How to make laptop battery last longer

⚡ Fast fix

• Heat drains batteries fast: Soft surfaces and blocked vents make your laptop work harder and lose charge quicker.
• Your screen is a power hog: Lowering brightness a few notches can stretch battery life more than most people expect.
• Too many background apps? Startup programs and browser tabs quietly eat battery even when you’re not using them.
• Battery health matters: If your laptop dies quickly at every charge level, the battery itself may be wearing out.

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Whether you're working from home or out at a coffee shop, your laptop is the perfect device for your flexible work life. Most last between 3 and 10 hours on a single charge. If yours runs out of power more quickly than it used to, don't worry—there are some simple steps you can take to get it back up to full strength.

At Asurion, we don't just fix and protect your tech, we teach you how to get the most out of the devices you rely on every day. Here are our tips for how to extend your laptop battery life.

Adjust the brightness of your screen and screensaver

You can help your laptop battery last longer by lowering your screen's overall brightness. Press the key with the sun logo (or something similar), then use the slider to turn it down and conserve battery power.

If the image on your screensaver or desktop background is super bright—think a photo of a vivid sunrise—you can conserve battery power by switching to a darker one.

Want to save even more power? Set your screen to automatically turn off after 60 seconds.

Keep your laptop cool

If your battery gets too hot, it won't charge normally, which is why you should never leave your laptop in a hot car or sitting outside on a warm day. If your laptop does get too hot, try the following steps:

1. Take a break from using your device until it's completely cooled down. Turn off your laptop, unplug the power cord, and remove the battery (if possible).
2. Inspect the vents and fan for dirt or other signs of blockage—you can find the fan and vents underneath or on the sides of your laptop. Use compressed air to clean your laptop's vents.

If your fan continues to struggle, make noise, or run at high speed, you may need to take your device to a laptop repair expert to have it checked for other issues.

Unplug anything you don't need

Disconnect your mouse, headphones, or any USB drive from your laptop when you don't need them. When they're plugged in, these accessories draw power from your laptop battery.

Close any apps and programs you're not using

Running too many apps or programs at once can drain your battery too. If you're not using an app or a program, close it.

Use the charger that came with your laptop

When you plug in your laptop, make sure to use the charger that came with your device. Other chargers may be cheaper, but they don't always work as well and can even damage your battery.

Don't keep your laptop plugged in

It may sound strange, but constantly connecting your laptop to power will weaken your battery over time. Keeping your device's battery at about 50% to 80% is the ideal range for long-term battery health.

Turn off your laptop daily

It may be convenient to keep your computer on at all times, but this also weakens your battery over time. To help maintain your battery's ability to hold a charge, turn off your device at the end of each day.

Keep your operating system up to date

Your operating system is responsible for managing the software and hardware on your laptop. If it's outdated, it can cause problems with your battery.

How to update the operating system on your PC:

1. On your taskbar, click Start > Settings > Update & Security.
2. From the Windows Update tab, click Check for updates. If no updates are available, the menu will say, “You're up to date." If updates are available, Windows will automatically download and install them.

How to update the operating system on your Mac:

Open System Preferences, then select Software Update. If there's an available update, click Update Now.

Use your computer's built-in battery-saving tools

Still have questions about how to make your computer battery last longer? You can use your laptop's built-in tools to find out what apps and programs are using the most power and, if necessary, adjust your settings.

Check your battery status and settings in Windows

PC owners can open the Windows™ Performance Management Tool to get detailed information about battery usage and to extend battery life by turning on features like the battery saver. Here's how to open it:

In Windows 10: From the battery icon on the task bar, move the slider to see the settings.

In Windows 11: Go to Settings > System > Power & Battery > Power Mode.

Check your battery status and settings for Mac

If you're using macOS® Monterey or later, you can fine-tune settings on your laptop to further conserve battery power. Here's how:

1. Open System Preferences, and click Battery.
2. Select the checkbox next to Slightly dim the screen while on battery power.
3. Clear the checkbox next to Enable Power Nap while on battery power.

Depending on your laptop model, you may have other options, like Optimize video streaming while on battery or Optimized battery charging. When you turn these settings on, they'll help your laptop battery last longer.

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FAQ

Why does a laptop battery drain faster over time?

Laptop batteries naturally wear down with every charge cycle. Heat, heavy apps, max screen brightness, and keeping a laptop plugged in 24/7 can speed up battery aging faster than most people expect.

Is it bad to leave a laptop plugged in all the time?

Modern laptops are smart enough to stop charging at 100%, but constant heat can still stress the battery over time. If the laptop rarely leaves the desk, using battery health or optimized charging settings can help slow battery wear.

Does lowering screen brightness really help laptop battery life?

Yes—screen brightness is one of the biggest battery drains on a laptop. Dropping brightness even a little can stretch battery life more than people think, especially during streaming or video calls.

What apps use the most laptop battery power?

Video editing software, games, video calls, and apps constantly running in the background usually use the most battery. A few browser tabs with videos or ads running can also drain power surprisingly fast.

When should you replace a laptop battery?

If a laptop battery drops quickly, overheats, shuts down unexpectedly, or barely holds a charge, replacement time is probably getting close. This is one of those “deal with it before it gets worse” situations.