Laptop batteries, like all rechargeable batteries, have a finite life and won’t keep your device powered forever. If you’ve owned your laptop for several years, you may find that the battery isn’t holding a charge as long as it once did. Thankfully, you can check your laptop’s battery health using the built-in tools in both Windows and macOS systems. Letusrepair offers a comprehensive guide on how to do so.
Checking Your Battery Health in Windows
Unlike some devices, such as iPhones, Windows doesn’t readily display battery health information. However, you can still access it with a straightforward command from the PowerShell terminal.
To access the PowerShell terminal, click the Start menu, search for “PowerShell,” and click on the result. In the PowerShell window, enter the following command and press Enter:
powercfg /batteryreport
This command will generate a report, saved as an HTML file in your user folder at C:\Users[YourUsername]. To view the report, navigate to the location and double-click on the file. Look for the Battery Capacity History section within the report and observe the final entry in the list. This entry will display the full charge capacity (in milliwatt-hours or mWh) on the left and the battery’s original capacity on the right.
Checking Your Battery Health on a Mac
To assess your battery’s health on a MacBook, click the Apple logo in the upper left corner of your screen and select “About This Mac.” Jot down your MacBook’s model, like “MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2015),” then click the “System Report” button. From the left sidebar, scroll down to the “Power” option.
Under the “Battery Information” heading, you’ll find “Health Information.” If the battery condition is “Normal,” your battery is still in good shape. However, if it says “Replace Soon,” it suggests your battery has significantly degraded.
Conclusion
A new battery could extend the life of your aging device by several years. Considering batteries typically cost less than $100 (or a bit more for a comprehensive “fix kit” with tools), it’s a valuable investment. Most laptops can last for a few years before their batteries begin to degrade, so understanding your laptop’s “battery health” is crucial for maintaining its longevity.
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