Could you image what it must have been like to do business 30 years ago, before you had a nice laptop?
It’s a horrible thought. Consider this only when you have an hour of work and just 30 minutes remaining on your laptop battery. Nightmare.
Nobody likes to be stuck in the dreaded low battery limbo during an important meeting or presentation. However, with a little know-how, you can extend the life of your laptop battery and keep it functioning well for years.
Understanding your battery is important. Most laptops currently use lithium-ion batteries, which have a limited number of charge cycles. A charge cycle corresponds to a full discharge from 0% to 100%, and each cycle reduces the battery’s capacity.
The Golden Rule? To preserve battery life, avoid full discharges.
Let’s look at your laptop’s power options to adjust your battery choices. Hibernation mode is your friend; it activates before your battery depletes. Don’t forget to turn on Battery Saver mode, which is a lifesaver for conserving power when your battery is getting low on charge.
Next, declutter. Close all background programs to avoid unwanted battery consumption. Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use, and reduce screen brightness to save energy.
But how about charging etiquette? Contrary to common perception, having your laptop plugged in will not destroy its battery; current electronics are smarter than you realize. Simply avoid severe temperatures and, if possible, never allow your battery to drop below 20%.
When keeping your laptop for an extended period of time, keep it charged to about 50%. And if you’re ever in doubt, certain battery apps provide real-time information about your battery’s status.
Finally, keep track of software updates. New patches and upgrades can improve performance while reducing energy usage, giving your battery a new lease of life.
We help local companies in getting the most out of their gadgets for the longest period of time possible. If we can do the same for you, please get in touch.