10 signs you need to replace your HP laptop battery

You're typing away on your HP® laptop when you notice your battery is draining fast. Come to think of it, your computer has been taking a long time to charge. You may need a new battery. But how do you know for sure? We'll share our expert advice.

At Asurion, we help take care of your favorite tech, whether you want to speed up a slow laptop or get the most out of your tech when you travel. Here's our guide to replacing your HP laptop battery.

Signs your HP laptop needs a new battery

Most laptop batteries are good for at least a few years—but they don't last forever. When a battery is dying, your device will give you clues, including:

• Your laptop takes a long time to charge or won't charge at all.
• Your laptop battery dies sooner than it used to.
• Your laptop only works when it's plugged in.
• Your laptop battery looks bloated.
• Your laptop overheats.
• Your device displays a battery replacement alert.
• Your laptop shuts down unexpectedly
• Your laptop experiences a decline in speed 
• Your laptop suddenly doesn’t detect the battery
• Your laptop battery percentage fluctuates unpredictably or shows incorrect readings

Want to find out for sure? HP offers a Battery Check tool that'll give you a pass-fail rating to let you know if you need a new battery or not.

Should you replace your HP laptop battery yourself?

If you think you need a new HP laptop battery, keep in mind that replacing the battery on your own can be challenging. To access the battery on most HP laptop models, you need to remove the back panel of your device, which requires special tools. If you're not experienced with how to replace your HP laptop battery, you could damage your machine. Plus, do-it-yourself repairs—including battery replacement—could void the warranty on your HP laptop.

If you're not comfortable swapping out your battery yourself, contact a repair expert. Battery replacement is an affordable—from $149.99—and often same-day repair at an . There's no shame in getting help—it's the smart thing to do to make sure your new battery is installed correctly.

Don't let a dead battery slow you down

Schedule a device battery replacement or repair at one of our stores to fix it fast.

Schedule a repair

But first... back up your data

Before replacing your battery—or getting a repair expert to do it for you—make sure you back up your personal files. Your important data—including photos, videos, and messages—could be lost during the replacement process.

Ways to extend the life of your HP laptop battery

Got a new battery? The next step is to take good care of it. Here's how to extend the life of your HP laptop battery.

Keep your HP laptop cool

Heat—especially direct sunlight—and extreme cold, will wear out your batteries. Charge your laptop in a cool—but not cold—ventilated place.

Check your charging cable

Make sure you're using a cable that's in good condition with no fraying or damage. Always use a cable from your laptop's manufacturer—a cheap, poor-quality cable could cause your battery to charge slowly or damage your device.

Adjust your screen brightness

Lower your screen's brightness by pressing the key with the sun logo (or something similar) and then using the slider to turn brightness down to conserve battery power.

Unplug accessories you don't need

When your mouse, headphones, or USB drive are plugged into your laptop, they draw power from your laptop battery. Unplug them so they don't drain your battery.

Close apps and programs you're not using

If you're not using an app or program, close it. Too many apps or programs running at once will run down your HP laptop battery.

Unplug your laptop

Make sure to occasionally unplug your laptop. Aim for about a 50-–80% range for ideal battery health.

Turn off your laptop daily

Turn off your device at the end of each day to keep a charge in your battery.

Update your operating system

An outdated operating system can cause problems with your battery, so it's crucial to keep your operating system up-to-date. To do so, just follow these simple steps:

1. On your taskbar, click Start > Settings > Update & Security.
2. From the Windows™ update tab, click Check for updates. If no updates are available, you'll see a message: “You're up to date." If updates are available, Windows will automatically download and install them.

Use your laptop's built-in battery-saving tools

Your laptop has a built-in tool, the Windows Performance Management Tool, for you to find out what apps and programs are using the most power and, if necessary, to adjust your settings to conserve your battery. Here's how to open it:

• In Windows 10. From the battery icon on the task bar, move the slider to see the settings.

• In Windows 11. Go to Settings > System > Power & Battery > Power Mode.

If your HP laptop model offers settings like Optimize video steaming while on battery or Optimized battery charging, try turning them on to help extend your battery life.