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Laptop Battery Draining Fast? Try These Fixes

Find apps draining your laptop battery, turn on energy saver or Low Power Mode, change screen and sleep settings, and check the battery on Windows and Mac.

Updated 8 min read

Quick Answer

On a Windows laptop, select Start, then Settings, System, Power & battery, Battery usage to see which apps might be using more battery in the background, and turn on energy saver. On a Mac laptop, quit apps that you aren’t using and turn on Low Power Mode in Battery settings. If the battery still runs down quickly, check its condition: its ability to hold a charge may be less than when it was new.

Common causes

  • A battery that holds less charge than when it was new
  • Apps working in the background
  • Screen brightness and refresh-rate settings that use more power
  • Long screen and sleep timeouts
  • Bluetooth and Wi-Fi left on when you don’t need them
  • USB devices left connected

Step-by-Step Solutions

Most steps have separate instructions for Windows 11 and Mac laptops, and some apply to only one of them, so follow the ones for your laptop and check your battery after each change.

  1. Step 1: Find apps that drain the battery

    Apps that run in the background can increase battery usage, even when you aren’t using them.

    On Windows, select Start, then Settings, System, Power & battery, Battery usage. Under Battery usage per app, see which apps might be using more battery in the background.

    For an app that lets you manage background activity, select More options, then Manage background activity, and change the setting for Let this app run in the background.

    On a Mac, quit apps that you aren’t using. Even an app you aren’t using may be working in the background and consuming energy.

    • Power optimized (recommended): Windows decides what’s best to save the most power while still letting the app receive notifications and update periodically.
    • Never: when you’re not actively using the app, it won’t run in the background. You won’t get its notifications or updates, but this saves the most power.
    • Always: the app can run in the background even when you’re not using it, and it might use more power as a result.

  2. Step 2: Turn on energy saver or Low Power Mode

    Energy saver on Windows and Low Power Mode on a Mac are built-in settings that reduce power use.

    On Windows, select Start, then Settings, System, Power & battery. Energy saver automatically manages system processes and power usage for an optimal balance of PC performance and longer battery life.

    To turn it on now and leave it on until you next plug in, set Always use energy saver to On. To have it turn on by itself, select Energy saver, then next to Turn energy saver on when battery level is at, choose a battery level.

    On a Mac, choose Apple menu, then System Settings, then click Battery in the sidebar. Click the pop-up menu next to Low Power Mode, then choose Always, Only on Battery, or Only on Power Adapter.

    Good to know

    On the same Windows page, you can also choose a more efficient option for Power mode. This option isn’t available on all PCs.

  3. Step 3: Lower the screen brightness and refresh rate

    Screen brightness is one of the settings likely to use more power than average, and a higher refresh rate also uses more power.

    On Windows, select Start, then Settings, System, Display, Brightness, and use the slider to set a lower brightness level.

    A higher refresh rate gives smoother motion on your display, but it also uses more power. To lower it, select Start, then Settings, System, Display, Advanced display, and for Choose a refresh rate, select a lower rate.

    On a Mac, dim the display to the lowest comfortable level with your keyboard’s brightness keys or Displays settings. A Mac laptop can also dim the display automatically when you’re using battery power.

  4. Step 4: Make the screen turn off and sleep sooner

    Devices with longer sleep time use more power than those with less sleep time.

    On Windows, select Start, then Settings, System, Power & battery, Screen and sleep. For On battery power, turn off my screen after, pick a shorter duration. For On battery power, put my device to sleep after, choose a shorter duration.

    On a Mac, choose Apple menu, then System Settings, then click Lock Screen in the sidebar. Click the pop-up menu next to “Turn display off on battery when inactive,” then choose an option.

    When your Mac is in sleep, it’s still turned on, but it consumes much less energy.

  5. Step 5: Apply Windows Energy recommendations

    Energy recommendations collects settings that have an outsized impact on power consumption in one place.

    Select Start, then Settings, System, Power & battery, Energy recommendations. Select Apply all, or adjust settings one at a time, such as screen brightness, screen saver and how long your laptop can be inactive before it goes to sleep or turns off.

