4 Signs Your Computer Battery Is Dying

Unfortunately, computers don’t last forever. The most common area of a laptop that generally fails first is the battery. Battery failure can occur at any time and sometimes without warning. Other times you have some pre-warning signs that you can look out for so you can upgrade before your computer becomes unusable. For those who own a laptop, there are ways to find out if your battery needs replacing. Let’s take a look at the different signs to watch out for.

#1 Windows Will Warn You

With advancements in computer technology these days, some computers now have a new feature where windows will warn you when the battery capacity is getting to a critical state. Some computers will show up with a red X on the battery icon if it’s extremely low. When this occurs you may also receive a message when you pop-up the battery icon that says ‘consider replacing your battery’. This is generally seen in models of Window 7 and up. It’s a great indication that your battery is on its way out.

#2 It Doesn’t Hold Its Charge Like It Used To

Another sure sign that your computer battery is on nearing its end of life is when you charge it overnight and you only have half an hour to an hour of battery life left. Batteries that don’t hold their charge after long periods of charging are a clear sign that something isn’t right. Generally, when this occur, people tend to leave the computer plugged into the main power all day long, however this can eventually cause a fire risk. When your laptop battery doesn’t keep its charge it’s time to consider a new battery.

#3 Your Computer Overheats Quickly

In some cases, when your computer overheats quickly during small everyday tasks, it can be a sign that your battery may be dying. When your battery is using more power to work your application it can cause more strain on the other inner components of your computer. This in turn can cause your computer to heat up which results in a high fire risk. Does your computer heat up quickly?

#4 Sudden Shut Down

Sometimes when a battery is failing, it can cause the computer to have a sudden shut down. This sudden shut down means there’s extra strain on the battery while operating the computer and it can’t produce the power that’s required of it. Sudden shut downs can be very frustrating to say the least, especially when you haven’t saved your work.


As you can see from the points above, there’s a few different signs to be on the lookout for when you believe your laptop battery is slowly dying. By taking the time to understand and notice these problems you have the potential to improve your chances of saving your computer before any major damage occurs. So have you had any of these battery failure signs? Let us know in the comments.


Bill M has over 30 years experience in the IT industry. He is an IT consultant and owner of a Jim’s Computer Service franchise in Drouin, Melbourne.


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