BATTERY LIFESPAN IN A LAPTOP

A few years ago, lithium-ion batteries used in laptops offered relatively low capacity, which limited runtime to around two hours. Their advantage, however, was durability — many of them lasted up to five years. Modern laptops are equipped with batteries that store significantly more energy, but they naturally age even when the laptop is not being used. For this reason, removing the battery from the laptop doesn’t offer the benefits people often expect; in most cases, it should remain installed.

Avoid Deep Discharge

When the battery stays inside the laptop, the charging system continuously monitors its condition and prevents overcharging. If you have access to a power outlet, keep the laptop plugged in and avoid unnecessary battery discharge. Problems arise when the battery is allowed to drain too deeply — this is something you should always avoid. If your laptop shuts down due to low power, immediately connect the charger and recharge the battery. Once the battery reaches full charge (after actual use), the laptop stops drawing energy from it and switches entirely to AC power, reducing wear on the cells.

Should You Remove the Battery?

Many users believe that removing the battery whenever the laptop is used at home will preserve its life — but this is a misconception. The battery should only be removed if you know the laptop will remain unused for an extended period. Even inside a powered-off device, the battery slowly discharges over time, sometimes within just a week. If the voltage drops too low, the battery’s controller may lock itself for protection, resulting in a permanent communication failure between the laptop and the battery.

Protect It From Extreme Temperatures

The internet is full of myths — one of the most common being that freezing a battery “brings it back to life.” This is completely false. Because a battery is a chemical system, extreme temperatures can damage it permanently. At temperatures below freezing, capacity drops sharply. Heat also poses a serious risk. One of the worst places to store a laptop is inside a car. A laptop bag left in direct sunlight can easily reach 60°C, drastically shortening battery life and potentially causing the controller to shut down.

Consider Battery Regeneration

If you follow the recommendations above, your laptop battery will stay healthy for a long time. However, all lithium-ion batteries age and gradually lose capacity. Instead of replacing the battery immediately, a more cost-effective solution is regeneration — a service that restores performance for a fraction of the cost of a new battery.