solution Contentsolution Content

HP Notebook PCs - Improving battery performance (Windows)

Learn how to get the most service and life from your HP notebook battery by following these industry-wide suggested best practices.

Note:

If you notice your notebook battery is swollen or deformed, go to Swelling or deformation of notebook battery for more information.

How To Extend Your HP Notebook Battery Life in Windows

Learn how to extend your HP notebook battery life in Windows.

Swelling or deformation of notebook battery

To protect your hardware from potential damage, HP recommends that, if you are experiencing battery swelling, you discontinue use of the notebook until the battery can be replaced. You can contact HP to understand what battery replacement options are available.

Noticing a swollen battery: You might notice that your notebook battery has become somewhat deformed or swollen over time. In some cases, the battery swelling might be significant enough to impact other components of the system including the touchpad, keyboard, and chassis.
Not a safety issue: A swollen battery does not present a safety issue. It is the result of the generation of gases per the normal degradation of the battery cell over time. HP has worked closely with our battery cell suppliers and third-party industry experts to help minimize the potential for HP batteries to swell over time and to identify that swollen batteries are not a safety issue.
Discontinuing use: To protect your hardware from potential damage, HP recommends that, if you are experiencing battery swelling, you discontinue use of the notebook until the battery can be replaced. You can contact HP Customer Service to understand what battery replacement options are available.
Replacing a swollen battery: If a battery is under warranty, HP will replace the battery per the terms and conditions of the HP Worldwide Limited Warranty or applicable HP Care Packs. For batteries no longer under warranty, contact HP to purchase a genuine HP replacement battery.
Minimizing battery swelling: There are multiple drivers that can accelerate battery swelling. To help mitigate battery swelling over time, customers should use the HP Battery Health Manager settings found in the HP BIOS. Available on most HP Business Notebook PCs, the Battery Health Manager feature provides a number of options designed to improve battery longevity and performance for various use scenarios.

Conserve battery power

Use these tips to change the power consumption of the computer to conserve battery power.

Reduce the number of open applications. Each open software application uses memory and power, even when the application window is minimized. Close software applications to conserve battery power.
Reduce the brightness of the screen to the minimum readable level. Use the function keys to adjust the brightness or use the display settings in Windows.
Remove peripherals when not in use. External hard drives and other peripheral devices can draw power from your battery even when they are not in use. Disconnect peripheral devices when you are finished using them.
Reduce the speed of your processor. The faster your computer works, the more quickly it depletes battery power. You can extend the charge of your battery by slowing down the processor speed.
Turn off the wireless function. Wireless connections draw battery power. When wireless capability is not needed, turn it off. Press the Wireless On-Off button so that the wireless feature and wireless light turn off.
Change the power option setting. Select either HP Recommended or Power saver to conserve battery power.

Adjust power plans

A power plan is a collection of hardware and system settings that manage how your computer uses power.

Power plans can help you save energy, maximize system performance, or achieve a balance between the two.

In Windows, search for and open Choose a power plan to learn about, customize, and choose a power plan.

For more information, see Change power plans to meet performance needs.

Change power plans to meet performance needs

Change how the computer uses power when plugged in or using the battery in Windows 10.

In Windows, search for and open Control Panel.
Search for power, and then click Power Options.
Select an option under Choose or customize a power plan.
To customize the selected plan, click Change plan settings, and then select the display and sleep settings when using the battery and when plugged in.

Note:
To set up a personalized plan, click Create a power plan from list on the left side of the main Power Options window, and then follow the on-screen instructions. The plan displays in the list of available power plans.
To change more power settings, click Change advanced power settings.
Click the plus sign (+) next to the component or function, change the available settings, click Apply, and then click OK.
Click Save changes.

Notebook battery performance and capacity

The performance and capacity of laptop batteries naturally decrease over time. The way a battery is used daily can also affect these attributes.

Many factors can contribute to battery performance, including the following:

Battery cells suffer gradual, irreversible capacity loss with each discharge-charge cycle.
Temperature and discharge loads can impact battery performance and capacity.
Battery capacity can decrease even when the computer is unplugged from a power source and not in use.
During prolonged storage or non-use, the battery charge can decrease below its recommended low-voltage level. Discharging the battery below its recommended low-voltage level might physically damage the battery and result in the battery becoming unusable.

