[Chromebook] Troubleshooting - Short Battery Life on Chromebook (Fast Battery Drain)

The lithium batteries used in Chromebook computers are consumable products. Due to the chemical properties of lithium ions, the battery capacity will gradually decline over time, depending on usage patterns, environmental conditions, and habits. Therefore, you may experience a decrease in battery life over time, which is a normal phenomenon. For more information, you can refer to ASUS Battery Information Center.

In addition to the aging effect on batteries, the discharge rate can also be influenced by the applications and power management settings on your computer. For instance, running resource-intensive software such as graphic design applications, gaming software, or video playback can accelerate battery consumption. Additionally, some background applications may continue running and consume system resources and battery power.

If you find that your Chromebook's battery life is short, consider the following steps and relevant system settings to extend battery usage time.

 

Dim Screen Brightness and Lower Speaker Volume

The brightness of the screen and the volume of the speakers are crucial factors affecting the battery life of your Chromebook. Please try reducing the screen brightness and adjusting the speaker volume to an appropriate level to conserve battery power. 

You can use the shortcut keys at the top of the keyboard to adjust the screen brightness and speaker volume.

 

Disable Keyboard Backlight

The keyboard backlight provides ample illumination for your nighttime operations. If you are in a well-lit environment, you can reduce the intensity of the backlight to conserve battery power.

Note: Not all Chromebooks support the keyboard backlight feature. You can check the keyboard specifications on the ASUS official website's product specification page.

 

For most models, you can increase the keyboard backlight brightness by pressing Alt + and decrease it by pressing Alt + . 

Repeatedly pressing Alt + will raise the brightness, and repeatedly pressing Alt + will lower it until the keyboard backlight is completely turned off.

Note: The keyboard backlight shortcut key combination may vary in different models and their respective locations. You can refer to the User Manual for the explanation of function key combinations.

 

Remove Unnecessary External Peripherals 

Connecting external devices such as USB devices and Bluetooth devices may contribute to Chromebook's battery drain. When these devices are not required, it is advisable to turn them off or unplug them.

 

Disable Bluetooth

The Bluetooth feature is used to connect wireless devices such as headphones, keyboards, and more. While Bluetooth is very convenient when in use, it also consumes battery power. If you don't need to connect any Bluetooth devices, it is advisable to turn it off when not in use. 

Click on the [Status Bar]① located at the bottom right corner of your Chromebook screen, then click on the [Bluetooth icon]②, and toggle the Bluetooth switch to the 'Off' position.

 

Check Power Settings 

Verify the power settings on your Chromebook to ensure that it enters sleep mode when idle or when the lid is closed. Otherwise, the screen will remain on and deplete the battery. 

  1. Click on the [Status Bar]① located at the bottom right corner of your Chromebook screen, then click on [Settings]②.   
  2. Click on [Device]③, then click on [Power]④.    
  3. Make sure the 'On Battery' idle setting is set to [Sleep]⑤ and the 'Sleep when lid is closed' setting is set to [Enabled]⑥.     

 

When Inactive, Lock the Screen

Before entering the sleep mode, Chrome OS does not offer a configurable setting to alter the time for entering sleep mode. To optimize battery usage, you may employ one of the following three methods to initiate screen lock on your Chromebook. Moreover, locking the screen provides an additional layer of security.  

  • Press the combination of the Search key + L, or the Launcher key + L on your keyboard.  
  • Click on the [Status Bar]① located at the bottom right corner of your Chromebook screen, and then click on the [Lock] icon②.   
  • Click on the [Status Bar]①, and then click on [Settings]②. 
     
    Click on [Security and Privacy]③, and click on [Lock screen and sign-in]④. 
     
    Set the 'Lock when sleeping or lid is closed' option to [Enabled]⑤. 

 

Close Unnecessary Applications    

Most web pages and applications frequently update in the background to provide the latest information. Having too many applications open simultaneously can consume system resources and deplete your Chromebook's battery faster than usual. You can close applications that are no longer in use or no longer needed to help extend the battery life.

 

Check Battery Information Using the 'Diagnostics' App

By utilizing Chrome OS's built-in 'Diagnostics' application, you can verify battery-related details, such as battery life, cycle count, and current flow. Please follow the steps below:    

For more comprehensive information about the 'Diagnostics' application, you can refer to the following article: Diagnostics feature on Chrome OS.    

  1. Click on the [Status Bar]① located in the bottom right corner of the screen, and then select [Settings]②. 
  2. Click on [About ChromeOS]③, and then click on [Diagnostics]④. 
  3. Under the battery category, you will find information about the battery's health and the total number of completed charging cycles.     
    Note: The battery's health tends to decrease with usage over time. If you notice any irregularities in the battery's health, we recommend visiting an authorized ASUS service center for a detailed assessment.    
     

 

If your issue remains unresolved, please contact the ASUS customer service center for further assistance.