Save Your Laptop Battery
RCA laptops let you work and enjoy entertainment on the go, although battery life varies by model and use. But that fateful moment always comes when your computer reminds you to plug it in to continue using it. Otherwise, it will eventually shut down. To avoid this happening too often, here are five tips to save your laptop’s battery:
Disable Any Programs You Do Not Need
You may have already noticed that many programs launch automatically as soon as you turn on your laptop. Some disappear immediately, and you may believe that they have closed completely. Yet, even if you do not use them, they may continue running in the background and consuming battery power.
Use Task Manager to close programs you do not need: press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, then select Task Manager from the screen that appears. It gives you access to applications and processes running in the background.
Be careful: some processes perform essential Windows functions, so leave them running. However, you can close programs you recognize but do not use by right-clicking their names and selecting “End task.” Save your work before closing them. High memory usage alone does not necessarily mean that an application consumes a lot of battery power.
You may need to repeat this process each time you restart your laptop. To prevent unnecessary programs from launching automatically, disable them in your startup settings.
Disable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi if You Do Not Use Them
Your laptop’s wireless connections consume power even when you do not actively use them. Wi-Fi can scan for nearby networks, while Bluetooth can search for or maintain connections with other devices.
To save power, turn off these features when you do not need them. You can access their controls through Windows Settings or the network and sound area near the clock on the taskbar. Turn them back on whenever you need to connect.
Turn Down Screen Brightness
The brighter your laptop screen, the more energy it consumes. Simply decreasing the brightness can help your battery last longer.
Adjust the brightness to a comfortable level for your surroundings. In a dim room, you can usually use a lower setting, while bright daylight may require a higher one. Reducing the brightness by two or three levels, when comfortable, can extend your laptop’s battery life.
Disconnect USB Accessories
Did you know that USB accessories also draw power from your computer? If you leave a USB device connected for hours while your laptop runs on battery power, it can drain the battery faster. The effect depends on the accessory and how you use it.
To save power, use your laptop’s touchpad instead of a USB mouse when practical, and disconnect USB drives and other accessories when you no longer need them. Safely eject storage devices before unplugging them.
Take Care of Your Battery
Modern laptop batteries do not need a complete discharge and recharge every month to remain efficient. Frequent deep discharges can actually shorten their useful life.
To help slow battery wear, keep the charge between roughly 20% and 80% when practical, and avoid exposing your laptop to excessive heat. If your laptop offers smart charging or a battery charge limit, use that feature when you regularly work with the computer plugged in.
You can still charge your battery fully when you need the longest possible runtime for travel. Following these tips can help you get more from each charge and preserve your battery over time.
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