Symptoms
- Battery health/condition shows a percentage well below 100% of original capacity
- 'Consider replacing your battery' message appears
- Runtime is much shorter than when the laptop was new
- Laptop shuts off well before reaching 0%
Likely causes
- CommonNormal age-related capacity lossLithium-ion batteries typically lose noticeable capacity after 300–500 charge cycles, roughly 2–4 years of regular use.
- CommonFrequent full discharges or constant high heat exposureDeep discharges and heat both accelerate capacity loss faster than average.
- PossibleLeaving the laptop plugged in at 100% for extended periodsSome models handle this fine with charge-limiting, others degrade faster without it.
- Less commonA manufacturing defect causing early degradationMore likely if the laptop is under 2 years old and health has dropped sharply.
What to do
- Check the exact battery health percentage in system settings (Windows battery report, or macOS Battery Health) to know how degraded it actually is.
- Decide based on how much the reduced runtime affects your daily use, since some capacity loss may not matter much.
- Enable a charge limit feature (if available) going forward to slow further degradation.
- Avoid letting the battery sit at 0% for long periods or in very hot environments.
- If under warranty and the laptop is young with unusually poor health, contact the manufacturer about a possible defect.
- If runtime is unacceptable, get a professional replacement using a battery matched to your exact model.
Tools and parts
- None required
Replacement battery matched to modelSearch: “[laptop model] genuine replacement battery”
When to call a pro
If the laptop is still under warranty and battery health dropped unusually fast, contact the manufacturer before paying for a replacement.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.