Why Is My Laptop Battery Draining Fast? 6 Fixes to Extend Battery Life

You just unplugged your laptop and within an hour it’s begging for the charger again — sound familiar?

If your laptop battery life feels shorter than it used to, you’re not alone. Battery drain is one of the most common tech complaints, especially as laptops age or get heavier use. But don’t worry — in many cases, you can stretch your battery life with just a few quick changes.

Here are 6 things to check:

1. Screen Brightness is Too High

Your screen is usually the biggest power draw.

• Lower your brightness manually.

• Use auto-brightness or adaptive settings if available.

2. Too Many Background Apps

Even when you’re not using them, background apps can drain your battery.

• On Windows: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, open the Startup tab, and disable unneeded apps.

• On Mac: Go to System Settings > General > Login Items.

3. Power Settings Are Set to High Performance

Your laptop might be prioritizing speed over efficiency.

• On Windows: Go to Settings > System > Power & Battery, and choose a balanced or power saver mode when running on battery.

• On Mac: Use Battery > Energy Saver to adjust performance settings.

4. Wi-Fi or Bluetooth Are Always On

If you’re not using them, turn them off. But make sure you are not using them! Most laptops connect to the internet with wifi. Most wireless headphones use bluetooth to connect.

• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth constantly search for connections, using up precious power.

5. Battery Is Aging or Damaged

Batteries naturally degrade over time.

• On Windows, type cmd, then run powercfg /batteryreport to generate a battery health report.

• On Mac, hold Option and click the battery icon in the menu bar — if it says “Service Recommended,” it’s time to replace it.

6. You’re Not Updating Your System

Outdated drivers or software can cause battery inefficiencies.

• Update your system and drivers regularly to benefit from battery optimizations.

🔋 Still Not Holding a Charge?

If your battery is still draining fast after these tweaks, it might be time for a deeper diagnostic — or a new battery.

PCRescue subscribers can request a remote battery health check anytime. Not a subscriber yet? Sign up — and get expert help.