This wikiHow teaches you how to restore laptop battery life. Although battery life can be increased by doing a number of things, you should still replace your laptop battery every 2-3 years for optimal performance. Be careful if the laptop uses a lithium battery because the damage can get worse if you freeze or empty its contents repeatedly.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Reviving a NiMH or NiCD Battery in the Freezer
Step 1. Make sure the laptop is not using a lithium battery
For this method to work, you must use a Nickel-Cadmium (NiCD) or Nickel-Metal Hybrid (NiMH) battery. If this method is applied to the wrong battery, it will seriously damage the battery instead.
- All Mac computers use lithium batteries, and many newer Windows computers also use lithium batteries.
- Do not perform this method on a computer with a non-removable battery as the process will inevitably require you to remove the battery (this will void the computer's warranty), or freeze the entire computer (the computer can be damaged).
Step 2. Turn off the laptop and unplug it from the power source
The laptop must be completely turned off and the charger unplugged before you remove the battery. You could be electrocuted if you don't.
Step 3. Remove the battery
Usually, you have to open the bottom of the laptop and take the battery out of it, although some laptops may provide an unlock button on the bottom.
Step 4. Put the battery in a soft cloth bag
This must be done to provide insulation between the battery and the second bag that will be used later.
Step 5. Put the battery that has been wrapped in a cloth bag into a plastic clip (ziplock) bag
Doing so will prevent the battery from getting damp when placed in the freezer.
Do not use ordinary plastic bags because the battery will be exposed to liquid and moisture
Step 6. Let the battery stay in the freezer for 10 hours
Doing so will give the battery ample time to recover, at least part of its battery life.
You can leave the battery in the freezer for 12 hours, but don't leave it any longer as the battery may leak
Step 7. Charge the battery
After the battery has been left in the freezer for a set amount of time, remove the battery from there. Dry the battery if necessary to return it to room temperature. Next, put the battery back into the laptop. After that, you can charge it.
Part 2 of 4: Recalibrating the Laptop Battery
Step 1. Understand the right time to run this method
You must recalibrate the battery if the indicator does not display the remaining charge correctly.
For example, if the battery indicator shows that it is still at 50 percent charge, but the computer shuts down moments later, you need to recalibrate
Step 2. Charge the battery to 100 percent
Keep the charger plugged into the laptop until the battery is completely full (it says "Fully Charged").
Step 3. Unplug the laptop from the power source
Do this by unplugging the charging cable from the laptop.
Never unplug the charging cable plugged into the wall first. When the charging cable is still connected to the laptop and you plug the charger into a power source, this can damage the laptop
Step 4. Run the laptop until the battery is completely discharged
You can drain the battery by turning it on all the time. You can also speed up battery drain by streaming videos or running apps that drain a lot of power.
Step 5. Leave the laptop unplugged for 3-5 hours
This is to ensure that there is no electrical charge at all inside the laptop before you proceed.
Skip this step if you are using a lithium battery
Step 6. Start charging the battery
Plug the laptop charger back in to do it. If the battery has reached 100 percent, it means you have successfully calibrated.
Part 3 of 4: Performing a Full Recharge
Step 1. Do this method if the laptop battery runs out too quickly
If the laptop battery suddenly runs out faster than usual, you can use this method to solve the problem.
Don't use this method too often. Draining the battery completely, then charging it fully repeatedly can reduce overall battery life by 30 percent
Step 2. Remove the charger from the laptop
Do this by unplugging the battery charger from the charger port on the laptop.
Never unplug the charging cable plugged into the wall first. When the charging cable is still connected to the laptop and you plug the charger into a power source, this can damage the laptop
Step 3. Run the laptop until the battery is completely discharged
You can drain the battery by turning it on all the time. You can also speed up battery drain by streaming videos or running apps that drain a lot of power.
Step 4. Leave the laptop unplugged for about 3 hours
This is to ensure that the battery is completely dead before you continue with the process.
Skip this step if you are using a lithium battery
Step 5. Start charging the battery
Do this by plugging the charger back into the laptop.
The process will be more effective if you leave the laptop off for as long as possible
Step 6. Let the battery charge for 48 hours
You can still use the laptop during this time, but the computer must remain plugged into the charger for at least 2 days without interruption. By doing so, the laptop battery will be fully charged and the overall battery life will increase.
Part 4 of 4: Caring for Used Batteries
Step 1. Avoid emptying the battery (discharge) past 50 percent
Emptying the laptop battery until it is completely discharged can make the battery life decrease by up to 30% after you empty the battery 300-500 times. Meanwhile, if you discharge the battery no more than 50%, the new battery life will decrease when you have discharged 1,000 times.
- Ideally, you should only discharge the laptop battery to about 20 percent. This allows you to discharge more than 2,000 times before decreasing battery life to 70%.
- If your computer uses a NiCD battery, you can fully discharge the battery every 3 months or so.
Step 2. Make sure the computer is not overheating
The heat prevents the computer from working efficiently and damages the battery. If you use the laptop in a warm area, make sure that the air circulation in the laptop is not blocked.
You may also want to place the laptop on a cool, flat surface such as a desk. Do not place the laptop on your lap because it can interfere with circulation. In addition, body temperature will also increase the overall temperature of the laptop
Step 3. Store the battery in proper condition
If you want to place your laptop somewhere, make sure the battery life can be maintained by storing it in a location that has a temperature between 20°C and 25°C (with the battery fully charged).
- Batteries can be stored in this condition for several months before you have to charge them again.
- Never store a lithium battery before you charge it to 100%.
Step 4. Try removing the battery when you play games or make edits
If the laptop battery is removable, you can remove it and leave the laptop plugged into a charger when you use it to play games or edit videos. This can prevent damage to the battery due to overheating.
Heat can shorten battery life. So, this is the best method if you frequently run applications that require a lot of power on your laptop
Step 5. Let the charger continue to plug into the laptop
Contrary to popular belief, leaving the charger plugged into the laptop really doesn't compromise battery life. If possible, leave the charger plugged into the laptop overnight, and remove the charger if necessary.
Tips
- Laptop batteries will eventually die. If this method fails, buy a new battery. You can buy a new battery online or at a computer store.
- Do not let the laptop battery completely drain when you use it regularly. If a warning appears that the battery is running low, plug a charger into the laptop to increase battery life in the long run.
- Lithium battery packs can enter "Sleep" mode if they are left empty for a long time. If this is the case, take the battery to computer service to "wake up" it with a power supply.
Warning
- Do not place the laptop battery in the freezer until you put it in a secure bag. Batteries can be damaged if exposed to ice and water.
- The freeze method should only be applied to NiMH or NiCD batteries. If you do this on a lithium battery, the condition of the battery will only get worse.
- Removing a laptop battery to replace the lithium cells in it is a very dangerous act. Never disassemble a laptop battery.
