Can I Leave My Laptop Plugged In 24/7? Effects on Laptop Battery Life and Tips for Maintenance

How do you keep your laptop battery healthy? Can I leave my laptop plugged in 24/7? We have put together this guide for you. Because most people rely heavily upon laptops for work communications and entertainment, it is crucial to understand how to care for their batteries.

Leaving them plugged in for long periods can significantly impact their battery life, which is why we’ve put together this article to help you understand the effects and ways to mitigate them. We’ll offer expert advice on maximizing your laptop’s battery life and tips about the best ways to use and charge your computer.

Whether you’re a student, professional, or casual user, you’ll want to read on to ensure you get the most out of your computer with a lasting battery.

What Happens When You Leave Your Laptop Plugged In

• Battery Lifespan:

To enhance your laptop’s battery life, you should let it discharge by 40–80% before recharging it. Also, leaving your plugged-in laptop for extended periods can reduce its battery life because it remains at 100 percent charge and gets exposed to heat. Studies show that the average laptop battery lasts around 300 to 500 charge cycles before needing replacement.

Studies have shown that, on average, laptop batteries last between 300 and 500 charge cycles before they need to.

1. If you consistently leave your laptop plugged in 24/7, then each charge cycle comes approximately every 2-3 days, reducing its lifespan significantly. However, if you let your laptop discharge to around 40-80% before recharging again, this prevents overcharging and extends its lifespan.
2. To help increase your laptop’s battery lifespan, let it drain completely before charging again.
3. Keeping your laptop in a calm and well-ventilated area can help it function longer without needing to be plugged in.

•   Overcharging

Laptops are to stop charging once they reach 100% capacity, but it’s important to unplug your laptop when fully charged and leave it plugged in for extended hours or overnight.

• Power Surges

When there is a power surge, your laptop’s battery and other internal parts may get damaged even if plugged in. To protect against this risk, you should use a surge protector to plug in all your electrical appliances during thunderstorms or any malfunctions with your home’s electricity.

Should You Leave Your Laptop Plugged In All the Time?

Now that we have discussed what can happen if you leave your laptop plugged in for extended periods let’s figure out whether you should leave it constantly connected to the power.

• Laptop Use:

Whether you should always leave your laptop plugged in depends on how you use it. If you mainly use your laptop as a desktop replacement and it is always connected to power, leaving it plugged in all the time is generally acceptable. However, if you primarily use your laptop on the go and rely on its battery life, keeping it unplugged once fully charged is necessary to avoid using it for long periods.

• Charging Time:

A laptop’s battery charging speed is also a factor to consider. Laptops with fast-charging capabilities can charge quickly and efficiently, so leaving them plugged in for short periods should not be an issue.

However, if your laptop takes a long time to charge, it is best to unplug once the battery is fully charged to avoid overheating and overcharging.

• Battery Type:

The type of battery your laptop has is highly significant when deciding if you should leave it plugged in all day. Newer laptops may have lithium-polymer batteries designed for staying plugged in for long periods.

However, older laptops may have nickel-cadmium or nickel-metal hydride batteries that can be damaged by connecting them to the power supply.

Charging Threshold

It is essential to consider your laptop’s charging threshold for optimum usage. Most laptops have a maximum charging threshold, the percentage at which the battery stops charging, and prevent overcharging and overheating. It would be best to unplug your laptop once it reaches that point to avoid damaging the battery.

 Your entire decision about leaving your laptop plugged in all the time depends on several factors, such as how you use it, its charging time, and battery type, among others.

Tips for Extending Your Laptop’s Battery Life

Whether you decide to leave your laptop plugged in or not, it’s always a good idea to extend your laptop’s battery life. Here are some tips to help you do just that:

Adjust your laptop’s settings.

To conserve more power, adjust your laptop‘s settings. You can begin by lowering the screen brightness to a comfortable level. Your display uses more energy when it is bright. Also, it would help if you switched off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use; they drain the battery too.

Additionally, you can close any unnecessary programs because running applications in the background drain your laptop’s battery without knowing about it.

Keep your laptop clean.

Laptops get heated up fast if dust or any other remains in the fans and vents. To prevent this, clean your laptop regularly using compressed air or soft brushes to remove all the build-up in the ducts and fans. Also, please avoid using your laptop on smooth surfaces like beds or couches, as they can block the airflow and cause the laptop to overheat.

Dim the screen

As mentioned earlier, Dimming your laptop’s screen will help preserve its battery life. Many laptops have a function key for adjusting the brightness of their screens quickly.

Disable unnecessary programs

Unwanted programs running in the background can suck your laptop’s battery without you even noticing. To save power, disable all applications you are not using and then shut down any unnecessary processes by opening the task manager.

Following these tips will help you significantly increase your laptop’s battery life and enjoy using it for extended periods without charging it frequently.

How to Maintain Your Laptop Battery Life:

Maintain your laptop’s battery to keep it functioning for longer. Following are some tips on how you can maintain your laptop’s battery life:

Avoid extreme temperatures: 

Avoid exposure to extreme hot and cold conditions to preserve the life of your laptop battery. Also, please do not leave your laptop in a hot car, in direct sunlight, or in cold environments.

Keep your laptop battery charged: 

Keeping your laptop‘s battery charged can help protect it from losing capacity over time. When you do not use your laptop for an extended period, keeping the battery charged between 40% and 80% is best.

Store your laptop properly: 

It’s essential to store your laptop correctly if you don’t use it for an extended period. Ensure that the laptop is before removing the battery. Keep the battery cool and dry without storing it with the laptop.

Use original chargers and batteries: 

Suppose you use non-original chargers and batteries. It is advisable always to use the original chargers and batteries provided by the laptop manufacturer. Storing your laptop battery at an optimal temperature of 15°C (59°F) will help you maintain and extend its lifespan. The ideal charge level for storing a laptop battery is 40% to 60%.

Following these tips will help maintain your laptop battery life and increase lifespan.

Conclusion

It is essential to note that each laptop and battery are different; the best approach may vary depending on your specific device. By utilizing the tips listed in this article “can I leave my laptop plugged in 24/7” and consulting your laptop’s user manual, you can help extend your battery’s longevity while keeping it operating optimally at all times. It’s always a good practice to disconnect your laptop when fully charged or if not in use for an extended amount of time to prevent overcharging and maintain the healthiness of your battery.

Remembering to take care of your laptop’s battery is essential to ensure it continues functioning correctly. It also helps you avoid expensive replacements down the line.

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