When you’re at a standstill, your laptop’s probably sitting idle at your desk, and let’s be honest, getting deluged with power from its charger, because, why not?
Leaving your laptop plugged in at all times – is that a good habit or not? The issue is certainly not a straightforward one, mainly due to the intricacies of laptop battery chemistry. Let’s break this down.
Is it okay to keep your laptop plugged in constantly?
In terms of physical safety, everything is completely secure and free from any actual hazard.
There’s almost no chance of something catching fire. Laptops have a built-in voltage regulator that automatically stops the battery from overcharging, even if the charger is still plugged in. These systems aren’t prone to failure, and laptops have safety features that will disconnect the charger before anything serious can happen.
But this assumes the charger and outlet are functioning properly. You still need to worry about a short in the outlet, which can cause a fire that’s not just limited to charging a laptop. So, it’s still essential to keep an eye on your outlets and ensure they’re in good working order.
Is it necessary to always keep your laptop charged and plugged in?
It’s all about balance
This is where things get complicated. There are several things that can hurt lithium-ion batteries. For one, keeping a battery charged at zero or extremely close to maximum can make it degrade faster. As batteries get older, they can’t hold a full charge as well as they used to. While it won’t cause your laptop to explode, your battery may not hold its charge like it did originally.
There’s another concern regarding heat buildup. Lithium-ion batteries naturally decrease in charge even when a device is turned off. This is because they’re essentially being recharged all the time, resulting in an elevated temperature. Just like excessive charge levels, heat can cause premature aging of the battery, leading to a loss of capacity over an extended period.
Every single lithium battery in existence will eventually reach a point where it can no longer hold power. When left on the AC charger, the battery absorbs unnecessary charge cycles since it’s not in use, resulting in a shorter life expectancy for the battery.
Leaving your computer plugged in at all times can be a triple threat to its battery. In the short term, it won’t explode or get damaged. But over time, this constant battery recharging can significantly shorten its lifespan and cause it to stop holding a charge more quickly than usual.
Determining Your Laptop’s Battery Health and Assessing Damage
To determine if your laptop’s battery is damaged, follow these steps:
1. Check the battery’s age:
* How long has it been since you last replaced the battery?
* Under normal circumstances, lithium-ion batteries will exhibit a gradual decline in capacity over time, with one year considered as the benchmark.
2. Check battery health through your laptop’s battery health settings or with a third-party software:
* Many laptops have built-in battery health settings that can be accessed through the device’s control panel or BIOS settings.
* Third-party software can also provide detailed information about battery health, charge cycles, and capacity.
3. Monitor battery usage:
* Pay close attention to how long your laptop is lasting on a single charge.
* If your laptop’s battery life is consistently shorter than expected, it may indicate battery damage or another issue.
4. Look for signs of wear and tear:
* Check for physical damage, such as dents, cracks, or corrosion, on the battery and its surrounding areas.
* Inspect for any signs of moisture ingress that may have affected the battery.
5. Run software diagnostic tests:
* There are various software tools available that can help diagnose battery issues and assess its overall health.
If you suspect your laptop’s battery is damaged, it is recommended to consult the manufacturer’s guidelines or contact their support team for proper evaluation and potential repair or replacement.
Keeping a tab on your energy levels is a good habit to cultivate.
Let’s take a look at how to check battery health for both Windows and Mac computers, and then I’ll explain how to interpret the results.
Mac
MacOS is significantly simpler than Windows in this area, so you should be able to locate it relatively easily.
Windows PC
Understanding Your Laptop’s Battery Details
When checking your laptop’s battery information, you’re likely to come across various data points and metrics that can seem confusing. Don’t worry, we’ll break down what each one means and what it signifies.
**charge cycles and capacity**
Charge cycles denote how many times your battery has been fully charged and discharged. A battery’s lifespan is generally measured in charge cycles, with 300 to 500 cycles being a maximum for most batteries. If your battery is nearing this limit, it’s essential to understand the implications.
**Battery capacity (%)**
The capacity (%) value represents the percentage of your battery’s original capacity when it’s new. For instance, if your battery’s capacity is 80%, it has retained 80% of its original capacity.
**Health**
The health percentage shows you how well your battery is currently operating. A battery’s health can degrade over time due to normal wear and tear. However, a battery can still be operational even if it’s near or at 0% health.
**Battery chemistry**
Many modern laptops have lithium-ion batteries, which have higher capacities and better performance. However, lithium-ion batteries can be prone to overheating, which might affect their lifespan.
