How to check the battery
health of your laptop (Windows, Linux & Mac)
Maintaining the health of
your laptop's battery is crucial to ensure its longevity and optimal
performance. Battery health refers to a battery's current capacity compared to
its original capacity when it was new. Over time, the battery's ability to hold
a charge diminishes due to various factors such as age, usage patterns, and
heat exposure. Monitoring the battery's health can alert you to when it might
need replacing or if there are practices you can adopt to extend its life.
Here's a detailed guide on how to check the battery health of your laptop.
Understanding Battery
Health Metrics
Before diving into the
process of checking battery health, it's important to understand the metrics
involved:
·
Design Capacity:
The original capacity of the battery when it was new.
·
Full Charge Capacity: The maximum charge
the battery can currently hold.
·
Cycle Count:
The number of complete charge and discharge cycles the battery has undergone.
·
Battery Wear Level:
An indication of the battery's wear and tear, represented by the difference
between the design capacity and full charge capacity.
Checking Battery Health
on Windows
Using Windows Built-in
Utility: Windows has a built-in utility that can generate a battery report.
1.
Open Command Prompt as an administrator by
right-clicking on the Start button and selecting "Windows PowerShell
(Admin)" or "Command Prompt (Admin)".
2.
Type powercfg /batteryreport and
press Enter. This command will generate a battery life report and save it as an
HTML file in your user directory.
3. Navigate to the user directory and open the battery report HTML file. Look for the "Battery Information" section, which will display the design capacity, full charge capacity, and cycle count.
Watch below the video explanation and practical illustration.
Third-Party Software:
There are many third-party software options available that provide detailed
battery information. Software like BatteryCare or HWMonitor can be downloaded
and installed to provide an easy-to-read dashboard with battery health details.
Checking Battery Health
on macOS
Using System Report:
1.
Click on the Apple icon in the top-left
corner of the screen and select "About This Mac".
2.
Click "System Report", then
select "Power" from the list on the left-hand side.
3.
Within the Power section, you'll find
information such as cycle count and condition, which indicates the battery's
health.
Third-Party Applications:
Applications like coconutBattery can provide a more user-friendly interface for
viewing battery health data, as well as additional information like the
battery's temperature and usage history.
Checking Battery Health
on Linux
Linux users can check
battery health using the command line:
1.
Open the Terminal.
2.
Enter upower -i
/org/freedesktop/UPower/devices/battery_BAT0 (replace BAT0 with your
battery's actual hardware identifier if different).
3.
Look for the "energy-full-design"
and "energy-full" values, which correspond to the design
capacity and full charge capacity, respectively.
Tips for Maintaining
Battery Health
After checking your
laptop’s battery health, you might want to take steps to maintain or improve
it:
·
Avoid Extreme Temperatures:
Batteries degrade faster in high temperatures. Keep your laptop in a cool, dry
place.
·
Use Power Saving Modes:
Utilize built-in power saving modes to reduce battery strain.
·
Calibrate the Battery:
Occasionally run your battery from 100% down to 0% to help calibrate the
battery's charge sensor.
·
Keep the Battery Charged:
Try to keep your battery charged between 40%-80% to extend its lifespan.
Conclusion
Regularly checking your
laptop's battery health is an essential part of device maintenance. By
understanding and using the tools available on your operating system, you can
gain insights into your battery’s condition and take appropriate action to
maintain its health. Remember that while batteries are consumable items that
will inevitably wear out over time, adopting good charging habits can
significantly delay the need for a replacement.
