Should I keep my laptop plugged in always? Is it okay to leave my laptop charger plugged in 24/7? Will it shorten the battery life?
These are some of the common questions that people have in their minds. And, you may have them as well. There are myths surrounding the proper use of rechargeable batteries. So, you should know what is better for your laptop
In this post, we will discuss the factors that might impact the lifespan of your laptop battery. Let’s get to the basics.
Can you leave your laptop plugged in always?
Before jumping to a conclusion, you have to know about the laptop battery. Typically, laptops will have lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries. These batteries have different technologies. But they function similarly.
Besides, both these batteries couldn’t be overcharged. It means that you do not have to worry about the dangers of overcharging a laptop battery. You can even use the laptop plugged in 24/7. When the battery hits 100% charge, it won’t draw power anymore.
The laptop battery will use the power again if the voltage falls from a certain level. The lithium ion batteries can withstand several charging cycles. The battery will continue doing this until it starts to degrade.
If you discharge the battery completely, it will cause serious damage. So, make sure that you do not make the battery empty. If you do that for some time, the battery could go into a deep discharge state. As a result, you may not be able to charge the battery again.
By now you should have understood a bit about laptop batteries. But can you leave your laptop plugged in always? Well, the answer to this question is a bit complex. You should know how bad it is to always keep the laptop charger plugged in.
Is it bad to connect the laptop to a power source all the time?
If you have an old laptop, the answer is clear. It is not good for your laptop to stay connected to the power socket at all times. Because of the wear and tear, an old laptop will have a weak battery. So, there is a risk of overcharging.
But, on newer models, the chances of overcharging are less. The latest technologies in batteries and software programs protect it from permanent damage. The charging process stops as soon as the battery is full.
The battery gets charged again if there is a slight discharge. Most laptops draw power from the mains instead of the battery. Now, you may think that it is safe to keep your laptop plugged in.
Sadly, it isn’t safe. No denying that these days laptops come with protective functions. Still, your laptop could suffer from damage when connected to the mains always.
Factors that impact your laptop battery life
Like any battery, lithium-ion batteries will have a lifespan. The battery will degrade with each charging time. But there are factors contributing to their decline.
- High temperature – Temperatures over 35˚C or 95˚F cause the laptop to degrade more than normal.
- Voltage level – An unstable voltage can reduce the battery’s lifespan.
- Charge/discharge cycles – Frequent charge and discharge cycle puts stress on the battery.
- Age – Most laptop batteries lose their capacity to hold a charge over time.
- Quality – Laptops with poor battery quality have an impact on their lifespan.
Image courtesy – Freepik
All the factors mentioned above can reduce battery life. But the first two factors are the most concerning. A study by Battery University lays stress on how high temperatures and voltage levels can shorten the life of laptop batteries.
High temperature is not good for your laptop battery
Too much heat can reduce the lifespan of your energy storage device. High temperature refers to over 35 degrees Celsius. Regular exposure of the laptop battery to high temperatures will shorten its life. Even if you leave the laptop in a car on a bright sunny afternoon, it can cause damage.
Overheating is one of the most critical factors when it comes to reduced battery life. When you keep your laptop plugged in, it won’t kill the battery. But regular exposure to heat will reduce its capacity.
High temperatures speed up the wear and tear of your laptop battery. Lithium batteries will lose some amount of charge even if you are not using the laptop. When the laptop connects to the mains, the energy loss compensates. The battery warms up immediately.
As a result, the process accelerates the wear and tear of the battery. Moreover, the performance of the battery suffers a lot. When you use the laptop actively, the temperature of the components rises, too. And, the temperature in the battery rises even more.
So, it is wise not to plug and unplug laptops at regular intervals. You may think that it is good to maintain the charging window between 30 and 70%. But it should be annoying to do that. Besides, the battery will be charging and discharging constantly. In other words, the battery stays active because it is working.
On average, Lithium-ion batteries on laptops can tolerate about 1000 charging cycles. After that, the aging process starts and the battery capacity shrinks. You may consider saving those limited charging cycles when you don’t have a power socket nearby.
Continuous exposure to high voltage makes laptop batteries suffer
High voltage is another big problem that contributes to reduced laptop battery life. Here, the issue with the battery is not with the flow of electricity. But by how it gets charged. For every rise of percentage in battery charge, the voltage in the energy storage units rises as well.
As a result, it impacts the chemical aging of the battery. The aging process is common regardless of the type of battery. And, it tends to increase fast either at low or high voltages. The impact is more when the battery level is low or high.
For minimal wear of lithium batteries, the energy window should be anywhere between thirty and seventy percent. If you keep the laptop plugged in always, the battery will be at its highest energy levels. As such, the core component of the battery will experience stress. It will start to degrade in no time.
Image courtesy – Freepik
Is it good to leave the laptop plugged in all the time?
If you leave your laptop charger plugged in always, it will ruin the battery. But charging your laptop every day will reduce the lifespan of the battery, too.
Keeping the laptop plugged in even if it is fully charged is not good according to Microsoft. When the battery is 100% charged and you keep it the same way, the longevity of the battery reduces. Some manufacturers activate the Smart Charging feature on their Windows 11 laptops.
With this feature, you don’t have to worry about unplugging the laptop when it is 100% charged. When the feature is active, the laptop won’t charge beyond a certain percentage. It will keep the battery in a healthy condition for many years.
Apple recommends not to keep the laptop plugged in all the time. Still, if you forget to do that, macOS comes with an Optimized Battery Charging feature. When you turn on this setting, your MacBook will charge up to 80% and stop thereafter. Even if you keep the device plugged in, it won’t charge. The device will top up the rest only when it needs to.
We have a separate post on how to extend the life of your laptop. It might be handy in case you want to know some of the easiest ways to do so
FAQs
Should you unplug the charger when you aren’t using the laptop?
Yes, it is wise to unplug the charger when you are not using the laptop. It will reduce any chances of damage that may result from overcharging. Unplugging the charger also helps reduce excessive heat exposure. Besides, you shouldn’t keep the laptop plugged in while unattended for some time.
Is there a fire hazard if you leave your laptop charger plugged in always?
Leaving a laptop charger connected to the mains always isn’t a fire hazard. But if you have exposed wiring or frayed cords on the charger, replace it immediately. Also, make sure not to plug in when not in use. Remember that charging your laptop all the time isn’t recommended. That’s because it will make the battery too hot.
How long does a laptop battery last?
An average laptop battery will last for about 1000 charging cycles. However, the number varies according to the manufacturer and the type of battery. Moreover, it depends on how the battery is used. The performance of the battery will degrade over time.
Is it safe to leave the laptop plugged in always?
Yes, it is safe for your laptop to stay plugged in all the time. Remember that the more charge/discharge cycles your battery goes through, the more it will deteriorate. You don’t have to worry about overcharging either. Laptop batteries know when to stop charging. The laptop will run on power from the mains rather than the battery.
Image courtesy – Freepik
Wrapping Up
So, is it bad to leave your laptop plugged in all the time? There won't be short-term damage if you leave your laptop charger plugged in. But if you use the main power whenever you are using the laptop, the capacity of the battery deteriorates.
You may notice reduced battery capacity after a year or so. If you use the laptop on battery power, you will exhaust the battery discharging cycle fast. Both these situations might appear confusing. But you have to make the most out of the battery’s lifespan.
You can limit the damage by using smart software. It is one of the best solutions. Or, you can opt for a simple solution. Use the laptop on battery power for some days. And, keep the laptop plugged in on other days. Whatever you do, make sure that the battery stays cool.
We hope that you have understood how bad it can be to plug in your laptop all the time. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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