Note:
If the battery does not recover after charging for 30 to 60 minutes, the battery has most likely sustained physical damage and must be replaced.
Leaving the battery at a high level of charge in a high-temperature environment for extended periods can accelerate the loss of performance and capacity.
The computer generates excess heat during high workload or if it is not properly ventilated. This temporarily impairs the battery charge and discharge rate. The battery function returns to normal when it cools to an acceptable operating temperature.
To help maintain battery capacity, HP batteries are designed to discharge a small amount once fully charged. This is normal for most notebook batteries. The battery begins to recharge once the charge has dropped below 95%.
Using software for graphics processing or high-definition video accelerates the loss of performance and capacity. For example, playing 3D games decreases capacity faster than using word processing applications.
Your notebook configuration and power settings can impact your battery performance. This includes settings such as the following:
- Display brightness
- Backlit keyboard
- Display resolution
- Windows Power Plan
- Processor speed
- Type of storage, such as a peripheral storage

Adaptive Battery Optimizer

Adaptive Battery Optimizer is designed to maximize battery lifespan and is available on select HP OMEN and HP Pavilion Gaming laptops.

To confirm support for your laptop and learn how to configure the options, see HP Gaming Laptops - Introducing Adaptive Battery Optimizer, Designed to Prolong Battery Lifespan.

Use Battery Health Manager (HP Business Notebook PCs only)

This BIOS utility provides a number of settings designed to improve battery longevity and performance for select HP business computers.

For a list of supported computer models and BIOS updates to enable Battery Health Manager on those platforms, go to HP Business Notebooks, Mobile Workstations, and Mobile Thin Clients - HP Introduces HP Battery Health Manager To Help Optimize Battery Health.

Turn off the computer, and then make sure that the power cord is connected to the computer.
Turn on the computer, and then repeatedly press the esc key until the Startup Menu is displayed.
Press f10 to open the BIOS Setup Utility.
Using the arrow keys, select Advanced > Power Management Options.

The Battery Health Manager feature opens. If you do not see Battery Health Manager, go to the HP Customer Support Software and Driver Downloads page to update the BIOS to the most current version available.
Click the drop-down menu to select a Battery Health Manager setting.
- Maximize my battery health: Use this setting if the computer stays plugged in to the power adapter most of the time. This setting maximizes battery health by lowering the maximum battery charge level to 80%.
- Let HP manage my battery charging: Use this setting if the computer is regularly removed from the power adapter and allowed to discharge or over a year old. Charging behavior automatically adjusts to balance between maximizing battery health and maximizing battery duration.
After you choose a setting, click Save, and then exit the BIOS Setup Utility.

Battery care practices

Recommendations for battery usage, storage, and care.

Recommendations for battery usage and storage are included in the user guide for your computer. Additional battery care practices are as follows:

Store batteries between 20°C and 25°C (68°F and 77°F) with an 80 to 90% charge.
Do not disassemble, crush, or puncture a battery, and do not short the external contacts on a battery.

Warning:
Keep batteries away from children. Batteries can be a choking and poison hazard.
Do not leave batteries exposed to elevated temperatures for extended periods. Prolonged exposure to heat (inside a hot car, for example) accelerates the deterioration of battery cells.
For long term battery storage, do the following:
1. Charge or discharge the battery to 80 to 90%.
2. Place the notebook into ship mode per your user guide. See your notebook user guide to determine if your computer supports this feature.
  
  Note:
  For the steps to put a business computer into ship mode, see HP Notebook PCs and Chromebooks - Enable ship mode for longer term storage.
3. Check the battery charge every three months. If the battery charge falls below 50%, charge the battery to 80 -to 90%, and then repeat the steps in the user guide to return the computer to ship mode.
For best performance, use only the battery provided with the computer, a replacement battery provided by HP, or a compatible battery purchased as an accessory. If you have a choice of battery types to use with your computer, use the type of battery with the highest capacity rating.
To maintain the battery, run Battery Check using HP Support Assistant. Under normal usage, batteries should be calibrated a minimum of once every two to three months. However, a battery that is rarely discharged fully should be calibrated about once a month.

