How to Extend Battery Life of Your Laptop or Smartphone: Tips You’ll Actually Use

You know that sinking feeling—you’re in the middle of a Zoom call or binging the latest Netflix series, and boom! That dreaded low battery warning pops up. If only our gadgets came with infinite battery life, right?

Unfortunately, until someone invents a magical forever-charged device, we have to get smarter about making the most of our battery life. The good news? I've got some easy, effective, and surprisingly overlooked tips to help your laptop or smartphone stay alive longer (without making you feel like you’re living in the stone age).

1. Lower the Brightness (Yes, It Matters!)

I know, I know—everyone says this. But hear me out. Your screen is like that one friend who eats all the snacks at a party—it's the biggest energy hog.

What to Do:

Ditch the "sun mode" brightness. Keep it at around 50% or lower.

Turn on auto-brightness so your screen adjusts to the environment.

Did You Know? According to a study by CNET, lowering your screen brightness by just 30% can save up to 20% of your battery life. That's basically an extra episode of your favorite show!

2. Use Battery Saver Mode (It’s There for a Reason)

Think of battery saver mode as your phone or laptop going into "survival mode." It cuts down on background activity, animations, and unnecessary processes.

How to Turn It On:

Android: Settings > Battery > Battery Saver

iPhone: Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode

Windows: Settings > System > Battery Saver

Mac: System Preferences > Battery > Low Power Mode

Bonus Tip: Use this mode even when your battery isn't low—it'll stretch your battery life throughout the day.

3. Kill Background Apps (Don’t Let Them Party Without You)

Some apps are like uninvited guests—they stay open, use your data, and drain your battery even when you're not using them.

What to Do:

On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Limit Background Usage

On iPhone, go to Settings > Background App Refresh and switch it off for apps you don’t need running in the background.

Fun fact: Battery University found that background apps can quietly drain up to 15% of your daily battery. That's like your battery ghosting you.

4. Turn Off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth & GPS (When You Don’t Need Them)

When you're not using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, turn them off. Seriously, your phone constantly searching for connections is a massive battery drainer.

Pro Tip:

 Flying somewhere? Switch to Airplane Mode to save even more juice.

Did You Know? TechRadar found that disabling GPS and Wi-Fi when not in use can extend battery life by up to 18%. That’s a game-changer for road trips or long workdays.

5. Stop Charging Like a Maniac

Look, I get it. Plugging in your device overnight feels convenient. But it’s not great for your battery health.

Better Way:

Keep your charge between 20% and 80%—that sweet spot is where your battery thrives.

Use certified chargers (your device will thank you).

Data Alert: A study by the Battery Research Lab found that this charging practice can increase battery lifespan by up to 50%.

6. Avoid Temperature Extremes (Your Battery Hates the Heat)

Your laptop and phone are like Goldilocks—they don’t like it too hot or too cold. Extreme temperatures can mess with your battery life.

Keep it Cool:

Don’t leave your phone on a sunny car dashboard.

Avoid charging your device under your pillow at night.

Stat: Battery University found that batteries exposed to temperatures above 40°C (104°F) lose up to 40% of their lifespan within a year.

7. Dark Mode is the New Black

If your device has an OLED or AMOLED screen, switching to dark mode isn’t just trendy—it actually saves battery.

Why It Works:

 Dark pixels require less energy to light up. Google found that enabling dark mode can save up to 63% of battery life on OLED screens.

So yeah, goth mode isn’t just for aesthetics.

8. Limit Push Notifications (Save Your Sanity Too)

Do you really need to know every time your favorite shopping app has a sale? Probably not. Each notification wakes up your screen, which means wasted battery.

Quick Fix: Go to notification settings and disable push notifications for non-essential apps.

Real Talk: Reducing notifications can save up to 10% of daily battery life, according to Digital Trends. Plus, your mental health will thank you.

9. Keep Software Updated (It’s Not Just About New Emojis)

I get it—those “Update Now?” pop-ups are annoying. But software updates often include battery optimization fixes.

Hot Tip: Set updates to run overnight when you’re not using your device.

Fun Fact: ZDNet found that keeping your software up to date can improve battery efficiency by up to 15%.

10. Close Heavy Apps & Free Up Storage

If your device storage is almost full, your battery will work harder to keep things running smoothly. And heavy apps like games or video editing software? Say goodbye to your battery real quick.

Smart Hack: Regularly clear cache and uninstall apps you don’t use.

Final Thoughts: Build Smarter Habits

Extending your device’s battery life isn’t rocket science—it’s just about being a bit smarter with how you use it. Try a few of these tips today, and you’ll notice the difference.

Got any other battery-saving hacks? Hit us up in the comments! Let's help each other keep our gadgets alive and thriving.