Best Practices to Increase Battery Life of Your Laptop on Windows 11

Laptop battery life is crucial for productivity, especially when you're on the go and don't have immediate access to a power outlet. Windows 11, with its advanced power management features, can help you optimize and extend your laptop's battery life. Here are the best practices to maximize your laptop's battery performance on Windows 11.

1. Adjust Power and Sleep Settings

Windows 11 allows you to customize power and sleep settings to manage battery usage more efficiently.

• Use Power Saver Mode:
  • Go to Settings > System > Power & battery.
  • Under "Battery saver," enable "Battery saver now." This reduces background activity and lowers screen brightness, which helps extend battery life.
• Adjust Sleep Settings:
  • In the same Power & battery settings, adjust the "Screen and sleep" settings to turn off the display and put the laptop to sleep after a shorter period of inactivity.

2. Lower Screen Brightness

The display is one of the most significant power consumers on a laptop. Reducing screen brightness can significantly extend battery life.

• Adjust Brightness Manually:
  • Use the brightness slider in the Quick Settings panel (accessible via the taskbar) to lower the brightness to a comfortable level.
• Enable Adaptive Brightness:
  • Go to Settings > System > Display.
  • Under "Brightness & color," toggle on "Change brightness automatically when lighting changes" if your laptop supports adaptive brightness. This feature adjusts the brightness based on ambient light conditions, saving battery life.

3. Manage Background Apps

Background apps can consume power even when you're not actively using them. Managing these apps can help conserve battery.

• Limit Background Activity:
  • Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
  • Click on an app, then click "Advanced options" and choose "Background apps permissions." Select "Never" or "Power optimized" to prevent unnecessary battery drain.
• Disable Unnecessary Startup Apps:
  • Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
  • Go to the "Startup" tab and disable apps that you don't need to start automatically with Windows.

4. Use Battery Saver Mode

Battery Saver Mode in Windows 11 is designed to extend battery life by limiting background activities, notifications, and system performance.

• Enable Battery Saver:
  • Battery Saver mode turns on automatically when your battery drops below a certain level (default is 20%). However, you can manually enable it anytime by going to Settings > System > Power & battery and toggling on "Battery saver."
• Customize Battery Saver:
  • You can adjust when Battery Saver turns on by setting a higher threshold in the "Battery saver settings" under the same menu.

5. Close Unnecessary Programs and Tabs

Running multiple programs and having numerous browser tabs open can drain your laptop's battery quickly.

• Close Unused Programs:
  • Regularly check the taskbar and close any programs you aren't using.
• Use Browser Extensions Wisely:
  • Browser extensions can also consume power. Disable or remove extensions you don’t need and close tabs that aren't in use.

6. Optimize Battery Usage Per App

Windows 11 provides a breakdown of battery usage per app, allowing you to identify and manage power-hungry applications.

• Review Battery Usage:
  • Go to Settings > System > Power & battery and scroll down to "Battery usage."
  • Review the apps and processes that are using the most battery. If you notice any apps consuming excessive power, consider limiting their use or finding alternatives.
• Change App Background Permissions:
  • As mentioned earlier, you can limit background activity for specific apps through their advanced options.

7. Update Windows and Drivers

Keeping your operating system and drivers updated ensures that you benefit from the latest power management features and optimizations.

• Update Windows:
  • Go to Settings > Windows Update and click "Check for updates." Install any available updates to keep your system optimized.
• Update Drivers:
  • Updating your graphics and chipset drivers can improve power efficiency. You can check for driver updates in the Device Manager or through the manufacturer’s website.

8. Disable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi When Not Needed

Wireless connections like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi can drain your battery if left on when not in use.

• Turn Off Bluetooth:
  • Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices and toggle off Bluetooth when you're not using it.
• Disable Wi-Fi:
  • If you're working offline, disable Wi-Fi by clicking the network icon in the taskbar and toggling off Wi-Fi.

9. Use Airplane Mode

Airplane Mode disables all wireless communications, which can be beneficial when you're not using them and want to conserve battery.

• Enable Airplane Mode:
  • Click the network icon in the taskbar and select "Airplane mode." This will turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other wireless connections.

10. Avoid Extreme Temperatures

Exposing your laptop to extreme temperatures can damage the battery and reduce its lifespan.

• Use Your Laptop in Optimal Conditions:
  • Avoid using your laptop in excessively hot or cold environments. Room temperature is ideal for battery longevity.
• Store Your Laptop Properly:
  • If you're not using your laptop for an extended period, store it in a cool, dry place with the battery charged to around 50%.

11. Disable Background Syncing and Notifications

Background syncing and notifications can consume power as apps constantly check for updates or new data.

• Disable Syncing for Non-Essential Apps:
  • Go to Settings > Accounts > Sync your settings and turn off syncing for any non-essential apps.
• Limit Notifications:
  • Go to Settings > System > Notifications and turn off notifications for apps that don’t require immediate attention.

12. Optimize Your Power Plan

Windows 11 allows you to choose or customize power plans that balance performance and battery life.

• Choose a Power Plan:
  • Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
  • Select "Balanced" for a good mix of performance and energy saving, or "Power saver" to prioritize battery life.
• Customize a Power Plan:
  • Click "Change plan settings" to customize settings like display brightness, sleep time, and advanced power options.

13. Use Hibernate Instead of Sleep

While sleep mode conserves power, hibernate mode uses even less by saving your session to the hard drive and completely powering off the laptop.

• Enable Hibernate Mode:
  • Go to Settings > System > Power & sleep > Additional power settings.
  • Select "Choose what the power buttons do," and enable "Hibernate" as an option.

14. Monitor Battery Health

Over time, battery capacity decreases, and monitoring its health can help you understand when it's time for a replacement.

• Check Battery Health Report:
  • Open Command Prompt as an administrator and type powercfg /batteryreport. This generates a battery health report you can find in your user directory.
• Review the Report:
  • The report will show the original capacity, current capacity, and battery usage over time, helping you assess its condition.

Conclusion

By following these best practices, you can significantly extend the battery life of your laptop running Windows 11. These measures, ranging from simple settings adjustments to more advanced configurations, ensure that your laptop remains efficient and ready to use when you need it most. Remember, battery life management is an ongoing process, so regularly reviewing and adjusting your settings can help maintain optimal performance.