Go to HP Support Assistant to download and install the software. Run the test, and then calibrate the battery based on the results.

For more information, go to Testing the battery using HP Support Assistant for detailed steps.

Testing the battery using HP Support Assistant

HP Battery Check is a utility in HP Support Assistant that provides a simple but accurate test of the battery in Windows.

To use HP Support Assistant to check and calibrate the battery, follow these instructions:

In Windows, search for and open HP Support Assistant.

If the app is not installed on your computer, go to HP Support Assistant to download the latest version.
Select the My notebook tab, and then click Battery. The battery page is displayed.
Click Run battery check.
Wait while the battery check completes.

HP Battery Check displays the battery status.

Review the HP Support Assistant Battery Check results. Status results you might see include:

HP Support Assistant Battery Check Results
Status	Message	Suggested action
Passed	The battery functions properly and as expected.	Read the remainder of the message for more information.
Weak or Very Weak	The battery functions correctly, but due to normal aging of the battery, the battery life between charges is now significantly shorter than when it was new.	This status message is displayed when there is decrease in capacity of battery that occurs over time and with use. The battery should be replaced to get the most working time out of your battery.
Replace	The battery reports a failure and needs to be replaced as soon as possible.	Replace the battery. If your computer is within its warranty period, you can contact HP support to verify if your battery is covered.
Failure with an ID number	The battery experienced a hardware failure.	Write down the battery status and Failure ID. Keep the battery status and Failure ID so you have them available if you need to contact HP Customer Support.
No Battery	HP Battery Check did not detect a battery.	A battery is not installed or detected in the battery compartment. If a battery is installed, remove the battery and inspect the pins to see if there is dirt or other foreign matter blocking the connection. Fully insert a battery into the compartment if a battery was not inserted and you want to test the battery in that compartment.
Unknown	HP Battery Check could not access the battery.	Remove and reinsert the battery. You might need to download and install all the updates from HP Support Assistant.

HP Notebook PCs and Chromebooks - Enable ship mode for longer term storage

When storing a computer for a long period of time, the battery of the computer can reach a critical charge level, after which it cannot be recharged. This is a safety feature of the battery. To minimize battery drain, use ship mode when the computer must be stored for a long period of time.

Placing the computer in ship mode allows the battery to remain viable longer than when the computer is turned off. If a computer must be stored for a long period of time, such as a school break, place the computer in ship mode before storing.

Note:

Not all business notebooks support ship mode. See the computer user guide to determine if it supports this feature.

Prepare to enable ship mode

To prevent damage to the computer, perform the following steps before enabling battery ship mode.

Update the BIOS to the latest version for your computer. For business notebook PCs, go to Update the BIOS using HP Image Assistant (HP Business PCs only). For consumer notebook PCs, see HP Consumer Notebook PCs - Updating the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) (Windows).
Make sure that the battery is charged to between 80% to 90% capacity.
There are multiple methods to place the computer into ship mode. Select one of the following methods to enable ship mode.

Update the BIOS using HP Image Assistant (HP Business PCs only)

For business computers, use the HP Image Assistant utility to keep the BIOS up-to-date.

For more information, go to HP PCs - Using HP Image Assistant.

Go to HP Image Assistant (HPIA) and download and install the most recent version from the SoftPaq column.
In the File Explorer, navigate to and open HPImageAssistant.exe.
Click the Download SoftPaqs tab.
In Step 1 Create My Poducts List, click Create to open the Edit My Products List window.
Click the drop-down menu for Select operating system, and select your operating system.
Select your product from the HP Product Catalog list, or use the Search box and search by your product by name and number.

You could search for EliteBook or 800.
Click Apply.
In Step 2 Select from My Poducts List, select your computer or computers.
In Step 3 Get SoftPaqs, click Analyze, and then wait while HPIA retrieves and downloads the image configuration from HP.

The Available SoftPaqs tab lists the SoftPaqs available for the selected computers.
Click the drop-down menu for Select Components to Download/Apply, and then select the BIOS component.

If no BIOS component is available, your BIOS is up to date.
Click Download.
Select Download and extract SoftPaqs, and then click Start.

