Issue:
Laptop battery doesn't last very long, fails before the estimated time (example going from 50% to powering down in a few minutes), or won't power the laptop at all.
Resolution:
If this is an ongoing issue, please let ITS know by submitting a Service Desk Ticket. There is a known issue with Latitude 3400 series laptops that ITS is aware of.
Things you can do to extend battery life:
The biggest drain on the battery is going to be the LCD screen. Reducing the brightness can significantly extend remaining battery time.
Sleeping your laptop whenever possible will also help.
It is helpful for a laptop battery to be fully charged every so often. Please ensure it regularly gets charged for optimal battery longevity.
On Windows 11:
- Open the Settings app and go to System > Power & Battery > Power Mode - then set "On Battery" to "Best Power Efficiency"
- If you're unable to change the above setting, then you need to disable "Energy Saver" which should be located on the same screen, a littler further down.
- At the top of the "Power & battery" page, there should also be "Energy recommendations", enabling all of those will also help reduce battery usage.
- NOTE: This will cause your computer to sleep after only 3 minutes of inactivity, so you may need ignore some of the suggestions depending on your needs.
On Windows 10:
- Windows 10 is going "End of Life" in October 2025. If your computer is still Windows 10, please reach out to ITS so we can get it upgraded.
- In the bottom right hand corner (system tray) you'll find a battery icon. Clicking this will bring up a menu where you can move a slider to "Best Battery Life" (farthest left). This will automatically take steps to improve remaining run time.