    The items you see depend on the type of Windows device you have and whether it’s plugged in or running on battery.

    Good to know

    The recommendation Stop USB devices when my screen is off to help save battery blocks access to USB devices when the screen is off, because USB devices consume significant energy.

  6. Step 6: Turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi you don’t need

    Bluetooth and Wi-Fi consume energy even when they aren’t used.

    On a Mac, choose Apple menu, then System Settings, then click Bluetooth in the sidebar and turn Bluetooth off. To turn off Wi-Fi, click Network in the sidebar, select Wi-Fi in the list, then turn Wi-Fi off.

    On Windows, if you don’t need Internet, Bluetooth or other wireless communications, select Start, then Settings, Network & internet, and turn on Airplane mode.

  7. Step 7: Disconnect accessories you aren’t using

    USB devices consume significant energy, so don’t leave accessories connected that you don’t need.

    On a Mac, disconnect any accessories that you aren’t using, such as external hard drives.

    On Windows, Energy recommendations includes Stop USB devices when my screen is off to help save battery, which blocks access to USB devices when the screen is off.

  8. Step 8: Restart Windows or update your Mac

    On Windows, a restart can sometimes fix problems that can shorten battery life.

    On Windows, select Start, then Power, then Restart.

    To let Windows change some power settings for you automatically, select Start, then Settings, System, Troubleshoot, Other troubleshooters, then select Run next to Power.

    On a Mac, keep your software up to date.

  9. Step 9: Check your battery’s condition

    The battery’s ability to hold a charge may be less than when it was new.

    On a Mac, choose Apple menu, then System Settings, then click Battery in the sidebar and look at Battery Health. Normal means the battery is functioning normally. Service Recommended means its ability to hold charge is less than when it was new, or the battery isn’t functioning normally.

    Rely on the battery-health information reported by macOS. Third-party apps that report battery-health conditions might not be accurate.

    On Windows, you can create a battery report. Select Start, type Command prompt, press and hold (or right-click) Command prompt, choose Run as administrator and select Yes. Type powercfg /batteryreport, then press Enter.

    The report is an HTML file, and the Command Prompt window shows where it’s saved. Double-click it to open it in your web browser, and start with the Installed battery, Recent usage and Battery usage sections.

    Good to know

    Battery capacity is reduced after a certain number of times the battery is charged and then discharged, so you’ll need to charge it more often.

Battery still running down too fast?

On a Mac, if Battery Health shows Service Recommended and the lowered charging capacity is affecting your experience, you can get service from Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. You can safely continue to use your Mac until then. Mac laptops with built-in batteries should have their batteries replaced only by an Apple Authorized Service Provider or Apple Store, or by an Independent Repair Provider that uses genuine Apple parts.

If the battery is swelling: Severely deteriorated batteries may visibly expand. If the battery expands beyond the laptop’s enclosure, stop using the laptop immediately, handle it with caution, and avoid applying pressure or puncturing the battery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to keep using my Mac when it says Service Recommended?

Yes. Apple says you can safely continue to use your Mac, and you can get service if the lowered charging capacity is affecting your experience.

Can a third-party app tell me how healthy my Mac battery is?

Third-party apps that report battery-health conditions might not be accurate. Apple says it’s best to rely on the battery-health information reported by macOS.

How can I slow down battery wear on a Windows laptop?

Avoid frequent deep discharges and keep the battery between roughly 20% and 80% when you can. Try not to use or charge your laptop at high temperatures, because excessive heat can permanently reduce battery capacity.

Which Mac settings help the battery last longer over time?

In Battery settings, click the button next to Battery Health, then turn on Optimized Battery Charging and “Manage battery longevity.” These options help optimize the lifespan of your battery.

Will I still get notifications if I stop an app running in the background on Windows?

Not if you choose Never: you won’t receive notifications or updates for that app. Power optimized still lets the app receive notifications and update periodically while saving power.

Sources & review

This guide was checked against official support instructions from Apple and Microsoft on October 1, 2026. Device options can change with software updates.

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