HOW TO: Laptop Battery Cycling

reddit post asking if battery is swollen Image from Reddit1.

INTRODUCTION

One of the key components that is often overlooked with a laptop is the battery . We're so accustomed to having batteries in our devices, "that just works", that this component is ignored or forgotten. Batteries can last for many years before ever needing a replacement. In order to extend the life of the new battery there are some key steps that can be taken after installing.2

You can just install the battery and start using your laptop. However, like driving a new car, it needs to be "broken in" before using it normally. With a new car you need to drive it for several miles at speeds that don't exceed a certain amount and with batteries, you need to perform charge and discharge cycles. These steps before "normal" use are provided by the manufacturers as recommendations to extend the life of the equipment you purchased.

AUDIENCES

Who is this blog post for?: This post is for technical and non-technical people (DIY) individuals wanting/needing to replace a warn out laptop battery.

PROBLEM THIS POST IS SOLVING

The information provided is the manufacturer's recommended steps to properly care for and extend the life of your new laptop battery.

PURPOSE

This blog post provides simple instructions on how to cycle a new laptop battery after installation.

MATERIALS

  • Power cord for your laptop.
  • Electrical source to power your laptop.

CAUTION & DISCLAIMER

Safety Instructions and Warnings3

  1. Do not disassemble, modify, or reassemble the battery yourself.
  2. Do not short-circuit the battery.
  3. Do not expose the battery to direct sunlight or place it near other heat sources, such as chimneys.
  4. Do not store the battery near a flammable, explosive, or corrosive materials.
  5. If the battery does not complete charging within a a reasonable time, stop charging immediately.
  6. If you detect an unusual smell or if the battery casing deforms during charging, immediately turn of the power and unplugy the AC power cord to prevent potential harm or risk.
  7. Keep the battery out of the reach of infants and children. Do not allow children to play near this product or its accessories without supervision.
  8. Dispose of the battery and its accessories in accordance with local environmental regulations. Do not dispose of this product with household waste.

These instructions are intended to be a guide for properly cycling a replacement laptop battery. By performing these actions, you understand the risks and take full responsibility and will not hold A VR STORY LLC or the manufacturer responsible.

Contact your local waste management facilities for proper disposal of used/damaged batteries.

This post is not sponsored by Laptop Parts Shop3.

CONSTRAINTS

  • Results may vary.
  • Physically removing the old laptop battery and replacing it with a new one is the prerequisite for these instructions. The instructions are for, after successfully installing the replacement battery and following the manufacturer's recommended energy cycling for maximum battery performance and life.
  • These instructions are provided verbatim and as is. For more detailed instructions contact the manufacturer directly.

ACTION_ITEMS

  • New batteries need to be fully charged and discharged three times to ensure that the battery is activated to the maximum extent.
    1. Please charge for 4-8 hours with the device turned off,
    2. then disconnect the power supply and use only the battery.
    3. When the battery is discharged to between 5%-10%, charge it again.
    4. Repeat this operation three times to achieve the best battery performance.
    5. In the future use, if the battery displayed level is different from the actual level, you can also use this method to calibrate the battery
  • Store the battery in a dry environment at 14°F (-10°C) to 104°F (40°C). Please use the battery between 41°F (5°C) to 95°F (35°C). Using the battery outside this temperature may reduce battery performance and may cause battery overheating or other malfunctions.
  • If the battery will not be used for an extended period, perform a charge and discharge cycle at least once every two months to maintain its activity. This is very important.
  • During the charging process, a slight increase in battery temperature is normal and not a malfunction.
  • Always disconnect the power source before cleaning the battery.

VERSION 2026v.0.1.0

REFERENCES

  1. Is this battery swollen? Manufacturer also has a bump, picture in comments. (This is just a random photo I acquired from the internet.) ↩

  2. I wanted to share my experience swapping the battery on my Linux laptop in hopes that others will find this information useful to improve the battery life on their device(s). These simple steps are not exclusive to Linux laptops and could apply to other devices that have a battery. Laptop Parts Shop3 approved me posting the instructions provided verbatim from the manual included with the battery I received. I had to swap the battery because it swelled considerably; something I noticed only because the mousepad was pushed up from being seated. ↩

  3. Laptop Parts Shop ↩ ↩2 ↩3

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