Did you know that most laptop batteries have a one-to-two-year lifespan?
That’s right! No matter how good you look after your laptop, it will inevitably need a new Laptop Battery. Your battery can still be functional even if your device is more than two years old.
So, how do you know if your laptop battery needs to be replaced? Continue reading to find out!
What Factors Contribute to Battery Wear?
Laptop batteries deteriorate with time and use. Each time they’re charged, they’re slightly less charged than the previous time.
A battery that was built to supply 56,000 mWh could only achieve 52,000 MWh at full charge after a few years. This is perfectly fine, but it does indicate that you will need to change your battery at some point.
Overheating
When the battery is turned on, a slight increase in temperature is normal. To manage and dispel excess heat, your laptop has fans and heat sinks. When your battery dies, your computer may begin to work harder, which generates more heat and causes your fans to fail.
You may notice your laptop getting noisy as the fans work overtime to attempt to cool it down. If you notice loud fan noise, gently feel the bottom of your laptop and see if it feels hot to the touch. Slightly warm is normal but your laptop should not burn your lap!
If you notice that your laptop is running hotter, then it may be a sign that your battery is on its way out. If you notice your computer is hot to the touch, shutdown and unplug your computer immediately to avoid any further damage.
At that point, taking it to a professional computer repair shop might be a good idea so they can test your battery and verify if you need a new one. Leaving your computer off after it has shown signs of overheating is better than risking damage.
Failing to Charge
Your laptop battery failing to charge when plugged in could be a sign that it needs replacing. There are a few other things that could cause this that you may want to look into first:
If you are plugged into a surge protector or UPS and it is faulty then it could be the problem rather than your laptop battery. Plug directly into the wall to eliminate the variable of faulty power strip or other devices.
If you have an external battery, remove it using the quick release on the bottom of your computer and check that the connection is working. Inspect for dust build up wipe clean with a dry soft cloth. Then put the battery back in, making sure that it fits in securely and that the contacts are connecting.
If the battery still will not charge after these, then you may indeed need to replace the battery.
Short Run Time and Shutdowns
If you find yourself running back to the charger often, or find yourself tethered to your desk because you can’t get any work done with how often your computer needs charging, chances are you need a new battery.
Normally, you should get about 6 hours run time out of a fully charged laptop battery. There are things that affect how long your battery will last between charges. Screen brightness, how many programs you have open, and whether you are listening to audio or watching a video all affect battery run time.
Doing a lot at once will cause your computer to use more power and the battery will run out sooner. However, if you notice that you only get a half an hour or less off of a full charge, there is a problem.
If your computer shuts off without warning, this could also be a sign of a faulty battery. Though faulty batteries are not the only thing that can cause computer crashes, the sudden loss of power is definitely an indication you should take a closer look at your battery.
Replacement Warning
Both the Windows and Mac operating systems have an indicator for when batteries reach critically low levels of capacity.
Windows
Beginning with Windows 7, Microsoft added a battery life warning feature. Once your battery reaches a low enough capacity, Windows will warn you that your battery needs to be replaced. A red “X” will appear over the battery icon.
If you click the icon to display more info, you will likely see a message that reads “plugged in, not charging. Consider replacing your battery.”
Mac
If you click on the battery icon that is displayed in your Mac’s top menu bar, it will show you more details about the batteries current status. Along with a time estimate of remaining charge and a notification of which apps are using the most power, it will display the battery condition.
If there is a problem with your battery, or if it is reaching low levels of its lifespan, it will display one of three messages. If you see “replace soon,” “replace now,” or “service battery,” it’s time to act!
Getting Your New Laptop Battery
If your computer has an external battery, replacing it is very simple. All you need to do is look up the serial number of your battery and order a replacement battery. Though you can find third-party battery replacements, we recommend that you use the manufacturer batteries to not put your computer at risk.
If your computer has an internal battery, then you should have it serviced by someone who knows what they are doing. It is very easy to damage the delicate workings inside of your computer, so you should never open it if you do not know what you are doing.
Take ‘Charge’ of Your Battery Problems
If you need assistance installing a new laptop battery or if you have any other computer-related issues, please contact us right away!
We’d love to assist you in getting back up and running so you don’t have to worry about your computer problems any longer!
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