Whether working from home or remotely, laptops are extremely convenient because of their portability and can help you become more productive. But even with modern notebooks becoming equipped with long-lasting batteries, you’ll still find yourself wanting to preserve as much power as you can, especially when there are no convenient sockets nearby.
If you want to extend each charge as much as you can, here are some helpful tips to keep your laptop alive longer and get the most out of the battery.
Enable Battery Saver and Low Power
From Microsoft Official Website
If you’re using Windows, the Battery Saver option reduces background activity like automatic email and calendar syncing, push notifications, and inactive apps to save power. Just go to Start, then select Settings > System > Battery to enable this mode. You can also set it to turn on automatically when your battery falls below a certain percentage.
Screenshot from Kitty Elicay
On a Mac, go to System Settings and switch to Low Power mode. This must be manually enabled, so you can modify it to automatically activate whenever your notebook is unplugged. Keep in mind that this will also reduce system performance.
Work offline
From IFC Official GIPHY
If you can work without WiFi, it can help your laptop battery last longer. By default, your notebook is constantly pinging for WiFi signals to connect to other devices, and this feature can significantly drain power. Disabling your WiFi or switching to Airplane Mode on your Windows device deactivates this, as well as other background apps and processes that rely on wireless radios, like updaters and push notifications.
Close unused apps
From RainToMe Official GIPHY
Simplifying your workflow can also extend battery life while you’re unplugged. Close apps that are not in use, or stick to one app at a time, especially if you’re just using your laptop to edit a document, watch a video, check your emails, etc. Running multiple apps and processes draws a lot of power from your battery and will drain it more quickly.
On your Windows device, go to Settings and type in the search bar, “See which apps are affecting your battery life.” If you see an unused app hogging a lot of power, close it immediately. On a Mac, go to System Settings > General Login Items and disable the apps running in the background.
Turn off keyboard backlighting
If your laptop comes with a keyboard backlight, consider lowering the brightness or turning it off completely. While it can be extremely helpful when typing in the dark, it’s another source of battery drain.
Keep your laptop cool
From Furryhead Official GIPHY
Heat can affect battery life, so try and keep your notebook’s battery at room temperature or even slightly below so it remains efficient. Avoid using it in direct sunlight or inside a hot room. Ensure your laptop has plenty of ventilation by using it only on firm surfaces like a table or desk, which won’t block airflow, or by using a laptop riser or cooler, which helps cool down internal components.
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