Shirophoto/Getty Images No laptop battery lasts forever. While there are ways to maximize its lifespan, such as ditching harmful habits that could kill your laptop’s battery, it’s likely that you’ll eventually need to replace this essential component. However, the signs of a bad battery aren’t always as obvious as your device sending you an alert letting you know it’s time to replace it. That’s why it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with some of the less obvious signs that a laptop battery might be dying. Several of the red flags here could potentially indicate a series of technical problems. It’s true, of course, that a faulty battery isn’t always the cause of these types of laptop problems. That said, battery issues are often the culprit in these cases. While you should take steps to confirm the cause of any of these issues, which may involve taking your device to a professional, these are often signs that a laptop battery is on its last legs. Your laptop shuts down seemingly for no reason Siphotographie/Getty Images Has your device started turning off without apparent warning when running on battery power? There are several potential causes for this problem. If this happens but your battery nevertheless indicates that it has enough charge to keep the laptop running, you can naturally assume that some other factor is to blame. It’s definitely not a bad idea to run an antivirus scan and confirm that malware is not causing the problem. If your scan doesn’t indicate any viruses or malware, a laptop that crashes without warning could be a sign of a faulty battery. This may be the case even if the battery is supposed to still be charged. A functioning laptop battery should provide the device with a constant flow of power. The laptop may shut down unexpectedly if the battery fails to do so efficiently. A battery that isn’t providing consistent power is likely faulty, damaged, or dying, and it will likely need to be replaced. You are facing a series of charging (or charging-related) issues ANDRANIK HAKOBYAN/Shutterstock The time it takes to charge your laptop generally shouldn’t vary much. If your laptop takes longer than usual to charge, it could be a sign of a dead battery. Be aware that taking a long time to get it back to maximum is not the only charging problem that could be linked to a battery problem. For example, you may notice that billing is inconsistent. Sometimes the laptop charges reliably, while in other cases it does not. Even though the device is charging, the battery may still drain faster than expected. A battery that no longer holds its charge as long as it used to probably needs to be replaced. A similar problem that can be easy to overlook if you’re not actively paying attention is rapid, seemingly random, or unexpected changes in a battery’s charge. For example, maybe your battery is at 80%, then within a few minutes it drains to 50%, only to suddenly recharge again. This is yet another red flag that you need to install a new battery. It should be noted that while it is technically possible to run a laptop without a battery relying solely on AC power, it is not recommended. For example, a sudden power outage could cause the device to fail, resulting in the loss of any unsaved work. Your laptop battery is more than 2 years old Nongasimo/Getty Images You’ll find various estimates of how long a laptop battery will last before needing to replace it. Some will say that a laptop battery is generally only reliable for 2-3 years, while others will suggest that 2-5 years is more reasonable. In reality, a laptop battery can only be charged a limited number of times. This number varies between laptop battery models, but it is generally between 300 and 1,000. In any case, a laptop battery older than 2 years is definitely not healthier. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to replace the battery as soon as it reaches its second anniversary. However, this means you need to start looking out for the warning signs listed here. Be prepared to replace the battery if you notice other problems. The battery swells Brianajackson/Getty Images Most of the issues here should prompt you to start looking for replacement batteries sooner rather than later. However, this particular sign of a bad battery tells you that it’s time to avoid using your laptop completely until a professional has fixed the problem. You risk injury if you continue to use your device while the battery is damaged at this level. Have you noticed that the battery seems to be swelling? Likewise, you may notice that its case is cracked or that the laptop seems bloated around the trackpad or keyboard. This could be the result of chemical processes causing the release of gases inside the battery. If you continue to use the device with a battery in this condition, it could theoretically catch fire or even explode. Consult a professional repair technician immediately to resolve the problem. Keep in mind that there are steps you can take to prevent your battery from draining prematurely. For example, you should try not to let your battery charge drop below 20% before plugging the laptop back into power. Remember that any laptop battery will eventually die. Monitoring these warning signs can help you anticipate when this might happen, giving you the opportunity to replace the device before the battery fails permanently. Post navigation What happened to Sony’s Vaio laptops
