Laptop batteries don't usually fail without warning. Most give off a handful of signs weeks or months before they stop working properly, and catching them early can save you from a dead laptop at the worst possible moment.
1. It drains much faster than it used to
Every laptop battery loses some capacity over time, but if a full charge that used to last four or five hours now barely gets you through ninety minutes, that's beyond normal wear.
2. The laptop shuts down suddenly, even with charge showing
If your laptop tells you it has 20% or 30% left and then powers off without warning, the battery's internal capacity reading is no longer accurate — a common sign it's failing.
3. The battery is visibly swollen
A swollen battery is not something to keep using. This is a safety issue, not just a performance one, and the laptop should be brought in immediately.
4. It only works while plugged in
If the laptop turns off the moment you unplug it, the battery has likely dropped to near-zero effective capacity.
5. It runs hotter than usual during normal use
A battery nearing the end of its life can generate more heat under normal load, worth checking alongside the cooling system.
What to do next
Bring the laptop in for a battery health check. We test actual battery capacity rather than just going by the on-screen percentage.