The Battery is Draining Quicker than Expected on a Dell Laptop

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.)

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.

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

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

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

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

1. 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.

      

2. 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.

      

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

Back to Top

Recommended Articles

Here are some recommended articles related to this topic that might be of interest to you.

• What is Modern Standby and how does it differ from S3 Standby
• How to Improve the Performance of a Dell Laptop Battery