How to Extend Battery Health on macOS and Windows Devices
In today’s digital world, your laptop is more than just a machine—it’s your workspace, your entertainment hub, and your travel companion. But all that productivity and convenience comes with a cost: battery degradation over time. Whether you’re a Windows user or a macOS enthusiast, understanding how to extend your laptop’s battery health is key to preserving its longevity and performance.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through practical charging practices, built-in system settings, and third-party monitoring tools that can help you get the most life out of your laptop battery.
1. Understand How Lithium-Ion Batteries Work
Most modern laptops use lithium-ion batteries, which have specific characteristics:
They prefer shallow charge cycles (not full 0% to 100%)
They degrade more quickly under high heat
They have a limited number of charge cycles (usually 300–500 full cycles)
Understanding this helps you adopt better battery habits from the start.
2. Smart Charging Practices
Whether you’re on Windows or macOS, following smart charging habits is crucial:
Avoid 0% and 100% extremes: Try to keep your charge level between 20% and 80% for daily use.
Unplug when full: Don’t keep your laptop plugged in all the time. Overcharging can cause heat buildup.
Use original or certified chargers: Cheap chargers can damage your battery or provide inconsistent voltage.
Charge slowly when possible: Fast charging generates more heat, which can degrade the battery.
macOS users benefit from Apple’s battery management system, which optimizes charging based on your usage pattern. Windows users can manually implement similar practices.
3. System Settings That Help
macOS Battery Health Settings
Battery Health Management: Enabled by default on macOS Catalina 10.15.5 or later, it reduces peak battery charge to extend battery lifespan.
Optimized Battery Charging: Delays full charge until you need it, based on usage habits.
Low Power Mode: Reduces energy usage during light tasks to conserve battery.
To access: System Settings > Battery
Windows Battery Settings
Battery Saver Mode: Limits background activity and screen brightness when battery is low.
Power & Sleep Settings: Adjust how quickly your laptop sleeps or turns off when idle.
Battery Report Tool: Run
powercfg /batteryreportin CMD to generate a detailed battery health report.OEM Software: Brands like Dell, HP, and Lenovo often have proprietary battery health tools. Look for software like Dell Power Manager or Lenovo Vantage.
4. Temperature and Environment Matter
Keep your laptop cool: Heat is a battery killer. Avoid placing it on soft surfaces that block vents.
Avoid direct sunlight: Especially important in hot climates like the UAE.
Use cooling pads: They help with airflow during heavy workloads.
Avoid charging in hot rooms or cars: Charging under extreme heat can permanently damage the battery.
5. Software and Activity Tips
Close unused applications: Background apps consume power and increase heat.
Lower screen brightness: One of the easiest ways to reduce battery usage.
Disable unnecessary connectivity: Turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or GPS when not in use.
Limit background sync and notifications: Especially for email, OneDrive, and iCloud.
6. Use Third-Party Battery Monitoring Tools
While built-in tools are useful, third-party apps can offer deeper insights:
For macOS:
iStat Menus: Advanced monitoring for temperature, battery cycles, and more.
CoconutBattery: Simple tool to check battery health and age.
For Windows:
BatteryInfoView (by NirSoft): Shows full charge capacity, wear level, and cycles.
HWMonitor: Tracks system temperature and battery stats.
These tools help you stay proactive and spot issues before they escalate.
7. When to Calibrate Your Battery
Most laptops no longer need regular calibration, but if your battery percentage seems inaccurate or the device shuts down unexpectedly, you can recalibrate it:
Charge the battery to 100%.
Unplug and use it until it completely drains.
Let it rest for a few hours.
Recharge back to 100%.
This helps the system recalibrate the battery indicator.
8. Should You Store Your Laptop for a Long Time?
If you’re not using your laptop for weeks or months:
Charge it to around 50%.
Shut it down (not sleep).
Store it in a cool, dry place.
Recharge every 1–2 months.
Leaving a laptop unused with a full or empty battery can reduce its lifespan.
Final Thoughts
Battery health is often overlooked until issues arise. By adopting mindful habits, adjusting settings, and using monitoring tools, you can extend your laptop battery’s lifespan by months or even years.
Whether you’re using macOS in a design studio or Windows on the road, these tips will help ensure your device stays powered longer and performs better. A healthy battery means fewer interruptions, better productivity, and lower long-term costs.
Take charge—literally—of your battery’s future starting today.