How to Fix Windows 11 When It Drains Too Much Battery

Windows 11 has a few quirks that make it more power-hungry than Windows 10. Here's how to get more from your charge on Windows 11.

Poor battery performance is something that has plagued Windows since its inception. From Windows XP to the latest Windows 11, battery performance has always been a matter of debate on a Windows system. The problem has become more common after downloading the latest Windows update.

So, here are a few changes you can make to fix the battery drainage issue on Windows 11.

What Causes Battery Drainage Issue on Windows 11?

Battery drainage issues mainly result from old or damaged batteries. But there are a few more reasons behind the battery drainage problem. Let's check them out one-by-one.

1. Windows will consume more battery if the fast startup feature is enabled on the system.
2. Unnecessary background running applications are often the primary reason behind the battery drainage problem.
3. The system will consume more battery if it is set to show you the maximum refresh rate possible.

Thankfully, it's pretty easy to configure the system to consume less battery. Below are the changes you can make in this situation.

1. Download the Latest Windows Update

Sometimes, bad battery performance can result from the Windows version you are currently using. You will have to update the system to the latest version to fix the problem.

Here's how to update Windows 11.

1. Open Settings using Win + I.
2. Choose Windows Update from the left pane.
3. Click on Check for updates.
4. Windows will look for and download any available update.

After downloading the update, check if there is any improvement in the battery performance or not.

2. Turn Off Fast Startup

Windows 11 comes with a Fast startup feature. You can enable it to reduce the system boot time. But on the negative side, this feature consumes a lot of battery resources to offer the fast boot feature. You can try disabling this feature to improve your battery performance.

Here's how to disable Fast startup on Windows 11.

1. Open the Control Panel by clicking on the Start icon and searching for the control panel.
2. Click on Hardware and Sound.
3. Choose Power Options.
4. Click on Choose what the power button do option from the left pane.
5. Uncheck the Turn on fast startup box.
   
6. Click on Save changes.

Reboot the system and check if there's an improvement in the battery performance.

3. Close Unnecessary Background Running Applications

Unnecessary background running applications have a long history of consuming system and battery resources. As such, try closing all such applications and see if this improves the battery performance.

Here's how to do it.

1. Open the Task Manager using Ctrl + Shift + Esc hotkeys.
2. In the Processes tab, right-click on all the unnecessary applications running in the background, and choose End task from the context menu.

4. Switch to Dark Theme

Windows 11 offers both light and dark themes. But the light theme consumes comparatively more power than the dark theme.

So, it's recommended to use a dark theme on Windows 11 to reduce battery consumption. You can enable it by following the below steps.

1. Open Settings on your system.
2. Choose Personalization from the left panel.
3. Click on Colors.
4. Click on the drop-down icon next to Choose your mode and select Dark.
   

5. Run Power Troubleshooter

Windows 11 comes with a lot of built-in troubleshooting features. You can use the Power troubleshooter to look for and resolve any battery-related issues.

Below are the steps to run the Power troubleshooter on Windows 11.

1. Open Settings.
2. In the System tab, click on Troubleshoot.
3. Click on Other troubleshooters.
4. Click on Run next to Power.
   

The Power troubleshooter window will pop up and look for the issues. Follow the on-screen instructions to fix the problem. Once done, reboot the system and observe the battery life.

6. Change the Refresh Rate

The system refresh rate indicates the speed at which the screen refreshes. If the system is configured to offer a higher refresh rate, it will consume more power.

So, if there's not any use, you can lower the refresh rate to increase the battery performance.

1. Head towards Settings > System > Display.
2. Click on Advanced display under Related settings.
3. Click on the drop-down icon present next to Choose a refresh rate.
4. If you have a 60 Hz monitor, set the refresh rate to 48 Hz. And, if you have a 90 Hz monitor, set the refresh rate to 60 Hz.
   

Reboot the system, and you will see a drastic change in the battery performance.

7. Change the Power Plan

Windows 11 lets you configure the battery performance as per the task you are about to perform. You will have to set the power plan to efficiency mode to receive the best battery performance from the system.

Here's how to change the power plan on Windows 11.

1. Open Settings, and choose Power & Battery.
2. Click on the drop-down icon next to Power mode.
3. Choose the Best power efficiency.
   

The system will offer a comparatively better battery backup by compromising the overall system performance.

8. Enable Battery Saver

Windows 11 comes with a battery saver feature that you can enable to restrict the higher battery consumption. You can enable this feature by going through the below steps.

1. Open Settings > System > Power & battery.
2. Click on the drop-down icon next to Battery saver.
3. Click on Turn on now.
   
4. You can click on the drop-down icon next to Turn battery saver on automatically at and choose a battery percentage at which the battery saver will automatically start functioning.

9. Change the Video Playback Settings

You can change the video playback settings to increase the battery performance. Below are the changes you need to make in the video playback settings.

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Apps on the left panel.
3. Choose Video playback.
4. Click on the drop-down icon next to Battery options.
5. Choose Optimize for battery life.
   

Now, reboot the system, and you will notice that the system is consuming comparatively less battery.

Windows 11 Battery Drainage Issue Fixed

The battery drainage issue on Windows 11 mainly results from a damaged battery. But if it is related to some system settings, you can try the solutions above to fix the problem.