Extend Your Battery Life

June 2012 — Tip of the Month

If you use a laptop, tablet, or smartphone, you most likely recharge your battery on a regular basis. If you want your battery to last longer between charges, here are a few helpful tips to reduce your device's power consumption.

Turn off wireless networking when you are not using it. This includes both Wi-fi and Bluetooth. When these services are active, they constantly check for local signals, which uses power. By turning off the wireless services you don't need (such as Bluetooth on your phone if you don't use a bluetooth headset), you'll use less battery power.
Dim your screen. As I mentioned in a previous monthly tip, dimming your display can save a surprising amount of power. If you can live with a less bright screen, your battery will last noticeably longer between charges.
Put your device to sleep when you are not using it. If you aren't going to use your smartphone for a few minutes, make sure to press the sleep button before placing it in your purse or pocket. Similarly, close your laptop before you walk away for awhile. When in sleep mode, computers and smartphones only use a fraction of the power they use while they are running normally.
Close unnecessary background applications. If you haven't restarted your device in awhile, you may be surprised how many applications are running in the background. Some of these apps may not be using any power, while others could be draining the battery significantly. Therefore, it is helpful to review your open apps every few days and close the ones you aren't using.

These are just a few tips to help you get the most out of your battery between charges. By reducing the amount of power your device uses, you'll help extend the overall lifespan of your battery as well.

- Per Christensson