Signs your laptop needs a new battery
💡 Need to know
- Battery dying way too fast? If your laptop drops from 100% to panic mode in under an hour, the battery is probably wearing out.
- Random shutdowns are a red flag: A failing battery can make your laptop power off suddenly—even when the charge looks fine.
- Heat makes batteries age faster: Constant overheating can quietly wreck battery health long before the laptop itself feels old.
- Bulging case or lifting keyboard? Stop using the laptop immediately—a swollen battery can become a safety issue fast.
No matter how well you take care of it, your laptop battery doesn't last forever. Most are good for at least a few years, but eventually they start to weaken due to wear and tear, exposure to extreme heat, and even lack of use. So how do you know when to replace your laptop battery?
At Asurion, we help millions of people get the most out of their tech, from securing your home Wi-Fi network to backing up important files on your MacBook® or Windows™ laptop. Here are the signs your laptop needs a new battery.
Your laptop battery dies sooner than it used to
Most modern laptops can last anywhere from 3 to 10 hours depending on your workload. If your Mac or PC needs to charge more frequently—or if a full charge drains to empty in 15 to 30 minutes—the internal cells have degraded beyond their functional limits.
Your laptop takes a long time to charge
A healthy laptop will take power quickly. If you notice that yours is taking hours longer than usual—or if it's plugged in but the battery percentage isn't rising at all—the battery pack or a failing charging circuit is the likely cause.
Don’t ditch it, fix it
No matter the issue, our experts can repair your devices fast. Make an appointment or visit your local uBreakiFix by Asurion today.
Your laptop dies unexpectedly
When a laptop suddenly cuts to black without warning, especially when it was just showing a mostly or fully charged battery icon, it indicates a faulty cell layout that can no longer maintain steady voltage lines. Plug it into the wall to see if it boots back up immediately.
Your laptop battery looks bloated
If your laptop case appears warped, if it rocks unevenly on a flat table, or if the plastic shell looks puffy near the keyboard or trackpad, your battery is swollen. Stop using your device immediately and do not force the charger into it. Damaged, bloated batteries can catch fire or leak. Take the laptop to a repair professional for safe disposal and replacement.
Your laptop overheats
Your laptop cools itself using internal heat pipes and fans. If your computer constantly feels burning hot to the touch during simple tasks, or if your internal cooling fans are working on overdrive trying unsuccessfully to cool the machine, the battery may be generating excessive resistance heat. Unplug it and let it cool down.
Your laptop tells you
Both macOS® and Windows™ feature built-in menus that track your hardware health long before a critical alert pops up.
- On a Mac: Click the Apple logo > System Settings > Battery. Look at the Battery Health readout. If it says Service Recommended, or if your Maximum Capacity has dropped below 80%, a replacement will drastically improve your performance.
- On Windows 11: Right-click the Start menu, select Terminal (or Command Prompt), type powercfg /batteryreport and hit Enter. Open the generated file path provided on screen to compare your battery’s Design Capacity against its actual Full Charge Capacity.
FAQ
Is it safe to keep my laptop plugged into the charger all the time?
Not usually a problem, but constant heat and sitting at 100% charge can wear the battery down faster over time. Features like Optimized Battery Charging or Smart Charging can help reduce strain.
At what health percentage should I consider replacing my battery?
Most experts recommend replacing a laptop battery once it drops below 80% health, especially if you notice short battery life or random shutdowns.
Can a worn-out battery cause my laptop to run slower?
Yes. Some laptops automatically reduce performance to prevent crashes when the battery can no longer handle power spikes properly.
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