Why does my laptop battery stop charging at 60%?

Laptop battery management settings interface on Windows 10.

As a heavy laptop user, you might have noticed that your laptop battery stops charging around 60%. This issue can be frustrating, but it’s often due to built-in battery management technology designed to protect your battery. In this article, we'll explore how laptop batteries work, why charging stops at 60%, and how to adjust settings for optimal battery health.

How Do Laptop Batteries Work

First, we need to understand how laptop batteries work.

Laptop batteries usually use lithium-ion battery technology. They are composed of multiple battery cells inside, which store chemical energy. When the laptop battery is connected to the power source to charge, current will pass through the battery cells, and chemical reactions in the cells will convert electrical energy into chemical energy. When the battery is full, the chemical reaction reaches equilibrium and the battery stops charging.

Knowing this, you will have a better understanding of why the laptop battery stops charging at around 60%.

Why Does My Laptop Battery Stop Charging at 60%?

The answer is simple: this is because of the design of the internal control circuit of the laptop battery. Most laptop batteries on the market currently use intelligent management technology. These batteries automatically detect the charging status and power, and control the internal circuit to achieve charging and discharging control.

One of the smart management technologies is called "cut-off voltage" technology. This technology means that when the battery voltage reaches a certain voltage (mostly 4.2V) during charging, the battery will stop charging to prevent the battery from overcharging and damaging the battery life. Similarly, when the battery power drops to 10% during discharge, it will stop discharging to protect the battery from damage due to over-discharge.

Therefore, when the laptop battery is charged to about 60%, it will stop charging. This is because the intelligent management chip inside the battery believes that the battery has reached sufficient power and continuing to charge may shorten the battery life.

How to Adjust or Turn Off Battery Management Features

If you want your laptop to charge to a higher percentage, you can check if you can adjust the battery management settings. Many laptops (especially brands such as Dell, Lenovo, and Apple) provide relevant battery charging management tools and setting options. For example:

Windows 10/11: You can adjust the charging policy through the "Windows Battery Health Management" option. In "Settings", find the "Battery Settings" section and see if there is an option to limit charging to 80% or 60%.

MacBook: Apple provides an "Optimized Battery Charging" feature that limits charging to 80% by default and only charges to 100% when needed. You can find the battery option in System Preferences and turn this feature off.

Third-party tools: Some third-party battery management software can also provide similar functionality, allowing you to set a charging limit for the battery.

How to maintain laptop battery

Laptop batteries, especially those based on lithium-ion technology, work by converting electrical energy into chemical energy. Proper laptop battery management ensures long-lasting performance.

So, how can we better maintain the laptop battery?

To maintain your laptop battery:

Avoid charging to 100% constantly.

Keep your battery between 20% and 80% for optimal health.

Use your laptop on flat, hard surfaces to prevent overheating.

Store your laptop battery in a cool, dry place when not in use for extended periods.

If you're using a Windows laptop, you may be able to change the battery charging settings through the Battery Health Management option.

If this article still doesn't help your laptop battery, you can buy a new battery at  BatteryMall.com

If you want to learn more about batteries, please visit: BatteryMall.com/blogs/support

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