Plugged In vs Battery: What’s Best for Your Laptop’s Lifespan?

Laptop batteries can be hard to use right. Many people ask: is it better to keep a laptop plugged in all the time or use the battery? This is a big question! This guide will help you know what to do with your laptop.

How Laptop Batteries Work

Laptops use lithium-ion batteries. These store power for your computer. Each time you charge and use up the battery, it is one cycle.
Lithium-ion batteries don’t like being at 100% for a long time. They also don’t like being at 0%. Both make the battery get old fast.
When a charge controller in your laptop sees the battery is full, it stops more power from going in. But the battery still has stress at 100%.

Risks of Keeping Your Laptop Plugged In

When your laptop stays plugged in all the time:

• It makes heat. Heat is very bad for batteries.
• The battery stays at high voltage, which makes it wear out.
• It can cause battery swelling over time.
  Many users keep laptops plugged in all day. A Consumer Reports Survey found that 63% of people do this, and 41% had less than 80% battery life after just 2 years.

Risks of Always Using Battery Power

Using battery power all the time can also be bad:

• Going below 20% can hurt the battery cells.
• More cycles mean shorter battery life.
• Your laptop might not work as fast when on battery.

Which is Better? Let’s Compare

Here is a simple chart to help you see the good and bad things about both ways:

What Studies Show

Scientists and computer makers have done tests to find the best way to use laptops:

Best Ways to Use Your Laptop Battery

Here are the best tips for making your battery last longer:

1. Keep your battery between 20% and 80% full.
2. Don’t leave your laptop plugged in all the time.
3. Use the battery sometimes, not just the plug.
4. Keep your laptop cool.
5. Use software that helps your battery.
   Many laptop makers have tools to help your battery last longer. For example, can set a limit so your battery stops charging at 80%.

Battery Software Tools

All big laptop brands now have tools to help with battery health:

• Apple: Battery Health Management in macOS
• Windows: Battery Saver mode
• Dell: Power Manager
• HP: Battery Care
• Lenovo: Vantage
• ASUS: Battery Health Charging
  These tools use charge threshold settings to stop your battery from staying at 100% too long.

When to Keep It Plugged In

Sometimes, keeping your laptop plugged in is better:

• When doing big jobs like video editing or games
• When using many extra things plugged in
• When you need top speed and power
  If you must stay plugged in for a long time, think about getting a high-quality replacement battery for when you need it.

When to Use Battery Power

Use battery power when:

• You’re moving around with your laptop
• You want to extend your battery’s life
• There is a storm that might cut power
• You don’t need full speed (like just web browsing)

True or Not? Battery Myths

Let’s fix some wrong ideas about laptop batteries:

1. Myth: “My laptop will stop charging at 100%”
   Truth: Yes, but staying at 100% still causes stress and heat.
2. Myth: “I should drain my battery to 0% once a month”
   Truth: No! This hurts modern batteries. Never go below 20% if you can help it.
3. Myth: “Battery calibration is not needed”
   Truth: You should still calibrate your battery 1-2 times a year for correct readings.
4. Myth: “New laptops don’t have battery problems”
   Truth: Even the newest laptops with fancy batteries still need good care.

Signs Your Battery Needs Help

How do you know when your battery health is going down? Look for:

• Battery life gets much shorter
• Laptop shuts down even when battery shows charge left
• Battery gets hot fast
• Battery swells or makes your laptop case bulge
  If you see these signs, you might need a new laptop battery soon.

Questions People Ask

The Bottom Line

The best way to care for your laptop battery is to:

1. Keep the charge level between 20-80%
2. Use battery sometimes and plug sometimes
3. Keep your laptop cool
4. Use your computer maker’s battery tools
   This balance gives you the longest battery life. No need to worry too much, but a little care goes a long way!
   If your battery does wear out, you can find quality replacement batteries for many laptop models to give your laptop new life.