Revive a Dead Laptop Battery

You can add new life to your NiMH or NiCD laptop battery by placing it in a tightly-sealed plastic bag and freezing it for 12 hours. If you have a Lithium Ion or Lithium Polymer battery, however, freezing it is actually dangerous. Instead, consider doing a battery calibration, which will both restore and prolong your battery power. While these methods won’t make your battery as good as new (you may only gain about thirty minutes of extra charge time from an older battery that no longer holds a charge), they will help you get the most of your battery until you can buy a new one.

Steps

Reviving a NiMH or NiCD Battery in the Freezer

  1. Determine if you have the right type of battery for this method. First, this method won’t work for Macs, as they all have lithium batteries.[1] Your battery has to be NiMH or NiCD in order for this method to work. If you do this method with the wrong battery, the battery will likely be destroyed.
    • Turn the computer off, then open the battery cover (typically on the bottom of the laptop). If the battery says something like Li-ion, Li-on, Li-ion II, Lithium, LiPo, you do not have the proper battery for this method.
    • If you are unable to read the text on the battery (perhaps it rubbed off), call your computer manufacturer to find out, or use a different method.
    • If your NiMH or NiCD battery no longer holds a charge at all, this method may only get you an additional 30 minutes or so of battery charge capability, which is much better than 0 minutes. If the battery is simply draining too quickly, you may be able to get better results with this method.[2]
  2. Remove your NiMH or NiCD battery.[3] With the computer turned off, gently remove the battery from the laptop. The battery should come out without having to use much force.
  3. Place the battery in a sealed plastic bag. Any high-quality sealable bag will work. It’s important to make sure the bag is completely sealed and contains no holes.
  4. Put the bagged battery in the freezer for about 12 hours. Don’t leave the battery in there much longer than that, as freezing it for too long could cause it to explode.
  5. Remove the bag from the freezer. Take the battery out of the bag and let it warm up to room temperature, drying it occasionally with a towel if it appears damp. Let the battery warm back up to room temperature for up to 30 minutes before continuing.
  6. Put the battery back into the laptop. If there is a cover that goes over your laptop battery, slide it securely into place as well.
  7. Connect the laptop to a power source. Without turning the computer back on, plug the machine back in to a power source and leave it this way overnight (or for several hours during the day).
  8. Drain the battery. To drain the battery quickly, it’s best to turn the computer on, unplug it from the power source, and do something system-intensive, such as watching a video with the screen brightness turned up.
  9. Charge and drain your battery again. Do this step at least twice, but preferably 4-5 times. Once you’ve followed these steps, your formerly-dead battery should now hold a charge for a least a half hour, hopefully more.

Re-calibrating Any Laptop Battery

  1. Determine if this method is right for you. This method will work for any type of laptop battery. Re-calibrating the battery fixes issues where the battery meter on your laptop no longer appears accurate. It also does a complete discharge and recharge, which can add extra life to your battery.
  2. Charge the battery to a 100% charge.[4] It doesn’t matter whether the computer is off or on for this step, but you’ll need to have the computer turned on eventually to know whether or not the battery has reached a full charge. Once the battery meter reaches 100% leave the computer plugged in to the power source for two more hours.
  3. Drain the battery. Disconnect the laptop from the power source and drain the battery completely. You can speed up this process by using the computer to do something system-intensive, such as watching a movie or editing video.
  4. Leave the computer unplugged for 3 to 5 hours after the drain. This will ensure that any phantom power is fully drained from the unit.
  5. Fully charge the battery. Charge the battery back up to the 100% mark. At this point, your battery has been recalibrated.

Performing a Full Recharge

  1. Decide whether this method is right for you.[5] Doing a full recharge will work on any laptop hardware, no matter the battery type. Try this method if your battery is draining more quickly than it used to.
  2. Completely drain the battery. Even if the computer is turned off, the battery may still have enough charge to power the LED power light. You'll know the battery is completely drained when the power light no longer blinks.
  3. Charge the battery with the computer turned off. Plug the computer back in to begin the charging process, but don’t turn the computer on. If the computer turns on without your prompting, shut it down right away.
  4. Leave the computer charging (and turned off) for 48 hours. Don’t turn the computer on for the entire 48 hour charging period.
  5. Turn the computer back on after 48 hours. The battery should now be able to hold a charge better than before.


Tips

  • If you use your laptop a lot at home, don’t leave it plugged in at all times.
  • Understand that laptop batteries do, eventually, die. If these methods don't work, you'll need to purchase a new battery.
  • Try not to let the battery completely drain during regular use. If you see the “low battery warning,” plug it in to increase long-term battery life.
  • Check the web for a good used battery. If you look long enough, you might find one that doesn't cost too much.

Warnings

  • Don't put your laptop battery into the freezer without securely bagging it, as it may attract water and ice that will cause damage.
  • Only perform the freezer method on NiCD or NiMH batteries. If you try this on a lithium battery, it'll make the battery life worse.
  • Don’t leave the battery in the freezer for too long. The battery could explode, resulting in battery acid flooding your freezer.
  • Taking your laptop battery apart to replace the lithium cells inside is incredibly dangerous—never disassemble your laptop battery.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.apple.com/batteries
  2. ↑ http://www.greenbatteries.com/battery-myths-vs-battery-facts-1
  3. ↑ http://askbobrankin.com/laptop_batteries_replace_or_revive.html
  4. ↑ http://www.online-tech-tips.com/computer-tips/how-to-restore-a-dead-or-dying-laptop-battery
  5. ↑ http://batterycare.net/en/guide.html
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