One of the top considerations in choosing where to work with your laptop is the availability of a power socket. If you are not lucky enough to find an available outlet, you’ll have to depend on your laptop’s battery — assuming it still has enough power after your last charge. The following tips should optimize your laptop battery life so your device can last long enough for you to complete your tasks.

Some truths about your laptop battery

Most modern devices use lithium-based batteries that get damaged when they’re completely drained. But if your laptop uses an older type of battery that’s not made of lithium-ion or lithium-polymer, it's best to let it discharge completely before recharging it.

Laptop batteries also have limited life spans. So no matter what you do, yours will age from the very first time you charge it. This is because as time passes, the ions in your battery will become less efficient in flowing from the anode to the cathode, thereby reducing your battery’s capacity.

What else can degrade your laptop battery?

Besides being naturally prone to deterioration, your battery can degrade due to higher-than-normal voltages, which may happen when you keep your battery fully charged at all times. Even though a modern laptop battery cannot be overcharged, it will be damaged if you leave your laptop plugged in all the time.

Both extremely high temperatures (above 70°F) and low temperatures (32–41°F) can also reduce battery capacity and damage components. The same goes for storing a battery for long periods of time, which can lead to extreme discharge.

Another factor that can affect laptop battery life is physical damage. Remember that batteries are made of sensitive materials, and a shock from a fall or a similar incident can damage them.

How can you prolong your laptop battery life?

Now that you know some facts about your laptop battery, it’s time to learn how to delay its demise:

• Never leave your battery completely drained.
• Don’t expose your battery to extremely high or low temperatures.
• If possible, charge your battery at a lower voltage.
• If you need to use your laptop for a long period of time while it’s plugged into a power source, it’s best if you remove the battery from your device so it runs just like a desktop. This may not be applicable to newer laptop models that have built-in, non-removable batteries, however.
• When you need to store your battery for a few weeks, you should recharge your battery to 40% and, if possible, remove it from your laptop for storage.

These are just a few tips on extending the life of your hardware. There are many more ways you can maximize hardware efficiency and extend longevity. Call our experts today to find out more!

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