Your laptop is designed to be used “on the go”, so a healthy laptop battery is essential to allow you to work flexibly for long periods of time without being plugged into a power supply. A failing battery means your computer has to rely on a mains power supply – and that may not always be available.
If you feel like your laptop battery is fading faster than your enthusiasm on a Monday morning, then you are not alone. Laptop battery health is a common concern, and thankfully, there are ways to check its condition right from your own desk.
At Lee Harvey, we’re here to guide you through the simple steps to understand your battery’s lifespan and keep it running smoothly. We’ll cover the commands and tools you can use on Windows systems and share some practical tips to extend your battery’s lifespan.
Why is it important to monitor your laptop battery health?
The old saying “forewarned is forearmed” applies here. If you know your computer battery’s health is failing, you can replace it before it dies in the middle of that important presentation.
Monitoring your laptop battery health is also important because it helps ensure optimal performance and prevents unexpected shutdowns or data loss. Regular checks can indicate when it’s time for a replacement, allowing you to maintain your device’s usability and extend its lifespan.
How often should I check battery health?
It’s a good idea to check your laptop battery health every 3-6 months to ensure optimal performance and to check for any gradual changes. If you start to notice a significant drop in battery life or unexpected shutdowns, then you may want to implement more regular checks.
You should also check your battery health after major software updates, as these can sometimes impact battery performance.
What is a good cycle count for a laptop battery?
Cycle count refers to the number of times a laptop battery has been fully drained and recharged – from full charge capacity to empty. It helps indicate the battery’s health and longevity, as most batteries have a limited number of cycles before their performance diminishes.
A good cycle count for a laptop battery typically ranges from 300 to 500 cycles, depending on the model. Once a battery reaches its maximum cycle count, it is recommended that a replacement be considered to maintain performance.
How to check laptop battery health on Windows laptops
To check your laptop battery health on Windows, you can generate a battery report. How you do this depends on whether you are using Windows 10 or Windows 11.
In Windows 10
To check your battery health, we’ll use Windows PowerShell, a built-in tool. Don’t worry, it’s not as daunting as it sounds! Simply right-click the Start button and choose Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the menu. You might see a pop-up asking for permission; just click ‘Yes’ to proceed.
A blue PowerShell window will now appear. This allows you to enter commands to automate tasks in Windows. Carefully type the following command exactly as shown, then press Enter:
powercfg /batteryreport /output “C:\battery-report.html”
Note: Pay close attention to the forward slashes, backslash, and quotation marks. This command instructs your computer to generate a battery report file named ‘battery-report.html’ and save it to your C drive.
You can now close this window. Open File Explorer and access the C drive. There, you should find the battery life report saved as an HTML file. Double-click the file to open it in your default web browser.
In Windows 11
The procedure is similar in Windows 11. As in Windows 10, you need to right-click on the Start icon, but now you will select Windows Terminal (Admin) instead. Click Yes when the pop-up window asks for permission to make changes to your device.
This will open Windows Terminal and you will see PowerShell so enter the following code.
powercfg /batteryreport /output “C:\battery-report.html”
Then press Enter
As before, after a short wait, PowerShell will tell you the name of the generated battery life report (battery-report.html) and where it has been saved on your computer (the C drive). You can now close the Windows Terminal.
Open File Explorer and click the OS (C:) entry under This PC. The battery report will be saved in this folder as an HTML file. Double-click to open the report file in your default web browser.
What the Battery Report tells you
Here’s a revised version of that content, aiming for clarity and a more engaging tone:
Understanding Your Battery Report
The Windows battery report provides valuable insights into your laptop’s battery health. Here’s a breakdown of the key sections:
- Installed Batteries: This section details your battery’s specifications, including the manufacturer, design capacity (its original capacity), full charge capacity (its current maximum capacity), and charge cycles. Charge cycles indicate how many times your battery has been fully charged and discharged. Knowing this is crucial, as most batteries have a lifespan of 300 to 500 cycles, giving you a clear picture of your battery’s remaining lifespan.
- Recent Usage: This section provides a timeline of your laptop’s activity over the past three days, showing when it was actively used, idle, or charging.
- Battery Usage: A graphical representation of your battery’s drain over the last three days. While interesting, it is not really vital information.
- Usage History: This section offers a tabular representation of your battery’s usage throughout its entire lifespan, showing when it was on battery power and when it was charging. While historically informative, it may not be essential for everyday monitoring.
- Battery Capacity History: This is a vital section displaying how your battery’s charge capacity has changed over time. It visually illustrates the natural decline in battery capacity.
- Battery Life Estimates: This section provides estimated battery life based on current capacity compared to the battery’s original capacity. This gives you a general idea of how much longer your battery will last on a charge.
The Battery Report gives you many details, such as how many hours your laptop was charged for, but most importantly, it tells you your battery’s model number and type so you can find a compatible replacement battery.
Signs your battery needs replacing
Common signs that your laptop battery needs replacing include significantly shorter battery life, unexpected shutdowns, slow charging, overheating, and a swollen battery. If you notice these issues, it’s likely time to consider a new battery.
Tips for prolonging battery life
There are steps you can take to prolong the life of your laptop’s battery.
- Adjust your power settings to a battery saver mode (Go to “Settings” menu).
- Reduce screen brightness (Go to “Settings” menu).
- Close unnecessary background applications.
- Try to keep your battery charged between 20% and 80%. In other words, try not to empty the battery completely and, if possible, unplug the charger before it reaches full charge capacity. (For more information and handy tips on this, read our blog: Should a laptop be plugged in all the time?).
- Avoid leaving your machine plugged in constantly.
Is your laptop failing? Contact us
If your battery report shows you need to take action, or all this sounds a bit daunting, just contact Lee Harvey Computing on 07884412739 for a speedy resolution if you think your laptop’s battery may need replacing.
Frequently asked questions about laptop battery health
What is the difference between battery life and battery capacity?
Laptop battery life refers to the length of time a laptop can operate on a single charge, i.e. how long you can work for before the battery gives up.
Battery capacity, on the other hand, indicates the total amount of energy the battery can store, usually measured in milliamp hours (mAh) or watt-hours (Wh).
Longer battery life is usually a result of higher capacity, but the actual performance – how long you can work for between charges – can vary enormously depending on your usage and settings.
Is it safe to use a laptop with a failing battery?
It is generally safe to use a laptop with a failing battery while plugged into mains power, but it is recommended to remove the battery if it is damaged, as it could pose a fire hazard or cause overheating. Replacing the battery as soon as possible is advisable for optimal performance.
Having trouble with Windows 11? Read this.
