Fix the Windows 10 laptop error of displaying the wrong battery percentage

Having problems with your Windows 10 laptop displaying incorrect battery information or powering off suddenly while still showing plenty of battery? This could be a battery hardware or Windows software failure. This article will show you how to fix the error of displaying the wrong battery percentage on Windows 10.

• How to monitor laptop battery with Battery Alarm on Windows 10
• How can you tell if your laptop battery is about to die?
• How to restore and improve performance on a worn-out battery laptop

Laptop batteries don't last forever

Not every laptop battery is created equal. Laptop batteries have a capacity defined in milliamp-hours (mAH). The higher the mAH value, the more energy the battery holds. In general, the more expensive the battery, the better, but you can check the manufacturer's specifications if you're unsure.

Battery life on a laptop without additional charging depends on how you use the computer. Leaving the screen at maximum brightness, watching videos, and running multiple programs are things that drain the battery faster. No matter how carefully you use your laptop, the total battery capacity will decrease over time. Each battery has a specific number of charges and charge cycles. These are also affected by environmental factors such as temperature. Of course, the battery doesn't last as long as on a laptop. Typically, you will see a decrease in battery life after 18 to 24 months of use. You can use the battery health check tool to better understand how it works.

Remaining battery life is predictable

Before diving into the fixes below, you should understand how battery life is calculated. Windows battery life calculations are only predictive. It is based on what is currently being done on the computer and assumes that those actions will continue. If watching a video or playing a game, Windows won't estimate how much time remains.

However, if you stop playing the game, reduce the screen brightness, and just open the Word document, the remaining hours on the battery will increase. This number also changes even if you are not actively doing anything while a program is installing updates in the background. Therefore, if the remaining hours increase or decrease according to the action taken, that is normal, but if your laptop suddenly shuts down at 30%, then there is definitely a problem.

Calibrate the laptop battery

If your laptop battery meter shows an incorrect number, the best way to solve this problem is to calibrate it. Do it by running the battery from full charge to the end and then fully charging it again. This process does not provide extra power to or increase laptop battery life, but it will allow Windows to accurately read battery life.

1. Adjusting the Power Plan

Step 1. To get started, right-click the battery icon on the Taskbar. Click Power Options, then click Change when the computer sleeps from the menu on the left. Step 2. Take note of the current settings because you need to set them up again later. Change everything to Never and then click Save changes. Step 3. Click Change advanced power settings. Expand Battery, then expand Critical battery level. Record the current percentage for later use. Click on the On battery percentage and set it as low as possible. Step 4. Expand the Critical Battery action and ensure that the On Battery setting is set to Hibernate. If not, click to change it. Step 5. When done, click Ok to save the changes.

2. Laptop charger

Plug in the laptop and charge the battery to 100%. You can still use your laptop during this process. When the battery is 100% full, stop using the laptop and wait a few hours for the battery to cool down.

3. Unplug the laptop

Unplug the laptop charger and let the battery drain. Again, you can use the computer during this time. You will need to wait until the laptop is completely drained and shuts down. Then wait a few more hours.

4. Charge the laptop again

Plug in the laptop charger and charge the battery to 100%. Go back to Windows power settings, follow the previous instructions, and set everything back to the way it was, or adjust it to your liking. The battery percentage will now be correct. If not, follow the steps below.

Install the battery driver again

The battery driver may be missing or damaged, causing the error to display the wrong battery percentage. Please reinstall them. Press Windows + X and click on Device Manager. Expanding Batteries, you'll see Microsoft AC Adapter and Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery. Right-click Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery and click Uninstall device. Wait for the process to complete. When done, from the top menu, click Action > Scan for hardware changes to reinstall the driver. Restart the computer when done.

Update Windows

You should keep Windows up to date to protect your system and benefit from the latest features. The problem with outdated Windows is that the battery percentage displayed when hovering over the icon is different than the battery percentage displayed when clicking on it, which is one percent. To make sure your computer is running the latest version of Windows, press Win+I to open Settings, click Update & Security, and then click Check for updates. If an update is available it will automatically download and install.

• How to update Windows 10 to Windows 10 1903

Optimizing laptop battery life

Hopefully, the above methods will fix the error of displaying the wrong battery percentage on Windows 10 laptops. If your laptop battery is old and not providing enough power, see the article Do you know how to increase laptop battery life in Windows 10 yet? We wish you success!

Source: https://thewindowsfan.com/fix-the-windows-10-laptop-error-of-displaying-the-wrong-battery-percentage/