Shirophoto/Getty Images No laptop battery lasts forever. While there are ways to maximize its lifespan, such as ditching harmful habits that could kill your laptop’s battery, it’s likely that you’ll eventually need to replace this essential component. However, the signs of a bad battery aren’t always as obvious as your device sending you an alert letting you know it’s time to replace it. That’s why it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with some of the less obvious signs that a laptop battery might be dying. Several of the red flags here could potentially indicate a series of technical problems. It’s true, of course, that a faulty battery isn’t always the cause of these types of laptop problems. That said, battery issues are often the culprit in these cases. While you should take steps to confirm the cause of any of these issues, which may involve taking your device to a professional, these are often signs that a laptop battery is on its last legs. Your laptop shuts down seemingly for no reason Siphotographie/Getty Images Has your device started turning off without apparent warning when running on battery power? There are several potential causes for this problem. If this happens but your battery nevertheless indicates that it has enough charge to keep the laptop running, you can naturally assume that some other factor is to blame. It’s definitely not a bad idea to run an antivirus scan and confirm that malware is not causing the problem. If your scan doesn’t indicate any viruses or malware, a laptop that crashes without warning could be a sign of a faulty battery. This may be the case even if the battery is supposed to still be charged. A functioning laptop battery should provide the device with a constant flow of power. The laptop may shut down unexpectedly if the battery fails to do so efficiently. A battery that isn’t providing consistent power is likely faulty, damaged, or dying, and it will likely need to be replaced. You are facing a series of charging (or charging-related) issues ANDRANIK HAKOBYAN/Shutterstock The time it takes to charge your laptop generally shouldn’t vary much. If your laptop takes longer than usual to charge, it could be a sign of a dead battery. Be aware that taking a long time to get it back to maximum is not the only charging problem that could be linked to a battery problem. For example, you may notice that billing is inconsistent. Sometimes the laptop charges reliably, while in other cases it does not. Even though the device is charging, the battery may still drain faster than expected. A battery that no longer holds its charge as long as it used to probably needs to be replaced. A similar problem that can be easy to overlook if you’re not actively paying attention is rapid, seemingly random, or unexpected changes in a battery’s charge. For example, maybe your battery is at 80%, then within a few minutes it drains to 50%, only to suddenly recharge again. This is yet another red flag that you need to install a new battery. It should be noted that while it is technically possible to run a laptop without a battery relying solely on AC power, it is not recommended. For example, a sudden power outage could cause the device to fail, resulting in the loss of any unsaved work. Your laptop battery is more than 2 years old Nongasimo/Getty Images You’ll find various estimates of how long a laptop battery will last before needing to replace it. Some will say that a laptop battery is generally only reliable for 2-3 years, while others will suggest that 2-5 years is more reasonable. In reality, a laptop battery can only be charged a limited number of times. This number varies between laptop battery models, but it is generally between 300 and 1,000. In any case, a laptop battery older than 2 years is definitely not healthier. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to replace the battery as soon as it reaches its second anniversary. However, this means you need to start looking out for the warning signs listed here. Be prepared to replace the battery if you notice other problems. The battery swells Brianajackson/Getty Images Most of the issues here should prompt you to start looking for replacement batteries sooner rather than later. However, this particular sign of a bad battery tells you that it’s time to avoid using your laptop completely until a professional has fixed the problem. You risk injury if you continue to use your device while the battery is damaged at this level. Have you noticed that the battery seems to be swelling? Likewise, you may notice that its case is cracked or that the laptop seems bloated around the trackpad or keyboard. This could be the result of chemical processes causing the release of gases inside the battery. If you continue to use the device with a battery in this condition, it could theoretically catch fire or even explode. Consult a professional repair technician immediately to resolve the problem. Keep in mind that there are steps you can take to prevent your battery from draining prematurely. For example, you should try not to let your battery charge drop below 20% before plugging the laptop back into power. Remember that any laptop battery will eventually die. Monitoring these warning signs can help you anticipate when this might happen, giving you the opportunity to replace the device before the battery fails permanently.
