Troubleshooting Computer Battery Issues

Last updated on July 15th, 2023 at 01:57 am

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Everyone will have computer battery issues at some time, especially if you work with laptop computers or other mobile devices. This is because these devices’ mobility is heavily dependent on the need for a working, rechargeable battery. Desktop computers also have CMOS batteries that allow them to keep the correct time even when the computer is turned off. In this article, we will focus on batteries used in mobile devices specifically. Identifying and troubleshooting battery issues is extremely important when working with mobile computers:

  • How to identify computer battery issues and
  • How to solve them.

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Computer Battery Issues

Here are some common signs that you are having computer battery issues:

Your computer battery drains easily

One of the first signs that you may need a new battery for your device is shorter battery life. You know that your computer battery usually lasts all day, but of late, your battery only lasts two to three hours. Here are some reasons why your computer battery may have a shorter run time.

Reasons why your computer battery drains quicklyHow to troubleshoot these issues
You recently adjusted your computer brightness to a setting that is higher than usual.Reduce your computer brightness to increase run time.
You have many programs running in the background, causing your battery to drain way faster than normal.Type Ctrl+Alt+Delete and select the task manager to identify all the programs that are running in the background. Close all the programs that you do not need. This includes turning off your Bluetooth and WiFi when you are not using them.
The program you are running uses more resources than the programs you typically run on this particular system.If the program you are using requires more resources than normal, it would be best to use the program while your computer is plugged in unless you do not have another choice.
This is a good sign that your computer battery has exceeded its natural life. Another sign that your computer needs a new battery is that it dies unexpectedly, say even while the notification area shows it still has 15%. Replace your computer battery as soon as possible.
The increased number of peripheral devices running on your computer is using up so many resources that they are causing your battery to drain faster than usual.Disconnect all peripheral devices that you do not need at the moment.

If you wish to learn more about how to identify and troubleshoot other types of computer issues, visit troubleshooting common desktop monitor problems.

Your computer battery will not charge

If your computer battery is not charging, the most common issues are often the most overlooked. Here are three things that may be the cause of this issue. They are all things you can diagnose and fix yourself.

Reasons why your computer battery drains quicklyHow to troubleshoot these issues
Your laptop cable is unplugged, damaged, or doesn’t fit properly.This may be fixed by simply plugging the computer. Also, if you have one of those cables that fit together in the center, you may check the connection there to ensure the connection is snug.

If the cable is damaged, however, you may diagnose this by using a similar working cable from another computer of the same model. Once you have established that the battery is now charging, you can solve the problem by replacing the connection with a new one.
Your computer battery is overheating.When you have a computer whose battery is overheating, quite often, the computer does not charge. You may solve this issue by turning off the computer for about half an hour until the battery cools down before reconnecting your computer so it can charge again. It is also important to do this to prevent damage to other parts of the computer.
Manufacturing fault related to removable batteries.Some computers with removable batteries are created with a battery issue that prevents them from charging unless they are removed and then connected again. So if you have such a computer, you may fix this by simply removing the battery for a period of ten to fifteen seconds. Reconnect the computer battery again, then plug in your computer to see if it begins to charge.

Before you go

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