Windows PCs have made significant strides in battery performance, particularly with the latest laptop models. However, many users still find themselves grappling with diminishing battery life over time. For instance, a three-year-old Windows laptop that once boasted six to seven hours of screen time may now struggle to reach three hours without needing a charge. This scenario is common among both new and older Windows 11 devices. While hardware limitations are beyond our control, numerous software adjustments can help maximize battery life. Here are some effective strategies to enhance your laptop’s endurance on a single charge.
7. Lower Brightness
The lower the better
One of the most straightforward ways to extend battery life is by adjusting your screen brightness. A brighter display consumes more power, leading to quicker battery drain. Keeping the brightness at around 30 to 40 percent strikes a balance between visibility and power conservation. You can easily adjust this setting by clicking the notification icon on the taskbar or using the dedicated brightness keys on your keyboard.
6. Turn on Battery Saver
You don’t have to wait for the battery to drop below 20%
Windows 11 features a Battery Saver option that disables power-hungry activities such as push notifications and background app refreshes. By default, this mode activates when your battery level dips below 20%. However, you can manually enable Battery Saver at any time by clicking the battery icon in the notification area. To customize when it activates, navigate to Settings > System > Power & Battery and adjust the Energy Saver options.
5. Adjust Sleep Settings
Put the PC to sleep if you’re not using it
To conserve energy, consider reducing the display and sleep timeout settings. The display is one of the most power-intensive components of a laptop, so setting shorter intervals for sleep mode can significantly benefit battery health. To adjust these settings:
- Open Settings.
- Click System.
- Select Power & Battery.
- Use the drop-down menu under Screen and sleep to set shorter timeout periods.
4. Disable Apps at Startup
They can waste battery power
Applications that launch at startup can consume valuable battery resources. To manage these, open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc, navigate to the Startup tab, and disable any unnecessary applications. If you’re unsure about an app’s function, right-click it and select Search online for more information.
3. Disable Animation Effects
You don’t need them anyways
While animations and visual effects can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your laptop, they often come at the cost of battery life, especially on older devices. To disable these effects:
- Open Settings.
- Select Accessibility, then Visual effects.
- Toggle the Animation effects button to turn them off.
2. Shut Down Your Laptop
Closing lid doesn’t count
Many users neglect to shut down their laptops, opting instead to close the lid or put the device to sleep. However, this can lead to unexpected battery drain due to features like Modern Standby, which keeps the laptop connected to Wi-Fi in a low-power state. To ensure your laptop conserves energy, consider setting it to shut down automatically when you close the lid:
- Open Control Panel.
- Click Hardware and Sound.
- Select Power Options.
- In the left pane, click on Choose what closing the lid does.
- Under the On battery section, select Shut down for the When I close the lid setting.
- Click Save changes.
1. Change Power Mode
Don’t settle for the default mode
Windows 11 offers three power modes: Balanced, Best performance, and Best power efficiency. The default setting is Balanced, which may not be the most power-efficient option. Switching to Best power efficiency can help extend your laptop’s battery life significantly. By implementing these adjustments, you can enjoy a more efficient Windows experience without the need for a new device.
