A laptop is useful for both work and play, but how well it works depends a lot on the battery. Batteries in laptops lose power over time, which can cause problems that make them less useful and less efficient. Early detection of the warning signs can keep you from having to deal with sudden shutdowns and lost output. This article will talk about the main signs that your laptop battery needs to be changed and what you can do about them.
Loss of power quickly
Rapid drain is one of the most clear signs that a battery is beginning to fail. If your laptop's fully charged battery only lasts a small part of the time it used to, the battery has lost a lot of power. Modern lithium-ion batteries don't last forever, and as they are charged and discharged more times, they lose some of their power. If your laptop shuts down quickly even though the battery light says it's charged, it's time to get a new battery.
Shutdowns without warning
If your laptop shuts down suddenly and without notice, even though the battery level shows that it's fully charged, the battery may be dying. If the battery is good, it should provide steady power until it runs out. But a bad battery might not deliver steady power, which can cause quick shutdowns that can damage hardware and cause data loss.
Problems with overheating
Although laptops naturally make heat, a bad battery can make them burn too much. If you notice that your device is getting very hot, especially where the battery is, it could be because the battery cells are becoming less efficient and resisting electricity flow more. Not only does overheating hurt the performance of the battery, it also offers a safety risk because it could cause the battery to swell or even catch fire in the worst cases.
Battery Getting Swelly
A battery that is swollen is a big problem. If the case of your laptop looks like it's bulging or if the keyboard and mouse aren't lined up right, it could mean that the battery is too full. Swelling happens because of chemical processes inside the battery that let out gases that make it grow. Using a swollen battery for a long time can hurt internal parts and raise the risk of an explosion. If you see growth, you should stop using the laptop right away and get a new one from a professional.
Trouble with charging
If it's hard for your laptop to charge, the battery might be the problem. Some of the most common problems are:
- The laptop only charges sometimes;
- It takes longer than normal to fully charge;
- The battery percentage stays the same even when the laptop is put in;
- The laptop doesn't even recognise the battery.
These issues can also be caused by broken charging ports and cords, but charging problems that don't go away often mean the battery is dying.
Battery health has gotten worse
Most operating systems have tools to check the health of the battery. The command prompt (powercfg /batteryreport) in Windows lets you make a battery report. Mac users can find out how healthy their batteries are by going to "System Information" > "Power." If the report shows a "Replace Soon" or a sharp drop in the number of charge cycles, your battery is almost dead and needs to be replaced.
The laptop will only work when it is plugged in.
If you plug your laptop into a power outlet and it works fine, but when you unplug it, it turns off, that means the battery is dead. In other words, your laptop needs direct power to work, which makes it useless for travelling. Changing the battery will make it portable and useful again.
Battery percentage changes that don't make sense
A good battery has a steady rate of discharge. If you see strange behaviour, like your battery going from 50% to 10% in minutes or suddenly going back up in number, it means that the battery indicator is broken or the battery is breaking down inside. These changes can make it hard to tell how much battery life is left, which can cause the device to shut down when you least want it to.
Battery Age and Number of Charges
Each laptop battery can only be charged a certain number of times. Depending on the brand, this number is usually between 300 and 1000. When you use up all of the battery's power, no matter if it was drained all at once or in smaller amounts, the charge cycle is over. If your battery has gone over its cycle count limit, it will stop working as well and need to be replaced.
Messages with errors and battery warnings
If your operating system shows problem messages about battery performance, like "Service Battery" on macOS or "Consider replacing your battery" on Windows, pay attention to these messages. The battery's health is very low, and these signs show that it may fail soon.
What to Do If You See These Signs
If any of these red flags stand out to you, do these things:
- Save a copy of your data: If you don't back up your important files, you could lose them if your computer shuts down suddenly.
- Look over your warranty: If your laptop is still under protection, the company that made it may be able to give you a new battery for free.
- Only use original batteries: Always choose original batteries or batteries that the maker recommends to make sure they work and are safe.
- Get help from a professional: If you're not sure how to fix the problem or replace the battery, you should take it to an expert repair shop.
Dr. Phone Fix can replace your battery for you
Dr. Phone Fix is the place to go if you need a new charger for your laptop. Our skilled techs can change the batteries in all major laptop types in a quick and safe way. We can figure out what's wrong with your battery and install a high-quality replacement to get your laptop working again, whether it's dying too quickly, getting too hot, or shutting down without warning.
Today, I went to Dr. Phone Fix to get a quick and cheap new laptop battery. Don't let a dead battery slow you down. Our professional repair services will get you back to using your computer without any problems.
