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0871 244 0934After a year or two, you might notice your laptop's battery life is not what it used to be. It seems to drain quicker, or maybe it suddenly shuts down when unplugged. This is normal wear and tear, but knowing your battery's current "health" helps you plan your next move.
We will show you the easiest way to check the battery life remaining, comparing the design capacity (what it was when new) to the full charge capacity (what it is now).
Windows includes a helpful, hidden report that gives you a detailed look at the battery's history and its current health. You don't need to download any apps; you just need to run a simple command.
Click the Start button (Windows logo) and type "cmd" into the search bar. Right-click on Command Prompt and select "Run as administrator."
In the black window that appears, type the following exactly as you see it, then press Enter: powercfg /batteryreport.
The system will tell you the path where the report is saved (usually in your main user folder). Copy this path and paste it into your web browser (like Chrome or Edge) to open the HTML file.
Scroll down to the "Installed batteries" section. Look for these two numbers:
Design Capacity: the battery life your laptop had when it was new.
Full Charge Capacity: the current maximum battery life your laptop can hold now.
If the Full Charge Capacity is significantly lower (e.g., 50–70%) than the Design Capacity, your battery is worn out and needs replacing or your machine needs upgrading.
Method 2: The Quick Mac Health Check
Checking the battery status on a MacBook is simpler and does not require running a command.
Step 1. Hold the Option Key:
Press and hold the Option key on your keyboard.
Step 2. Click the Apple Menu:
While holding Option, click the Apple logo in the top left corner of the screen.
Step 3. Check System Information:
Select "System Information" from the drop-down menu.
Step 4. Find Power:
In the left sidebar, click on "Power." Under the "Health Information" section, you will see the Cycle Count and the Condition (e.g., Normal, Replace Soon). The cycle count tells you how many times the battery has been fully charged and discharged.
If your battery health report shows a significant drop in capacity, you have a few options to consider:
If you need to keep your machine running while you are out, a portable power bank is a great, cost-effective solution. This avoids the cost of a full replacement and gives you extra working time.
If your laptop's battery is easy to access, you might be able to find and fit a new replacement battery.
If the laptop is more than five years old or running slowly even when plugged in, a new battery will not solve other performance issues. It is likely time to explore our range of new, efficient laptops that come with a fresh battery and the latest processors.
Looking for a new Laptop battery or charger? Go to our contact page for Laptop Batteries and Chargers, or see our complete range of Laptops if you are ready for an upgrade.
