How to Break in a New Laptop Battery

By Nicole Ramage

Breaking in a new laptop battery is essential in making it last longer.
i laptop image by Du...¡an Zidar from Fotolia.com

Anytime you purchase a new laptop, the battery is rarely fully charged. To ensure that your laptop battery holds a charge for a long time, it's a good idea to break it in. This is a simple process that anyone can do--however, most people don't because they are impatient to play with their new toy.

Step 1

Unbox your new laptop and plug it in. While it is plugged in, try to avoid using it so that it can get the best and fullest charge possible. Leave your laptop plugged in for five to seven hours.

Step 2

Remove your laptop from the AC power adapter. Drain the battery completely until you force it to shut itself down. The battery should be dead to the point that even pushing the power button will not turn it back on. Don't forget to save any work you may have been doing before your computer shuts down.

Step 3

Place your computer back on the charger. Completely recharge the battery again to full capacity. Try to leave it alone if possible. If you can leave your computer to charge without using it, it will charge faster.

Step 4

Drain the battery completely. This is called calibrating your battery. Plug it back into the AC power unit.

Step 5

Repeat this process one more time. Once you have drained and recharged your battery one more time, it is ready to take anywhere you like.

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