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How To Make Laptop Battery Last Longer

Updated on September 12, 2017

Having access to a laptop is crucial for some people who need to get something done. In order to work, a laptop must have power. Power can be provided by the battery, which is why you should make sure that the laptop conserves battery power to last as long as possible. That way you derive the maximum benefit out of your laptop.

Laptop batteries are usually made of Lithium-Ion, which tends to lose its capacity to hold power the older it gets. In general, a laptop will lose about ten percent of battery capacity every year. Eventually, all laptop batteries will need to be replaced. When that happens depends on the circumstances involved. Some may last longer than others, but all will eventually die or run out of power.

Fortunately, there are many options available for someone to make their laptop battery last longer without having to purchase a brand new or a higher capacity one. Many of these don't have to cost you anything. Options worth exploring include:

  • Configure laptop settings

  • Reduce screen brightness

  • Add more memory

  • Replace processor with a more efficient one

  • Replace hard drive with a flash-based one

  • Remove all unused software and other bloatware

  • Keep your laptop cool

These options will be discusses in more detail below.

How to configure laptop settings to make it run longer?

By default, most laptops are already configured to conserve power. However, you should still check if those settings are optimal or if they haven't been changed by someone. Consult your manual if you have to.

  • Make sure screen savers are used and laptop goes to sleep when not in use.

  • Make sure power options in control panel is set to conserve your battery

  • Depending on your laptop, you may be able to adjust your BIOS and lower the voltage settings for your processor and memory

  • If you cannot access the BIOS, you may want to use software that can adjust these settings for you.

All of these settings can affect how power is used. If you want to reduce power use, the right software configuration is important.

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How can I make my laptop run longer by reducing brightness?

Laptop screens usually have a back light, which needs more power as brightness is increased. In fact, the laptop display is usually one of the biggest consumers of battery power. Most laptops will therefore reduce brightness as soon as they run on battery power to postpone running out of power. Make sure that your laptop does this as it can make a big difference.

You can reduce brightness even more by finding the absolute minimum your eyes are comfortable with. Experiment to find out how far you can go. You can also go somewhere else if you're in a location where there is not enough or too much light. This should make your battery charge last a lot longer.

How can adding memory make my laptop battery last longer?

Operating systems in a laptop use a swap file on your hard drive whenever they run out of memory. Data is transferred to the hard drive to free up memory. Most computer hard drives have discs that spin inside and they need a lot more power than memory modules that have no moving parts.

Adding more memory results in fewer uses of the swap file on your hard drive, which in turn reduces the amount of power used. A side benefit is that it will also improve computer performance. If you have less than 4 Gigabytes of memory, you should definitely look to add more memory.

You may be able to salvage compatible memory modules from laptops that are no longer used or needed. They could still be in good working condition, which means that you get more memory for free or at a very low price. You should try this or simply buy new ones.

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How to make my battery last longer by replacing the processor or CPU?

The central processing unit (CPU) is the heart of any computer and responsible for a significant part of total power consumption. Newer processors are usually more efficient than previous ones. Replacing the current processor with a more recent one can help reduce power consumption.

If your laptop is several years old, you want to look for a compatible processor that is newer than what you currently have. Similar to memory modules, used processors in working condition can be salvaged from unwanted laptops. Otherwise, get a new one. It's cheaper than a whole laptop.

How to make my battery charge last longer by using flash-based storage?

Traditional hard drives rely on internal discs that constantly rotate to store and retrieve data. More modern hard drives use flash memory, which don't have any moving parts and therefore require a lot less electricity to work. The drawback is that they tend to be more expensive than a traditional hard drive of equivalent capacity.

The good news is that prices for these flash-based hard drives have dropped tremendously and the consumer can now purchase one with sufficient capacity for less than the price of a new branded laptop battery. In addition, they are much faster than traditional hard drives and you can dramatically improve computer performance.

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How to make my notebook last longer by uninstalling unused software and other bloatware?

Many applications tend to use up computer resources even when they are not being used. An example would be memory. This is done for many different reasons. One example would be the ability to make the application load faster so that the user doesn't have to wait as long. The more applications hogging resources, the more power is wasted.

Removing applications that aren't needed frees up memory, which in turn should reduce hard drive use and in the process save battery power. Decide what software you really need and get rid of applications you don't really use or need. Don't be surprised if your computer becomes a lot more response after cleaning up all the bloated software.

How can I make my battery last longer by keeping my laptop cool?

In general, you want to keep your laptop running as cool as possible because overheating can cause electronics to fail. Laptops usually come with an internal fan that starts spinning as soon as it gets too hot. The cooler your laptop is, the less often the fan has to turn on and the more power is saved.

Try to use avoid using your laptop in a hot or humid environment where it needs more cooling. Go to an airconditioned room if possible. Try to stay in the shades at all times and don't expose your laptop to the sun. Your battery and laptop in general will appreciate it and you'll be able to use it a lot longer.

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