Why Does my Laptop Battery Drain so Fast? 5 Ways To Fix It

Most of us use our laptops for hours on end without giving a second thought to the health of our batteries.

You may be surprised to learn that you can dramatically extend the life of your laptop’s battery by taking a few simple steps.

I will discuss why laptop batteries drain so fast and how to improve the performance of your laptop’s battery in this blog post. Read on to find out five tips!

Post Contents

5 Tips to Improve Battery Performance

Tip #01: Make sure your power settings are correct

Checking your laptop’s power settings is one of the easiest ways to extend its battery life. Windows configures your computer to use a high level of performance by default, which can significantly reduce battery life.

Open the Control Panel and navigate to the Power Options section to adjust this setting. Choose High Performance from the drop-down menu after clicking Change Plan Settings.

Tip #02: Turn off unused devices/services

A lot of laptop users are unaware that their laptops have several built-in devices (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) that use a small amount of battery power at all times. Furthermore, some applications (e.g., Skype, and Dropbox) run in the background even when they are not being used.

If your Laptop is Performing Slow then you can read Why is My Dell Laptop So Slow? How to Fix It

Turn off any unused devices and services on your laptop to improve its battery life. Accessing Device Manager and Services is done by opening up the Control Panel. By doing so, your laptop will also run faster.

Tips #03: Use the battery-saving mode on your laptop

Laptops typically feature a special battery-saving mode that can dramatically increase battery life. Windows, for instance, comes with a built-in “power saving” mode that dims the screen and turns off unused devices to conserve power.

Simply open the Control Panel and click on Power Options. Next, click Change Plan Settings and select the Power Saver option.

Tip #04: Use a laptop cooler

You may want to consider using a laptop cooler if you use your laptop continuously for a longer period of time. The coolers on your computer help to keep its temperature down, thereby extending its battery life. Coolers for laptops can be purchased for as little as $20, and they’re well worth the investment.

Tip #05: Replace your battery

If you have tried all of the tips above and your laptop’s battery is still draining quickly, you may need to replace it. A laptop battery typically lasts around two years, so it’s a good idea to replace it once or twice a year.

A new laptop battery can cost $25-50, so it may be more cost-effective to buy a new laptop instead of replacing the battery. Be sure to choose a high-quality battery if you are thinking of replacing the battery.

FAQs on why does my Laptop battery drain so fast

What causes my laptop battery to drain so fast?

Most laptop batteries drain quickly because they are old and need to be replaced. Using a laptop in a hot environment is another reason for the battery to drain quickly.
In this scenario, the fan may not be able to keep up with cooling the computer, which can cause the processor to overheat and damage the battery.
There may be a problem with the motherboard or a software issue causing the laptop to consume more power than it should. In either case, it would be best to take the computer to a technician for further evaluation.

How long should a laptop battery last?

Batteries for laptops last for varying amounts of time depending on the brand, type, and how often they are used. Generally, laptop batteries last for two to three years.
There are, however, several ways to improve the performance life of your laptop battery. For instance, keep your laptop battery charged between 40% and 80%; avoid leaving your laptop plugged in when the battery is already full or close to full; and remove the battery from your computer when it’s not in use.

Is it a good idea to leave your laptop plugged in all the time?

Even a newer model that comes with a built-in battery shouldn’t be left plugged in all the time. Eventually, this will damage the battery’s performance and result in charring on the motherboard.
Every once in a while, you should unplug your laptop when it’s not in use and let its battery fully discharge and recharge. It will prolong the battery’s life.

Can I use my laptop while plugged in?

There is some debate about whether it’s wrong to keep your laptop plugged in all the time. Initially, this can be bad for your battery because, over time, your battery will slowly deplete.
The downside to not keeping your laptop plugged in is that it can get very hot and potentially cause charring on the bottom.
The choice is ultimately yours.
You can extend the life of your laptop’s battery by unplugging it when you aren’t using it. However, if you’re more concerned about charring on the bottom of the laptop and don’t mind potentially having a shorter battery life, then, by all means, leave it plugged in.

Conclusion

If you’ve tried all of the tips above and your laptop’s battery is still draining quickly, it could be time to replace it. Batteries typically last for around two years, so you should consider replacing your battery every two years or so.

A new laptop battery can cost $25-50, but it will not last as long as the original battery that came with the laptop. Therefore, replacing the battery may be more cost-effective than purchasing a new laptop. It is important, however, to purchase a good-quality battery if you wish to replace your old one.