HP is one of the most reputable brands in the laptop industry. Part of the brand’s appeal is a strong battery life that makes it possible to complete tasks on the go.
However, like everything tech, laptop batteries can be highly unpredictable. In this article, we look at the longevity of HP laptop batteries and provide tips on how to make them last longer.
How Long Does an HP Laptop Battery Last?
HP batteries last between 3 to 10 hours (After a full charge). However, the time depends on the battery, its capacity, and how much you use it. Overall, the lifespan of HP batteries is between 2 to 4 years (or 1,000 charges).
Why Is My HP Laptop Battery Draining Fast?
Here are factors that can cause your HP laptop battery to drain fast:
1. Background Software or Processes
Compared to smartphones, you have lots of space to put many apps. However, this may come at a disadvantage.
Most of these apps may run behind the scenes and require a tremendous amount of power to operate.
2. Heavy Applications
Laptops are used to carry out important duties. These important duties are quite relative, as it depends on the person involved.
Playing heavy games or running apps that might cause your laptop to overheat will always drain your batteries.
3. Your Screen’s Brightness
Increasing the brightness of your screen comes with some benefits. You can use the laptop outdoors with higher contrast ratio and better viewing angles.
However, it affects your battery’s life. If your HP laptop lasts 7 hours (on the lowest brightness setting), it could be shortened to 3.5 hours.
4. Faulty Firmware
HP is constantly looking for ways to serve its users better. As a result, more updates have always been made on the previous firmware.
Now, a problem arises when the firmware is faulty or corrupted. Unsuspecting HP users may be left with flat batteries because of this issue.
5. Network Connections
Your personal computer is equipped to perform lots of tasks at the same time. Connecting with different networks and peripherals is the least of its problem.
However, if it’s not controlled, these connections might take a toll on your battery’s life.
Should I Use My HP Laptop While Charging?
If you’re a power user, you’ll realize that your system is always plugged in. But is this habit good or detrimental to your laptop’s battery life?
There have been a lot of myths surrounding this subject. To many of us, using a laptop while charging could harm the battery.
However, the truth is that you cannot overcharge your laptop battery. When your laptop’s battery is full, your charger would stop charging the battery automatically.
After that, your laptop would run directly on the mains power. Once your battery discharges, your charger would repeat the process.
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At What Percentage Should I Charge My HP Laptop Battery?
Now, it’s true that your battery would wear down over time. As you continue to charge (after 300-500 cycles), your battery’s capacity will drop significantly.
However, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t allow your battery to discharge. On the other hand, it does not mean that you should run down your battery.
You should keep your battery levels at 50% full before charging it. Doing this will prolong your battery’s life for a long time.
How Do I Know if My Laptop Battery Needs Replacing?
Here are telltale signs that show your laptop battery needs a replacement:
1. Battery Overheating
It’s normal for your battery to become hot. However, laptop fans and heat sinks help dissipate the heat. A dying battery can force your laptop to work harder, increasing the chances of overheating.
2. Battery No Longer Charging
If your battery’s not charging (when connected directly to a power source), it’s a sign you need a replacement.
3. Short Run Time and Shutdowns
You need to change your battery if you always find yourself running back to your charger after 30 minutes. A healthy battery is supposed to last at least three hours before you need to recharge it.
Doing lots of heavy tasks on your laptop will shorten the runtime. But if you notice that your battery life has reduced significantly after a full charge, you need a new battery.
4. Replacement Notifications
For HP laptops, the Windows operating system will notify you when your laptop’s battery is under-performing. The moment you see that red “x” over your battery’s icon, you need to replace it.
Are Laptop Battery Chargers Interchangeable?
Laptop chargers (power cords) can convert 100-240 volts of current into a much lower voltage needed to power your laptop. While all chargers can do that, not all chargers will work with your system.
Many laptops have different connector shapes that require specific connector tips to supply power to your laptop. It’s okay if you want to use one power cord for various laptops.
However, you need to check if the wattage provided by the cord is compatible with those systems. This rule also goes for universal chargers.
Why Does My HP Laptop Battery Not Charge?
If you own a laptop, including an HP, you probably had a huge scare one time when the battery didn’t charge despite connecting the power cord to the mains.
Check that the power cord is plugged in properly. Sometimes the issue may not be from the laptop. First, check if you’re plugged in (it may sound silly, but you must do this).
It may be a faulty adapter. Maybe your adapter is faulty (this also goes for your power outlet). It’s best if you buy a new one. For power outlets, you could plug your adapter in another place.
If it’s still not working, take out the battery and hold the power button for 15 seconds. This would drain the residual power from your laptop.
If you’ve done that, plug your charger and turn on your laptop (with the battery still removed). If your laptop turns on, it shows that your adapter isn’t the problem.
Rather, it’s your battery. You could also remove and reinsert the battery (maybe the battery’s poorly seated). If your battery’s not visible, you could open it or take it to a specialist near you to find out why it’s not charging.
How Can I Tell What Is Draining My HP Laptop Battery?
If your battery’s getting low before its scheduled time, there may be some apps consuming lots of power.
With the windows battery saver utility, you can see how your battery’s power is shared among the apps available.
Below are the steps you should take:
- Click the windows start button
- Click on the “Settings” icon
- Click on the “System” icon
- Select “Battery Saver”
- Select “Battery Usage By App”
- Select an app and click on it to show the details
- Untick the “Let Windows Decide When This App Can Run In The Background”.
How Can I Improve My HP Laptop Battery Life?
Here are tips for improving your HP laptop battery life:
- Close the tabs you’re no longer using or try a different browser.
- Use the “Hibernate” feature
- Stop some hardware features (Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth) when you’re no longer using them.
- Stop power-consuming apps and background processes.
- Avoid battery levels below 30%
- Do not allow your laptop to overheat all the time.
- Lower your screen brightness.
- Modify your power saving options to reduce consumption.
How to Check the Health of Your HP Laptop Battery
Here is how to check the health of an HP laptop battery:
- Press the Windows key and the “X” key.
- Click on the Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- On the PowerShell command, you can type or paste the following: powercfg /batteryreport /output “C:\battery-report.html”
- Locate the report (the report would be saved in an HTML file).
- View your battery’s recent usage, capacity history, and life estimate.
This report would outline your battery’s health, and also how long it would last.
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HP Laptop Battery Charging Tips
Here are tips for effective HP laptop battery charging.
- Avoid full discharge at all costs.
- Avoid leaving your laptop plugged in all the time.
- If you misplaced your charger, get a charger with the required wattage to power your laptop.
Final Words
With some of the best laptops on the market, HP products are innovative, beautiful, durable, and have extensive battery life.
We hope that this article provides all the information you need regarding HP laptop batteries and how to make them last longer. Thanks for reading.