**Maximum power vs. actual power consumption**
When checking your laptop’s power settings, you might see the difference between the maximum power your laptop is designed to consume and the actual power it uses. This discrepancy can occur due to various factors, including dust buildup and software settings.
To maintain your laptop’s battery health, let it charge to 100% occasionally, and avoid storing it below 20% charge for extended periods. Compute excessive power consumption and loss of charge caused by refrigerator cord usage. Don’t overcharge your battery or wait for it to completely drain and charge.
Mac
The Power section will display how many times you’ve recharged the battery, known as the Cycle Count. Directly underneath that is a Condition reading. If it’s anything other than Normal, it’s a good idea to make an appointment at the Apple Store to have it checked out.
Maximum Capacity indicates the amount of power your battery can currently hold. Fresh, brand-new Macbooks show a reading of 100%, so be aware that your battery’s reading will likely be below that.
Windows PC
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For Windows, Windows breaks down the information by the days your laptop was used. So, if you look under the “At Full Charge” section and the “Active” column, you’ll be able to see how long your battery was supposed to last on that particular day.
You can compare that to the “At Design Capacity” section under the “Active” column to see how long the battery would have lasted if the battery were brand new. This comparison will also show you how much battery life you’ve lost.
Taking care of your laptop battery requires regular maintenance to extend its lifespan. Here are some guidelines to help you get started:
**Understand your battery**
“The lifespan of a battery is influenced by its chemistry,” states your laptop’s manufacturer. Lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in laptops, have a predetermined number of charge cycles before they start to degrade. A cycle is completed when the battery is fully charged and then fully discharged. On average, a lithium-ion battery can handle 300 to 500 charge cycles before it starts to lose capacity.
**Avoid extreme temperatures**
Avoid leaving your laptop in a place where it can overheat, such as a hot car or near a radiator. Extreme temperatures can reduce the battery’s capacity and lifespan. Charge your battery in a location with a stable temperature between 60°F and 80°F (15°C and 27°C).
**Don’t let it drain to zero**
It’s recommended to keep your battery level between 20% and 80% charge. If possible, charge your laptop when it reaches 20% to avoid depleting the battery to zero. Some studies have shown that repeatedly allowing a battery to drop to 0% can decrease its lifespan.
**Charging habits**
A common misconception is that you should fully discharge your battery every month to keep it healthy. However, this can cause more damage than good. Instead, try to charge your laptop regularly to keep the battery in a stable state.
**Storage tips**
If you plan to store your laptop for an extended period, consider the following tips:
* Charge the battery to 50%.
* Store the laptop in a cool, dry place.
* Avoid storing the laptop in a hot attic or garage.
* Consider removing the battery to store it separately. If you choose not to remove the battery, make sure it is set to hibernate.
By following these guidelines, you can help extend the lifespan of your laptop battery and keep it running efficiently for a longer period.
It’s a task that’s straightforward to perform, but often tricky to recall.
Try to keep it unplugged for as long as needed. Charge it to 100%, then remove the charger, and wait until the battery needs to be charged again. This won’t stop battery aging, as there’s no way to prevent it, but it will definitely slow the process down when the charger isn’t holding it at 100% charge. Yes, you might lose a small amount of charge by the time you turn it back on, but it’s a minor trade-off.
A new feature has been added that will operate similarly, although it’s limited by factors that control battery charging to prevent continuous recharging.
The key thing to avoid is letting your laptop battery run out and then being plugged in all the time without a purpose. Powering down your laptop also results in less heat and decreases the charge cycles, which means your battery won’t be drained and kept at a high charge all the time, thus prolonging its lifespan.
FAQ
Can I leave my laptop connected to a power source while I’m actively using it?
While it’s recommended to charge it fully, I would suggest utilizing the operating system level battery charging capabilities to keep it at a level below 100%. Furthermore, most laptop manufacturers such as Asus and HP offer built-in features that can be used to restrict power to 60% (HP) or 80% (Asus) to minimize battery degradation, ultimately leading to a longer lifespan.
It all comes down to looking after your laptop’s battery in a similar way you would a smartphone’s. This means keeping it charged and discharged in a balanced manner to extend its lifespan. So, you should use it until it’s almost out of battery, then charge it. This helps avoid running hot and keeps the battery healthy.
Can leaving my laptop plugged in all the time permanently harm the battery, decreasing its overall lifespan?
Yes, and no. I have a six-year-old laptop that I’ve kept plugged in about 98% of the time, and when the power’s cut, the battery only lasts an hour before draining. It currently holds a charge of about 60%. I’ve been using it consistently, but the battery hasn’t shown any signs of malfunction – just a gradual loss of capacity because I haven’t given it a break from the charger for most of its life.
