How to increase laptop battery life

In times of remote work, having the notebook battery always charged is a challenge. Running after an outlet to avoid interrupting a meeting or even having the inconvenience of having the computer turned off in the middle of writing a report is something that no one wants to go through. While having a notebook out of the office allows you to work anywhere, care needs to be taken to get maximum battery performance.

Extending notebook battery life ensures mobility and independence, as you get rid of wires and the need to always be close to a power point. And that's not something difficult to do. Himself Windows 10 has some settings that will certainly help improve the notebook's battery life.

Why is my battery short?

Over time, batteries lose their autonomy. Additionally, there are applications and computer features that cause the battery to discharge faster. You may have heard the term “damaged battery”. This is because in the past they were produced with materials that allowed the so-called memory effect. (https://rentalsfloridakeys.com/) That's why it was recommended to only charge when the battery was 100% discharged.

However, this became a thing of the past, as batteries began to be manufactured with lithium, which has a longer lifespan. However, like previous generations, over time it loses its effectiveness and autonomy, given that with each recharge cycle an amount of lithium is rendered useless. This means that, little by little, the battery life is decreasing.

How to increase battery life?

The good news is that there is a way to improve battery performance with some simple tricks. With just a few procedures, you can easily have more autonomy and keep plans to purchase a battery or even new equipment in the drawer. See below for how to access the power options in Windows 10 and what is the best way to configure:

1. The first step is to access the “Start menu” and then enter “Windows System” and click “Control panel”. If you can't see it easily, you can also type “Dashboard" or "Control panel” in the Windows 10 search field and click on the option that appears;

2. With Control panel open, look for the option “Hardware and Sound”. Clicking on it will open another menu with several options. You must choose by “Energy options";

3. Em Energy options, you will see the proper commands to calibrate the energy consumption of your battery. Each plan consists of a predetermined set of settings to manage the computer using more or less energy. Click in "Create a power plan";

4. Three basic energy expenditure plan options will then appear. The first is the "Balanced”, which is recommended by Windows 10 itself. The other two are: Energy saving, which reduces notebook performance by prioritizing basic functions, and High performance, which gets the most out of your machine but can consume more battery. Regardless of the plan you choose, it will be possible to change the settings and increase the autonomy of the computer. To do this, click on “Change plan settings" or in "Advance”, if you have already chosen one of the pre-configured plans;

5. Now, you will be able to choose what your computer will do when it is idle. The options are “turn off video"and "Suspend computer activity”. The shorter the time, the more battery will be saved. Don't forget that some activities are considered inactivity by Windows. For example, a download or an update, so when doing any of these things, choose the option never under “suspend the computer";

6. The next step is to click on “Change advanced power settings”. When you reach the option “Battery”, make some changes. In "Critical Battery Action” choose Hibernate in all situations. Then in the section “Critical Battery Level”, choose a maximum of 5% and click on “OK";

7. Finally, there is one last process to make everything work well. Unplug your notebook from the outlet. Use normally until the battery runs out. Even turn it off! Then plug it in again and let it fully charge. Only then can you turn on the computer again. This is for "calibrated" the battery. Regardless of the settings, it is recommended that this be done periodically.

Villains of energy consumption

Some usage habits, such as doing several things at the same time, or running programs without being used, can be consuming precious minutes of your battery. Below are some tips to increase battery life.

1. Keep as few programs and applications open as possible;
2. Leave the computer on “Airplane mode” if the activity you are doing does not require an internet connection;
3. Look for applications and processes that consume a lot of power. This step is more complicated and requires a few steps. First go to Settings, Click System and finally in Battery. In "Battery usage per app”, you will identify which applications have consumed the most power recently. It is recommended to leave them closed whenever possible;
4. Still in Battery, you can activate the “Battery Saver” when it reaches a certain point, which can be from 10 to 50%;
5. Check the option “reduce glare” screen in battery saver mode is also a good option.

See how you can increase the battery life of your notebook? Do you have any questions or have any other tips on the subject? Tell us in the comments!

See also:

If, even following our tips, you think it's time for another one, then take a look at the list with the best laptops to buy in 2021.