Enable ship mode by turning off the computer with a key sequence (HP Business Notebook PCs only)

Use a key sequence to enable ship mode on select business notebooks.

Turn off the computer, and then connect the AC adapter.
Press and hold the Windows + backspace keys.
Turn on the computer.
Release the keys when the HP logo is displayed, and then disconnect the AC adapter.
Turn off the computer, if necessary.

The computer is now in ship mode.

Enable ship mode in the BIOS (f10) menu (HP Business Notebook PCs only)

Use the computer BIOS to enable ship mode on select business notebooks.

Connect the AC adapter, and then turn on the computer.
After you turn on the computer and before the operating system loads, press f10 to enter the Computer Setup Utility (BIOS).
Select the Security tab, and then set up the BIOS administrator password, if necessary.

Note:
The Disable Battery on Next Shut Down option is grayed out (unavailable) if the BIOS administrator password is not set.
Select Advanced, and then select Built-In Device Options.
Select the Disable Battery on Next Shut Down option to Next Shut Down.
Press f10 to save the changes.
Restart the computer.
Turn off the computer.
Wait 2 seconds, and then disconnect the AC adapter.

The computer is now in ship mode.

Enable ship mode in the BIOS (f10) menu with a key sequence (HP Business Notebook PCs only)

Use a key sequence to enable ship mode in the BIOS on select business notebook PCs.

Connect the AC adapter, and then turn on the computer.
After you turn on the computer and before the operating system loads, press f10 to enter the Computer Setup Utility (BIOS).
Press the Windows + backspace + power keys to enter the computer ship mode.

A confirmation window opens to confirm the request. The computer confirms that it is connected to AC power and that the battery capacity is within range. After confirmation, the computer triggers a command to activate ship mode. This process can take approximately 5 minutes to complete and can be monitored by observing the blinking pattern of the AC adapter and battery light.

Command In Progress: When the command is initiated successfully, the AC adapter and battery light blink 3 times in a sequence.
Command Failed: When the command fails to initiate successfully, the AC adapter and battery light blink 5 times in a sequence.

Note:
The command might fail to initiate if the battery capacity is not within range or the command in progress times out.

When the system successfully enters ship mode, the AC adapter and battery light turns off. The computer is now in ship mode.

Enable ship mode in the BIOS (f10) menu with a key sequence (HP Consumer Notebook PCs only)

Use a key sequence to enable ship mode in the BIOS on select consumer notebook PCs.

Connect the AC adapter, and then turn on the computer.
After you turn on the computer and before the operating system loads, press f10 to enter the Computer Setup Utility (BIOS).
Press the ctrl + alt + shift + s keys to enable ship mode.

A confirmation window is displayed to confirm the request.
After confirmation, disconnect the AC adapter.

The computer is now in ship mode.

Enable ship mode by turning off the computer with a key sequence (HP Chromebooks only)

Use a key sequence to enable ship mode on Chromebooks.

Connect the AC adapter, and then turn on the computer.
Press and hold the Refresh + Power keys.
While holding these keys, disconnect the AC adapter from the computer and then release the keys. The computer turns off.
Press the Power key to confirm that the battery is disconnected. The computer cannot turn on, despite having a battery charge. The Chromebook cannot turn on until you connect the AC adapter.

This storage method reduces battery discharge to a minimum, prevents constant charge and discharge from reducing the battery life, and keeps the Chromebook in a stable, powered-off state.

Note:

If you can’t put your Chromebook into the battery disconnect state, charge the battery to at least 80%. Then, turn off the Chromebook, disconnect it from the power source, and store it in a cool, dry place.

Disable ship mode

To exit ship mode for normal use, connect the AC adapter to the computer, and then press the power button to start the computer.

Important:

For long-term storage, HP recommends inspecting the computer every 3 months to check the battery charge level. If the battery charge level has fallen below 50%, charge the battery back to 80% to 90%, and then and repeat the procedure to place the computer into shipping mode.

Additional support options

Try one of our automated tools or diagnostics

Ask a question on our HP Support Community page

Get in touch with one of our support agents

Enter a topic to search our knowledge library

What can we help you with?

Need Help?