8 Ways to Make Your Windows Battery Last Longer
Just like the versions that came before it, Windows 10 is packed with features that can help extend your laptop’s battery life. One of the newest additions is the Battery Saver option, which can be a real game-changer. And if that wasn’t enough, the Anniversary and Creators Updates have also brought some changes that can give you even more time on a single charge.
But what if you need even more battery life, or if your battery just isn’t holding a charge like it used to? Don’t worry—I’ve got you covered with a few tricks up my sleeve.
In addition to the power-saving options built into Windows 10, I’ve discovered a few other ways to cut down on battery consumption. And now, I’m going to share them all with you.
Contents
1. Say Goodbye to Animations and Shadows
Hey there! Did you know that Windows 10 has a bunch of animations and shadows that make it look really cool? But guess what? You can actually turn them off to save some precious battery power. Want to learn how? I’ll show you:
- First, I want you to press the Windows key and the R key at the same time. This will open something called the Run dialog.
- Now, in that Run dialog, type in “cpl” and hit Enter. This will open something called System properties.
- Next, click on the Advanced tab and find the Performance section. Under that section, you’ll see a button that says “Settings”. Go ahead and click on it. When you do, you’ll see something like this:
- Almost there! Now, all you have to do is select the option that says “Adjust for best performance”. It’s that easy! Then, just click the OK button to disable all the fancy animations and cool shadows. Check it out:
Hey there, I’ve got some cool tips to make your Windows experience even better! Let’s dive right in.
1. Get a snappier and more efficient UI
Did you know that you can make your Windows UI faster and save battery power at the same time? It’s true! By making a few simple changes, you’ll notice a big difference.
First, let’s talk about wireless signals. WiFi and Bluetooth, while super convenient, can really drain your battery. Why? Because they require special hardware to constantly stay connected. So, if you can, try using a wired connection for the internet. It’ll save you power and give your battery a break.
Next, let’s tackle those sneaky background apps. Did you know that even when you’re not using them, they’re still running and using up your precious battery life? Well, now you do! The good news is that Windows 10 has a special setting just for these apps. You can easily enable or disable them to save power. How cool is that?
- Hey there! To get started, let’s open the Start Menu and click on Settings. After that, we’ll head over to Privacy.
- Next, we’ll navigate to the Background Apps section. In the right panel, you’ll find a list of all the apps that run in the background. Simply toggle off the ones you don’t need.
Don’t worry, this will only disable the apps from running in the background. They’ll still work just fine when you open them.
4. Manage startup apps and services
If you want to save some battery power, you can disable unnecessary startup apps and services. Here’s how:
Disable startup apps
- Hey there! To get started, we need to open the Task Manager. Just press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys and it will pop right up!
- Once you’re in the Task Manager, navigate to the Startup tab. Here, you’ll see a list of all the apps that start up when your computer does. Take a look and select any unnecessary ones.
- Ready to take control? Click on the Disable button and those pesky startup apps will be stopped in their tracks!
Take charge and disable startup services
Hey there! Let me show you how to optimize your computer’s performance by disabling unnecessary startup services and turning off some CPU cores. Here’s what you need to do:
- First, press the Windows key and the R key at the same time. In the “Run” dialog that appears, type in “msconfig” and hit enter. This will open up the “System Configurations” window.
- Next, click on the “Services” tab. At the bottom-left corner, uncheck the option that says “Hide all Microsoft services”. This will reveal all the startup services on your computer.
- Take a look at the list of services and uncheck the ones that you don’t need. Once you’re done, click “OK” to save the changes. Keep in mind that a PC restart will be required for the changes to take effect.
Now, let’s move on to turning off some CPU cores to save battery power. Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it sounds!
Imagine your computer has 5 CPU cores, but you typically only use it for web browsing and playing media files. In that case, you can safely turn off 2 of the cores without affecting your work. Here’s how:
- To begin, right-click on the Start Menu button and choose Command Prompt (Admin).
- Now, type in the command powercfg /energy and press enter. This command will keep an eye on your computer’s activity for 60 seconds. Feel free to do whatever you want during this time.
- Once the 60 seconds have passed, the command will generate a list of errors and warnings, saving it as an .html file on your computer. You’ll find the location of the file at the end of the process. Just go there to access the report.
To open the System configurations window, press the Windows + R keys and type “msconfig” in the Run dialog. Then, follow these steps:
1. Go to the Boot tab and select your current operating system.
2. Click on Advanced options.
3. On the Advanced options page, you’ll see a checkbox labeled “Number of processors.” Check the box.
4. Use the drop-down menu to select the number of processors you need.
5. Remember, you’ll need to restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
That’s it! Your changes will be applied once you restart your computer.


6. Keep Your PC Cool to Avoid Battery Drainage
Did you know that heat can cause serious issues for your PC? It can even lead to faster battery drain and a permanent decrease in battery life! This is especially true if your laptop has a lithium-ion battery, as they tend to discharge faster when they get hot.
Believe me, I learned this the hard way. I ignored the overheating issue with my laptop, and before I knew it, my battery became completely useless in less than two months. Don’t make the same mistake as me! Follow my guide on how to prevent your PC from overheating and cool it down. It will help you fix any overheating issues you may encounter.
7. Find Out Why Your Battery Is Draining So Quickly
If your battery is draining too quickly, there may be some apps or processes on your PC that are using up too much power. Luckily, there’s a command prompt command that can provide you with information about these power-hungry culprits, as well as recommendations on settings that can help increase your battery life. Let me show you how to use it:
You’ll be amazed at the wealth of information this report provides. Even if you don’t think anything is wrong, it will still offer handy tips customized to help you save power. And remember, if you have any questions, just turn to our good friend Google.
8. How to Boost Your Battery Life with a Third-Party App
Hey there! So we all know that the battery optimization tools that come with Windows are pretty good, but did you know that there are even more powerful third-party options out there? These battery assistants can give you real-time monitoring and advice to help you get the most out of your battery.
Now, out of all the options available, my personal favorite is Battery Optimizer. This app is specially designed to not only increase your overall battery life but also conserve power along the way. It’s a win-win!
Here’s how it works: when you first open the app, it’ll ask for your permission to scan your PC. This scan will give you a detailed report on what can be improved. Once the scan is done, you’ll see a customized list of features and hardware components that you can disable or enable. By making these tweaks, you’ll be able to squeeze every last bit of battery time out of your device. Amazing, right?
In addition to everything else, I also keep an eye on how your battery is doing so I can give you more information. You can check out your battery’s charging and discharging patterns, and even get an alert if it’s draining faster than usual.
Summary
Along with all those other ways, it’s a good idea to always use the basic power-saving methods in Windows 10. This means turning on the automatic power-saving feature when your battery is low, switching to a power-saving plan, keeping your brightness low, and letting your laptop go to sleep automatically if it’s idle for 5-10 minutes.
The usual power-saving options are always the best, but if you want even more battery time, you can try the methods I’ve listed here.