Assistant
• Lenovo Vantage
• MyASUS

Simply follow the prompts provided by these built-in diagnostic tools to check your battery’s health and performance.

The hardware level: BIOS/UEFI check

You can check your laptop’s battery health before Windows loads by accessing the BIOS or UEFI firmware, which is the system that runs when you first turn on your computer. Use this method if your laptop won’t boot correctly or if you simply need a quick status update without logging in to the operating system.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Restart your laptop. 
2. As it starts, immediately tap the relevant setup key (commonly F2, F12, Del, or Esc) to enter the BIOS/UEFI menu. 
3. Once there, use the arrow keys or mouse (if it’s a UEFI setup) to navigate to a Battery Health section. It’s typically found under the Overview or General menu. 
4. In the Battery Health section, you’ll find a summary of your battery’s condition, often categorized as Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor.

How to check battery health on MacBooks

Apple integrates battery monitoring directly into the user interface, making it easy to gauge its performance.

System settings status

To quickly check your battery’s current capacity compared to its original state, simply:

1. Open the Apple menu and select System Settings.
2. Click on Battery in the sidebar. 
3. Select the “i” icon next to Battery Health.

A window will appear displaying your battery’s status as either Normal or Service Recommended. You’ll also see the maximum capacity percentage, which indicates how much charge your battery can hold relative to when it was new.

Understanding cycle counts

Every MacBook battery is designed with a finite number of charge cycles, typically around 1,000. Here’s how you can check yours:

1. While holding the Option key, select the Apple menu.
2. Select System Information.
3. Click Hardware then Power.
4. Locate the Cycle Count under the Battery Information header.

If your cycle count is nearing 1,000, your battery is approaching its maximum rated lifespan.

Signs your laptop battery needs a replacement

Diagnosing battery issues isn’t just about monitoring software. Your laptop’s hardware often provides clear physical warnings before the battery reaches total failure:

• Swelling or bulging: If your trackpad cracks, your keyboard bulges, or the laptop wobbles on a flat surface, it’s likely due to a swollen battery. If this is the case, have it checked by a professional immediately, as it’s a serious fire hazard.
• Overheating and thermal throttling: If your fans are running at maximum speed constantly and the chassis is hot to the touch, the battery may be generating excess heat due to internal resistance.
• Sudden power loss: If the laptop shuts down as soon as it’s unplugged from the charger, the battery cells have likely failed entirely.
• Erratic charging: A battery that stays stuck at a low percentage or takes an unusually long time to charge often indicates an internal defect.

Strategies for extending your laptop battery’s lifespan

Laptop batteries naturally degrade over time, but you can take steps to maximize their lifespan and keep them performing longer.

Use reliable chargers

Using cheap, third-party chargers can introduce inconsistent voltage that harms battery cells. Stick to the original manufacturer’s adapter or opt for high-quality gallium nitride (GaN) chargers. GaN chargers run cooler and are more efficient than traditional silicon adapters, providing clean power delivery.

Manage software usage to conserve battery

The harder your laptop works, the faster its battery drains and deteriorates. To maximize battery life, consider these adjustments:

• Screen brightness: The display is often the biggest power drain. Dimming it can significantly reduce power consumption.
• Refresh rates: If your device has a 120 Hz or 144 Hz display, switch to 60 Hz when you’re not gaming or editing videos. Doing so conserves energy without affecting basic tasks.
• Software updates: Regularly update your BIOS and drivers. Manufacturers often release firmware patches designed to improve power management and efficiency.

Extend battery health with the 20-80 rule

To prolong your laptop’s battery life, avoid leaving it plugged in for extended periods after it reaches a full charge, as this puts unnecessary stress on the battery cells. Conversely, regularly letting the battery drain to 0% can also cause damage. Maintain optimal battery health by keeping your laptop’s charge level between 20% and 80%.

Whether your laptop battery is failing or you need help managing multiple devices, our IT specialists will keep your tech running seamlessly.