The Battery is Draining Quicker than Expected on a Dell Laptop

Table of Contents

Detailed Article

Symptoms

Cause

Resolution

Additional Info

Affected Products

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Summary: The following article provides information about a situation where your Dell laptop battery drains faster than expected. Especially in a suspend to Random Access Memory (RAM (S3 sleep state)) or when the laptop has the lid closed. ...

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.

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Symptoms

Laptop battery drains faster than expected

Dell's recent laptops support the Modern Standby mode. This mode keeps the laptop turned on and is what responds instantly if the power idle mode is configured and connected standby is enabled.

Windows Modern Standby: Expands on the Windows 8.1 Connected Standby power mode. It is more inclusive. It allows computers that do not support all the prior requirements for Connected Standby to take advantage of the low-power idle mode. (For example: Devices that are based on the configuration of a solid state drive (SSD) + hard drive, or solid-state hybrid drive (SSHD), and a network adapter.)

Note: The Windows Update process (especially the critical updates) remains in operation in modern standby mode. It increases the Central Processor Unit (CPU) utilization during the update process and drains the battery when connected to a Local Area Network (LAN). Dell Technologies recommends that you connect the Alternating Current (AC) adapter when setting up a new laptop. The Windows update process is now mandatory and there can be many updates that you are required to download on to a new device.

Cause

In Modern Standby, a laptop uses the S0 low-power idle mode. Modern Standby has the flexibility to configure the default behavior to limit network activity while in a low-power state. The Windows operating system reduces the power consumption of the operating system. It only wakes from the lowest power state when necessary. With Modern Standby, the laptop wakes when there is real-time action that is required. (For example: Operating system maintenance, or you wake the device.) Modern Standby is available for all Windows desktop, Laptop, and Tablet operating systems since Windows 10.

Note: You cannot switch between S3 and Modern Standby by changing a setting in the BIOS. Switching the power mode is not supported in Windows without a complete operating system reinstall.

This can cause the laptop to have more battery drain than the traditional S3 power mode.

Resolution

Note: The pictures that we use in this article may not be identical to what you see on your laptop. The screenshots can change slightly depending on the type and update version of the Windows Operating System that you are running on your laptop.

You can quickly check the power states and settings that are available to you, by running the following command at a command-line prompt:

Powercfg /a

modern standby not connected and command Prompt Window running the command

Dell always recommends that you start by updating the BIOS and other required drivers to the most recent revisions available.

You can download the latest drivers from the Dell Support Website using the instructions in the following article:

Dell Knowledge Base Article: How to Download and Install Dell Drivers

Note: BIOS updates involve power-cycling your laptop. Ensure that you have the laptop connected to an external power source throughout.

You can also follow these suggested steps to set your laptop up to use the battery more efficiently.

Optimize the Hibernate after setting:
1. Click the power option in the system tray.
2. Click Change plan settings on the power plan in use.
3. Click Change advanced power settings.
4. Enter into option Sleep - Hibernate after - On battery (Minutes), input with 240 and then apply.
Turn off the option Stay connected to network while asleep:
1. Click the power icon in the system tray. Click Power & sleep settings.
2. Under the Power & sleep page, with the Network connection item (default is disabled).
3. Clear On Battery power, stay connected to network while asleep.

Note: If the S3 state is Not available, attempting to disable modern standby using registry edits can make the situation worse. Registry edits found online can display STOP errors after resuming from the laptop having stopped responding.

For reference: Windows Modern standby or Change the power mode for your Windows Computer

The Battery is Draining Quicker than Expected on a Dell Laptop