How to Monitor and Improve Battery Life in Windows 11

Edited 2 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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In today's fast-paced world, having an efficient and long-lasting battery life on your laptop is a must. Windows 11, Microsoft's latest operating system, offers several tools and options to help you monitor and improve your battery life. Whether you're a constantly traveling professional or a student taking frequent online classes, understanding how to effectively manage your battery can make a significant difference. This guide will walk you through the steps to monitor and extend your laptop's battery life while using Windows 11.

Understanding battery usage

Before getting into the specifics of improving battery life, it's important to understand what affects your battery usage. Generally, battery consumption depends on the type of applications you run, the settings you configure, and how well your device is calibrated. In Windows 11, you can easily find detailed information about battery usage through the Settings app.

Checking battery usage

To access battery usage details, follow these steps:

• Open the Settings app. You can do this by pressing Windows + I.
• Go to System and then click on Power & Battery from the sidebar.
• Under the Battery section you will see an option called Battery Usage. Click on it.
• This section gives you detailed information about how your battery is being used, including which apps are consuming the most power.

This detailed information can help you determine which apps or processes are draining your battery the most. Once identified, you can make an informed decision about whether to keep these apps running or find alternatives.

Improve battery life

After getting information about battery consumption, the next step is to optimize your laptop's settings. Here are some strategies that can help improve your Windows 11 laptop's battery life:

1. Use battery saver mode

Windows 11 includes a battery saver mode that reduces device power consumption by limiting background activity and adjusting system performance. To enable battery saver mode:

• Go to Settings → System → Power & battery.
• Under the Battery section you will see Battery Saver.
• Turn it on or set it to activate automatically when your battery's charge drops below a certain percentage.

2. Adjust display and graphics settings

The display is one of the main power consuming components of your laptop. Here are some steps to adjust the display settings:

• Lower your screen's brightness: You can do this using the brightness slider in Quick Settings (Windows + A).
• Switch to dark theme. It is reported that dark theme consumes less power due to lower brightness levels for OLED displays.
• Disable dynamic graphics switching through your system's graphics settings if not needed.

3. Close unnecessary background apps

Background apps can consume battery even when they're not actively in use. To stop apps from running in the background, follow these steps:

• Go to Settings → Apps → Apps & features.
• Find the app you want to prevent from running in the background.
• Click the three-dot menu next to the app and select Advanced options.
• Set background app permission to Never.

4. Update your device's drivers and Windows

Sometimes, outdated drivers can cause inefficient battery usage. Make sure your drivers and Windows operating system are up to date:

• Open Settings → Windows Update.
• Click Check for Updates and allow Windows to download and apply the latest updates.

5. Unplug the external device

External devices, such as USB drives or peripherals, can draw power from your battery. Unplug these devices when not in use to save energy.

6. Customize power plan settings

Windows 11 offers different power plans to manage the energy consumption of your device:

• Open Control Panel → Hardware and Sound → Power Options.
• Choose the power plan that best suits your needs. For example, if saving battery is your priority, choose Power Saver.
• You can click Change plan settings to further customize settings such as dimming the display or sleep mode.

7. Manage connection settings

Wireless features such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi can also consume battery. Turn off these connections when you don't need them.

8. Use sleep and hibernation wisely

When you're not using your laptop for a long period of time, consider using sleep mode or hibernation:

• Sleep Mode: Provides a quick way to save battery, while also keeping your session ready to resume instantly.
• Hibernation: Saves more energy than sleep mode by storing your session to disk and shutting down the laptop.

Calibration and maintenance of the battery

In some cases, recalibrating your battery can improve its performance. This process involves discharging it completely and then charging it up to 100%. Note that frequent calibration can shorten battery life, so it's best to do this sparingly.

Steps to calibrate your battery:

1. Fully charge the battery.
2. Leave the laptop unplugged and running until it automatically shuts down due to low battery.
3. Fully charge your battery without interruption.

Conclusion

By constantly monitoring battery usage and implementing these strategies, you can substantially extend the battery life of your Windows 11 laptop. From adjusting simple settings like brightness to using advanced features like power plans and battery saver mode, optimizing for better battery life is within your reach.

Maintaining a balance between performance and power consumption not only increases your battery life but also ensures that you stay productive throughout the day without any unplanned interruptions. Remember, effective power management is the key to an efficient and lasting computing experience.

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