How to Check Laptop Battery Health

Laptop battery does not typically fail abruptly. You rather get used to seeing little differences – battery lasts for shorter periods of time, the percentage of charge drains faster than before, or the computer suddenly shuts down, although there seems to be some charge left in it.

This does not mean that it is time to buy a new battery already. Many factors such as brightness, background applications, video chats, playing games, or even Windows updates might influence battery performance. So before purchasing the battery, it would be logical to estimate the loss of capacity that the battery has experienced.

How to Check Battery Health in Windows

Checking battery capacity of a laptop in Windows requires no additional software.

Create a Windows Battery Report

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Type "Command Prompt" into the search field.
3. Click "Run as Administrator".
4. Then input the following command:

powercfg /batteryreport

Windows will create the report in the form of an HTML file and inform you about the file location. Open it in your preferred browser.

Check Design Capacity and Full Charge Capacity

The report might seem confusing at first sight, however, you need to find the following two numbers:

• Design Capacity – the number of energy that the battery was able to hold when it was new;
• Full Charge Capacity – the amount of energy that it is currently able to hold.

So, if the design capacity is 50,000 mWh and the full charge capacity is 40,000 mWh, it means that the battery holds around 80% of its original capacity.

It is completely natural for the battery to wear out. All rechargeable batteries lose their capacity over time. What matters here is how much capacity is left and whether it is sufficient for the purpose you intend to use the laptop for.

Don't Judge the Battery by the Number

Many people take 80% battery health and immediately think that it is necessary to buy a replacement. But this is not always the case.

Consider How You Use the Laptop

If the laptop provides you with sufficient operating time and you never face an unexpected shutdown, you can keep on using it. A person who works mostly at his desk will probably feel comfortable with the worn-out battery while a person who travels a lot will require a replacement much sooner.

Compare the Percentage with Actual Problems

Percentage becomes much more relevant if it corresponds to some problems. Watch for battery which charges very fast, drops from 40% to 10% in a short period of time, or results in the laptop being turned off although Windows shows remaining charge.

Look at the Battery Capacity History

The battery report provided by Windows contains also the section called Battery Capacity History. It presents you with the changes in battery capacity over time.

Watch for a Sharp Capacity Decline

It is quite common for this indicator to gradually decrease. However, a sharp decline should be taken into account as it might point to battery wear, reporting error, or malfunctioning of battery controller.

Treat Runtime Estimates as Approximate

In addition, Windows report estimates the time that you laptop should run depending on your previous usage. Please remember that it is only a rough estimation. High loads caused by heavy software, bright display and dedicated graphic card can considerably decrease runtime although the battery itself remains in good condition.

Use the Test Provided by the Laptop Manufacturer

Windows gives you some indicators which you may use. However, the test by the manufacturer will give you a much more definite answer.

Battery Diagnostic Tools by Brand

Depending on the brand you have the following tools:

• Lenovo Vantage;
• MyASUS;
• HP Support Assistant or HP Hardware Diagnostics;
• Dell Optimizer, MyDell, or Dell Power Manager.

They usually classify your battery as healthy, fair, weak, or requiring replacement. Besides, these tests can spot some troubles which are not visible on the Windows report.

Check Battery Health in the BIOS

On some laptops, it is possible to check battery health in the BIOS. This is especially useful if Windows report turns out to be quite weird or if the battery is not detected at all.

How to Check Battery Health on a MacBook

Check Battery Condition and Maximum Capacity

On a MacBook, open the Apple menu and go to System Settings > Battery and open battery health information where you will find battery condition and maximum capacity.

Check the Battery Cycle Count

In addition, it is possible to check the cycle count of the battery. Just press Option button and open the Apple menu > System Information > Power.

A charge cycle is not necessarily the process of full charge from 0% to 100%. Several partial discharges might also equal a charge cycle. The maximum cycle count differs depending on MacBook model.

Just as in the case of Windows laptop, a number alone does not give an answer to whether it is time to change your battery or not. The MacBook might have lost its capacity but remain functional according to your daily activity pattern.

Signs that the Battery Is Actually Failing

Shorter runtime is a clear sign of the bad state of the battery, but it is not the only one.

Common Battery Failure Symptoms

The battery requires replacement when:

• the percentage of charge changes abruptly;
• the laptop turns off before its battery gets completely discharged;
• the battery cannot be charged to 100%;
• the process of charging starts and stops repeatedly;
• the laptop works only when connected to electricity;
• the system recommends battery service.

Sometimes the capacity of the battery is quite enough but it acts in an unpredictable way. It happens due to the malfunctioning of individual cells or battery controller.

Battery Problem or Excessive Power Consumption?

Short runtime does not necessarily mean that the battery is broken.

Reduce Power Consumption Before Testing

Before changing it, try to use the laptop with low brightness and a minimum amount of open applications. Also, close the additional lights of the keyboard and shut down games, editing software or some other demanding program.

If the runtime has become considerably higher, the battery might be in good condition. The laptop was just consuming more power than usual.

Check Background Processes

Also, it is necessary to check the usage of processor or graphics card in Windows Task Manager. Synchronization of data in the cloud, Windows updates, antivirus scan, or some tabs in your browser can also consume significant amounts of power.

Swollen Battery Is Something Different

Capacity loss is quite slow. But swelling is something else.

What to Do with a Swollen Battery

Do not use the battery if the laptop case begins to open, the touchpad lifts up, the keyboard bends or the bottom of your laptop gets a bump. Do not press the case and do not puncture the battery.

A swollen battery should be disconnected and replaced. Otherwise, the laptop might get damaged and there will be a potential risk.

Where to Find the Correct Battery Replacement

Once you are sure that the battery needs to be replaced, you cannot rely only on your laptop brand or screen size. Laptops from the same series can have different batteries.

Check the Battery Parameters

Check the following parameters of the old battery:

• part number;
• voltage;
• shape;
• connector;
• position of the cable;
• mounting points.

The list of those parameters matters much more than a generic description such as "battery for HP Pavilion" or "battery for Lenovo IdeaPad".

Compare Replacement Batteries and Repair Information

www.Zeto.ua website can assist you in comparing the batteries by the laptop model, part number, voltage, and physical dimensions. For US users, the similar reference can be iFixit which provides not only replacement laptop parts but also model-specific repair guide and repairing tools. In other words, if you are interested in both technical catalog and repairing information, you can compare batteries easily.

When to Replace Your Battery?

There is no single battery health percentage that suits everybody.

Replace the Battery When It Affects Normal Use

Replacement is needed when your laptop no longer lasts long enough for you, when it unexpectedly shuts down, fails the manufacturer's test, cannot charge properly or swells. A swollen battery should be disconnected and replaced regardless of its current capacity.

Keep Using It If It Still Works Properly

But if the battery is just wearing but still works fine, you are not obliged to change it immediately. Estimate the report, compare the numbers to the real behavior of the laptop and make your decision according to your usage.

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