A brand-new laptop battery should allow you to work for a relatively long time without any issues. However, sometimes a new laptop battery can experience problems that cause it to drain much faster than expected. Why does this happen, and how can you extend the lifespan of your laptop battery?

Your new laptop battery might be draining fast because it might be in high-performance mode, or too many programs might be running. Other causes include too many peripherals connected to the computer or corrupted firmware. To fix it, you can try adjusting settings and removing peripherals.

1. Change the Power Settings

Your laptop offers several modes for battery performance, depending on what you’re doing.

For instance, you can choose a power-saving mode when your battery is running low, reducing the power your laptop uses for background apps or brightness.

On the other hand, the high-performance mode does the opposite of power saving. Its purpose is to make your laptop run fast and smoothly, but it uses a lot of power. As a result, your laptop battery doesn’t last long, even though it’s new.

How to Change the Power Settings

  1. Go to the Start Menu.
  2. Select Settings; a new window will open.
  3. Find System and then choose Power and Battery.
  4. Go to Power Mode and check if High-Performance mode is selected.
  5. Select the Power-Saving mode instead.

Watch your battery and see if it lasts longer after changing the power settings. Only choose High-Performance mode if you need a fast and powerful performance for a specific purpose, and disable it once you don’t need it anymore.

2. Check Background Programs and Network Connections

Your laptop uses a certain amount of power to keep every program running. When too many programs are running simultaneously, your laptop works harder, requiring more energy and draining the battery.

How to Stop Background Apps

  1. Press the Ctrl, Alt, and Del or Ctrl, Shift, and Esc buttons on your keyboard.
  2. The Task Manager will pop up.
  3. Find Processes.
  4. Check the list of applications and processes running in the background.
  5. Select any apps or processes that are unnecessary.
  6. Click End Task.

Removing unnecessary background apps should improve your battery life. Remember that some background apps are essential and should not be removed even if they drain the battery.

How to Remove Network Connections

  1. Go to the Search bar and find Network and Sharing Center.
  2. Select Manage wireless networks on the new window that appears.
  3. A list of connections will appear; select the one you want to remove.
  4. Alternatively, you can choose another method that removes all network connections, not only wireless ones:
    1. Find the Control Panel using the Start menu or the Search bar.
    2. Go to Network and Internet and then choose Network Connections.
    3. Find the connection that you want to remove and right-click on it.
    4. A list of options will appear; select Disable or Forget Network Connection.

3. Turn the Keyboard Backlight Off

The backlight behind the keyboard can use quite a lot of power, contributing to your battery running out fast, even though your laptop is brand new.

How to Turn Off the Keyboard Backlight

Typically, you can find a button or a combination of buttons on your keyboard that you can press to turn the keyboard light off. In some cases, it’s the F5 button, while in others, it’s the F9 or F11. Make sure to turn the light on again when it’s dark.

4. Remove Peripherals

Peripheral devices connected to your laptop, like external memory devices, speakers, drawing pads, and printers, use the energy from your laptop battery. Too many peripheral devices can make the battery run out faster.

How to Safely Remove Peripheral Devices

  1. Go to Settings and then choose System.
  2. Find Devices, where a list of all peripheral devices will appear.
  3. Right-click on the device you want to remove and select Safely Remove.
  4. Disconnect the device once you confirm it’s been safely removed.

5. Lower the Screen Brightness

Screen brightness can significantly affect the laptop battery. If you can’t find any other issue draining the battery, check the screen brightness of your laptop and lower it if it’s too high.

How to Lower Screen Brightness

  1. Use the designated buttons on the keyboard, usually F1 or F2, with a sun icon. You may need to press a function key simultaneously for them to work.
  2. Alternatively, follow these steps:
    • Find Settings in the Start menu or search it on the Search bar.
    • Go to System and then find Display.
    • Find the Brightness Level slider and adjust it to your liking.

6. Repair Corrupted Firmware

Firmware is the most basic software on your laptop, enabling the hardware to work and facilitating communication between hardware and other software. Sometimes, the firmware may get corrupted due to malware or a failed update, causing the battery to drain much faster.

How to Fix Corrupted Firmware

One solution is to access the BIOS recovery page if your laptop has one, usually requiring you to press a couple of buttons on the keyboard simultaneously. Another solution is to replace the motherboard battery, but these solutions require technical knowledge. If you’re unsure, contact a specialist.

By following these steps, you can identify and fix the issues causing your new laptop battery to drain quickly, ensuring a longer lifespan and better performance for your device.

Avatar for Marlo Strydom

Marlo, the founder of Computer Info Bits, has over 20 years of IT expertise. He's passionate about technology and aims to demystify it. Since 2019, he's been writing articles covering essential computer tips to complex hardware discussions, helping readers better understand and use their technology. Marlo stays up-to-date with the latest tech developments through extensive research and interaction.